Liz’s mannerisms, after all, were nearly identical to Athena’s when it came to teasing, making Hera shake her head internally at the uncanny resemnce.


    "Babe! I’m home!" Athena’s cheerful voice echoed from the living room, drawing everyone’s attention.


    Hera and the rest turned toward the source of the sound as Athena strode in, looking sharp and polished in her crisp outfit, her armsden with several shopping bags.


    "My mom asked me to bring you something!" she said excitedly, her eyes lighting up as she approached.


    But then her gazended on Liz, who wasfortably seated at the table, munching away, while Hera stood nearby holding thermal bags.


    "Are you going out? And who’s this chipmunk?" Athena asked, raising a brow, her expression a mix of curiosity and yful judgment.


    "Your twin," Hera replied teasingly, a smirk tugging at her lips. Then, with a soft chuckle, she added, "You stay here—I need to deliver this food."


    "What?! I just got here, and now you’re leaving? We haven’t spent any time together in ages! You’ve changed! You don’t love me anymore!" Athena eximed dramatically, her lower lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout.


    Despite her words, she was already handing the bags to Amy, who hade to help, and heading toward the dining table.


    Hera rolled her eyes, suppressing augh. "Have some conscience, Athena. You onlye here to mooch off me."


    Athena,pletely unfazed, pointed at Liz without a hint of shame. "And what about her? Isn’t she mooching off you too?"


    Liz’s eyes widened as she immediately set her fork down.


    "Excuse me? I helped tutor Hera in jewelry design!" she retorted, ring at Athena, who seemed to have the energy of a human firecracker since the moment she walked in.


    "Oh, please. Hera’s already amazing and could figure it out on her own if she had more time. Don’t try to ride her coattails, brat," Athena shot back, her tone dripping with disinterest.


    She didn’t spare Liz’s feelings, her words sharp and dismissive.


    Athena knew better than anyone how talented Hera was—she’d seen it countless times as they grew up together.


    But the real reason for her prickly attitude wasn’t just pride; it was the creeping sense of insecurity. Her position as Hera’s best friend felt threatened.


    With Hera’s limited time split between winning over the male leads, navigating the chaos of the storyline, pursuing her career in the entertainment industry, and limating herself to managing the consortium, Athena barely got to see her anymore.


    She missed her best friend.


    So now, seeing someone else in Hera’s space, especially someone who seemed to be getting close, made Athena’s internal rm bells ring loud and clear.


    Hearing Athena’s sharp retort, Liz choked on her own spit, momentarily flustered.


    She couldn’t argue with Athena’s words—they were true, and deep down, Liz knew it.


    That was precisely why she’d been so adamant about refusing the tuition fee Hera had offered.


    "I know, okay? I’m not shameless," Liz finally replied, her tone defensive butced with a hint of humor.


    "That’s why I’m not taking any tuition from her. But eating here—" she gestured dramatically to the table, "—should be fine, right? Or are you seriously going to be stingy with me?"


    She turned to Athena with a yful yet challenging look, as if daring her to deny her a seat at the table.


    Hera shook her head in amusement as she left the two bickering like old friends who had known each other forever.


    Even Hannah and Amy returned to their tasks, unfazed by the lively argument.


    Amy quietly set up Athena’s utensils and served her food, while Athena and Liz continued their back-and-forth without missing a beat.


    By the time Hera saw them together again in the future, she was taken aback to find that the two had be inseparable.


    They walked arm-in-arm like twins,ughing and teasing each other as if they’d been close sisters all their lives.


    After casting one final nce at the two bickering "children," Hera picked up the thermal bags and headed to the ss cab where her collection of car keys was disyed.


    She selected the key for her Pagani Codalunga, recalling that it had recently been repaired after a minor rear-end collision.


    Besides, she found the car charming and felt it matched her mood today.


    With the car keys in hand, Hera made her way downstairs.


    Once she carefully secured the thermal bags in the passenger seat, she slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.


    The car purred to life, and without wasting any time, she drove off, the sleek vehicle gliding effortlessly down the driveway.


    Upon arriving at the hospital, Hera decided to check Minerva’s room first.


    She pushed the door open slightly, only to find the room dark and empty.


    Letting out a small sigh, she turned and made her way to Rafael’s room instead.


    The door was slightly ajar, and just as she approached, a soft, pleading voice drifted out.


    "Rafael, please eat the food I brought. I cooked it myself," Alice’s pitiful tone echoed,ced with desperation.


    "I said <i>leave</i>!" Rafael’s voice snapped back sharply, cutting through the air like a whip.


    "Are you not even going to try it?" Alice’s voice trembled slightly, a mix of frustration and pleading.


    "I scalded my hand while cooking this. It was my fault for being clumsy, but I just... I just really wanted to share it with you."


    "Minerva keeps worrying about you, and even though she feels guilty for what happened, she can’t take care of you herself because she’s also injured."


    "So, as her best friend, I’m doing what she can’t." Her tone softened, sounding both helpless and indulgent as she exined herself.


    Hera stepped closer to the door, curiosity piqued, and peeked inside.


    What she saw was enough to make her pause. Rafael’s face was dark, his expression thunderous, and his body trembled as he visibly struggled to rein in his anger.