As much as possible, she had tried to avoid direct confrontation, knowing that continuing these little shes with Alice could lead to unpredictable consequences—especially considering Alice’s strong backing in the world.


    However, that didn’t mean Hera would simply stand by when provoked. If pushed too far, she wasn’t the type to hold back, and when the time came, she would strike back with full force.


    Alice was momentarily taken aback by Hera’s words, her mind racing as she struggled to find a response.


    After Hera had finished speaking, she smiled sweetly, as if everything had been nothing more than a lighthearted joke between friends.


    But Alice could see the cold seriousness in Hera’s eyes, a knowing look that suggested she was testing the waters.


    The weight of her gaze made Alice’s face drain of color, her hands trembling slightly as she nervously rubbed her thumbs together.


    Hera, however, remainedposed, sipping her tea with a serene smile while her eyes never left Alice, sharp and unblinking, like a hawk watching its prey.


    As the silence lingered, Xavier quietly began serving Hera her meal, the tension still thick in the air.


    Hera smiled contentedly as she took a bite of her food, her eyes crinkling with pleasure.


    "Everyone, don’t be shy—dig in. We have a lot to aplish today, so we need all the energy we can get."


    Only then did the others begin eating, though they did so mechanically, the tension still thick in the air.


    They could barely enjoy the meal, their stomachs knotted with difort, as if the food might turn to stone in their bellies.


    What was supposed to be a pleasant dining experience with Xavier, one of the best actors, had been soured by Alice and her entourage.


    A few momentster, the food Emily and Alice had ordered finally arrived, and both women immediately noticed the stark contrast between their dishes and the ones before Hera.


    Thevish spread in front of Hera seemed a world away from the dishes set before them.


    Emily immediately snapped, her frustration boiling over as she pointed to the lobster in front of her and then at Hera’s.


    "What’s going on here? Are you trying to bully us?!" She mmed her hand onto the table, her finger usingly drawing attention to the disparity in the dishes.


    But Hera, Xavier, and Zen remained unfazed, clearly aware, of the reason behind the difference. They continued eating, unbothered by Emily’s outburst.


    The other actors and actresses, however, looked confused.


    They couldn’t quite put their finger on it, but they noticed the lobster in front of Emily was smaller, and the ting was definitely less refinedpared to what was before Hera.


    Despite Emily’s outburst, the manager remainedposed, her smile unwavering as she addressed the situation professionally.


    "Miss," the manager began, her tone calm and professional,


    "I’m not sure if you’ve had the chance to read the menu thoroughly, or if this is your first time dining with us, but the lobster you’ve ordered is our Maine Lobster, which is offered to our lower-tier members."


    "However, the lobster Young Miss Hera typically enjoys is a ’<i>Tropical Rock Lobster’</i>, a rare variety caught in the wild and flown directly from its source. It is ten times more expensive than the one you’ve chosen."


    "We do not list it on the menu due to its limited avability, and it is usually reserved for our top-tier members, who have ess to today’s special menu."


    The manager’s exnation, though polite, carried an unmistakable glint of mockery in her eyes, as though she found amusement in watching someone make a fool of themselves.


    As her words sank in, the others were taken aback.


    While they weren’t certain of the exact price of the ’<i>Tropical Rock Lobster</i>’, they quickly grasped the implication—if it was flown in directly from its source and only avable to top spenders, the ingredients alone must be extraordinarily rare and incredibly expensive.


    Emily gulped, but her pride wouldn’t let her back down.


    "How expensive could it really be? I have the money, and I can definitely afford to be one of the top spenders."


    "Just tell me the price, and I’ll dly pay to be treated the same as her," she said, pointing at Hera, unwilling to ept being humiliated, especially when Hera seemed to be better than her in every way.


    The manager maintained her professional demeanor, but her words cut deep.


    "I apologize, Miss, but our establishment operates on an invite-only basis. Membership is reserved for those with significant influence and power in the business world, individuals who also possess substantial financial means."


    "Based on your current financial capability, I’m afraid even our Bronze membership would be out of reach."


    The manager’s tone was direct and factual, but to Emily’s ears, it felt like a harsh dismissal, fueling her anger and humiliation.


    "Are you looking down on me? Just tell me how much! How much did that bitch spend to be called a top spender?!" Emily roared, herposure shattering.


    The humiliation had piled up so much that she felt she had to reim some of her dignity, or she would lose itpletely.


    The manager paused, ncing at Hera for guidance before speaking.


    She wasn’t sure whether to reveal such private information, but when she saw Hera’s slight nod of approval, she continued, her tone even but firm.


    "Young Miss Hera spent $250,000 on a single meal here at our establishment. She routinely orders all of our daily specials, which feature rare ingredients such as the Tropical Rock Lobster, Coffin Bay King Oyster, Bluefin Tuna, and many others."


    The room fell silent, and the weight of the manager’s words hit Emily like a p.


    The sheer scale of the expense was enough to make her blood run cold, but she couldn’t back down now.