[TheWorldHermit: That’s why the snake didn’t attack them on the tree after waking up—the lingering effect of the grass she tied to herself and gave Ms. Briley kept it at bay.]


    [TheWorldHermit: Otherwise, once it woke up hungry, it might have gone after them instead of the hunting dog. And don’t forget how she handled first aid for Mr. Briley during that time—she clearly knows her way around medicine.]


    [Anastashia: @TheWorldHermit Now that you mention it, I noticed that too! I’ve always wondered why the snake didn’t attack Hera and the others when it woke up. Maybe when Mr. and Ms. Briley climbed the tree, the snake was full and sleeping, so it ignored them.]


    [Anastashia: But when it woke up hungry, it went straight for the hunting dog instead of them. I always thought that was bizarre. Only after your reminder about the grass Hera used did I do a quick search and realize what it was for!]


    [Sesame: Do you think Dr. Everett taught her that kind of knowledge?]


    [FatherOfCaduceus: @Sesame, I was just as surprised by what she did! And yes, thanks to her quick actions, Mr. Briley’s condition didn’t worsen, and he avoided any long-termplications.]


    [Chaochao: !!!]


    [TheWorldHermit: It now came from a renowned genius doctor, so it wasn’t impossible for her to learn and be good at it too.]


    [PrincessLizzy: You might not know this yet, but Hera is also incredibly talented in jewelry design. Once she showcases her creations, you’ll see what I mean. I hope you’ll support her when that timees!]


    ...


    Liz Goldsmith seized the opportunity to promote Hera’s uing entry into the jewelry design world, highlighting her growing strength and abilities.


    While many were skeptical, thinking Liz was simply trying to ride on Hera’s fame for attention, the mention still sparked public interest.


    After all, Hera would need support when she entered her firstpetition. With no formal background in jewelry design, Liz was concerned that others might try to undermine Hera by using herck of credentials against her, resorting to dirty tactics during thepetition simply because she was unknown in the field.


    Still, the small stone Liz threw into the still waters created a ripple, one that many noticed. Though they were skeptical for now, once they saw what Hera could do, they would remember Liz’s words and realize that Hera hadn’t entered thepetition on a whim.


    She had taken the time to learn and prepare. In essence, Liz was quietly building a foundation for Hera’s sess, gathering witnesses along the way. Athena, standing beside Liz, gave her a thumbs up as she finally understood Liz’s intent.


    Athena had always hoped Hera would be her muse, designing countless dresses for her and shining even brighter. Now, with Liz’s support, Hera would surely rise like the sun, high in the sky.


    <i>’My best friend was already in the making of her own protagonist a long time ago, she just doesn’t realize it—or maybe she hasn’t noticed because she’s too busy focusing on the present and not thinking about the ’what-ifs’ of the future,’</i> Athena thought, watching Hera’s reaction.


    Hera had just read Liz’sment, her eyes widening before she nervously bit her bottom lip. It was clear she hadn’t yet decided whichpetition to join or if she even wanted to go forward with it.


    But Liz’s public deration left her no way out, pushing her to make a decision. Athena knew that Liz’sment was intentional, and that she, too, likely approved of this move.


    Hera didn’t refute Liz’sment but also remained silent about it. After all, the fewer people knew, the less chance anyone would have to sabotage her.


    Letting Liz make that statement was enough—there was no need to draw more attention to herself, especially since her profile was already growing with so many things about hering to light one after another.


    It was only now that Hera realized how much she had learned during her time away. No wonder her grandfather often joked, with a smile, that she was a "wild child"—apliment in his eyes.


    This was the true essence of why the Averys were sent away to experience hardship: to be hardworking, to understand the struggles of those beneath them, to bepassionate but not naive.


    They were meant to acquire skills—one after another—because each new skill could shape their future. Having many skills could be incredibly useful.


    After all, only by stepping out of theirfort zones were they pushed to their limits, driven to be the best version of themselves, rather than remaining pampered, arrogant heirs who thought they were kings.


    Athena’s encouragement to explore other hobbies had only further contributed to her growth, shaping her into the person she was now. Unaware of the effect she was having, Hera sweetly smiled to herself, oblivious to the men who had been watching her every move with rapt attention—and the cameras capturing it all.


    Leo, Luke, Dave, and Xavier couldn’t help but smile fondly at her. Leo even reached out to gently pat Hera’s hair, his gesture full of affection, causing the viewers to nearly lose their hearts over the beautiful scene.


    The five-hour flight felt surprisingly short as everyone enjoyed themselves, taking time to rx and rest when needed.


    Hera, who slept soundly without a dream, feltpletely refreshed by her rest, and even though it was only five hours, she didn’t feel tired at all. Instead, the constant support from her fans left her feeling more energized and excited for the uing race.


    When they exited the ne and entered the airport, Hera was surprised to see her bodyguards already waiting, creating a barrier to guide them through the crowd.


    She was even more surprised by the number of people there to greet her—mostly male racing fans, along with some women.


    Many of the women were her fans as a celebrity, excited to see her in person at the race. This heartfelt disy of support touched Hera, and she couldn’t help but smile happily in response.