"Doesn’t it infuriate you that a vixen like her keeps sitting in your head? It’s because you’re too honest and kind that people like her take advantage."


    As she spoke, Emily confidently stepped forward, standing before the staff. She casually opened her small bag and pulled out a gold membership card, handing it over while her gaze lingered on Hera’s outfit.


    Her eyes locked onto Hera’s Kelly bag for a few seconds longer than necessary before finally shifting to Hera’s face, her expression full of mockery.


    "Grade A?" Emily raised an eyebrow, her toneced with skepticism. She didn’t wait for Hera to respond—not that Hera had any intention to—before letting out a smug chuckle.


    "That’s what I thought," she said, shing a triumphant smile as she looked Hera up and down with barely concealed condescension.


    "What’s wrong with you? Are you asking us if you have a Grade A botched Botox job?" Athena scoffed, tilting her head as if genuinely pondering the question. "Well, I was thinking more like Grade S—since your face barely moves when you talk, let alone show an actual expression."


    She stepped in front of Hera, arms crossed, her expression one of pure disdain as she gave Emily a slow, deliberate once-over. Then, with an exaggerated shudder, she wrinkled her nose.


    "Ugh. So tacky." Athena said bluntly, not bothering to spare Emily’s feelings in the slightest.


    Emily’s confidence wavered for a split second under Athena’s sharp insult, her fingers twitching as if she wanted to p her. But she knew better than to be physical—Athena might not be a fighter physically, but when it came to verbal battles, she was absolutely ruthless.


    Gritting her teeth, Emily forced herself to regainposure, lifting her chin with feigned arrogance.


    "Such an uneducated woman," she sneered. "No wonder you stick around this fraudster."


    "Oh? Me, uneducated?" Athena scoffed, crossing her arms. "Says the person who marched up to us just to humiliate and belittle us in public. Such impable manners. Clearly, you must have been napping when your teacher was covering etiquette andmon decency." She rolled her eyes dramatically.


    The staff standing nearby pursed her lips, struggling to suppress augh. Noticing this, Athena’s smug expression only deepened, feeling even more pleased with herself.


    "You!" Emily jabbed a finger at Athena, but no words came out. She knew that whatever she said would just get thrown back at her—Athena’s sharp tongue clearly had no off switch, nor any concern for politeness.


    Realizing this, Emily took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and tilted her head arrogantly. "Don’t try to change the subject," she sneered. "You’re just trying to cover for your friend and steer the conversation away from the membership issue. Let me guess—you want to make it seem like we embarrassed you so you can walk away without buying a membership card. Afraid the club will check your financial background and expose the truth?"


    Emily chuckled triumphantly, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "I see right through you. Stirring up an argument just to have an excuse to leave—how predictable."


    "Ha! You must have pulled that trick plenty of times yourself, huh?" Athena shot back, not bothering to spare Emily any dignity.


    She then turned to the staff, who was still holding Emily’s card, looking torn between stepping in or staying silent. It was clear she didn’t want to offend anyone in such an exclusive establishment.


    "Miss, tell me," Athena continued, her tone unbothered andced with arrogance. "Is the Gold card the highest membership tier here?"


    The staff hesitated for a moment before answering professionally, "No, ma’am. Above the Gold membership, we also offer tinum and Diamond tiers. However, those are reserved for clients with significantly greater financial assets and social standing."


    "Which means it’s only for old money..." Emily finished smugly, her lips curling into a smirk as she turned her gaze back to Athena.


    "So what’s your deal? It’s not like you’re some tycoon’s daughter or a billionaire’s wife," Athena scoffed, not even sparing Emily a nce.


    "Why look so smug? You’re only holding a Gold membership card, which means that’s the best your financial backing could get you. For all I know, it’s not even yours—probably something your sugar daddy handed over."


    Emily’s face instantly paled, her expression betraying her. Bullseye.


    Athena smirked inwardly. As someone who had read countless novels, she had seen this cliché y out more times than she could count. It was almost too easy. People who made the most noise were often the weakest—just like an empty can rattling to prove its presence.


    No matter what she said, Emily felt like she was being pped in the face over and over again.


    To make matters worse, the crowd around them was growing as time passed. Since they were standing in the entrance lobby, everyoneing and going had a clear view of the spectacle, and many subtly lingered to watch the drama unfold.


    Yet, despite everything, Hera had yet to say a single word.


    That only made Emily more frustrated. She refused to let Hera slip away unscathed.


    No, she wanted to humiliate her—just as Hera had embarrassed her during that lunch with Xavier. That incident had put Emily in a terrible position, tarnishing her reputation and making her look bad in front of important people. Now was her chance to turn the tables.


    Noticing Emily’s ever-changing expression, Athena smirked and casually pulled out her Chanel bag. She retrieved a card and handed it to the staff without hesitation.


    "Go ahead, run whatever checks you need—social security, financial background, whatever. Just get me a membership card higher than Gold," she said with an air of arrogance.


    And why shouldn’t she?


    As the beloved daughter of both the Lowery and Jackson families, she received a generous allowance every month. Now that she had returned to her family, they were spoiling her even more, constantly looking for ways to shower her with wealth.


    Besides, if someone like Emily could get a Gold card and she couldn’t even secure a tier higher, she might as well eat her shoes on a live stream and do a headstand.


    Athena intended to make a spectacle out of this—after all, not just anyone could walk up to her and spout nonsense. Despite not being as wealthy as Hera, she had once been a female boss in her own right.


    That experience had instilled in her amanding presence and an unshakable arrogance. She wasn’t the type to tolerate petty taunts, and she certainly wasn’t about to start now.


    "Why are you trying to save face for your friend? I was asking <i>her</i>, not you, to prove her financial capabilities. She was just pretending to be an heiress not long ago—ha!" Emily huffed, exasperated. At this point, even she wasn’t sure what she was trying to fight for anymore.


    "Why should I prove anything to you? Who even <i>are</i> you to me?"


    Hera’s words were sharp and direct, her first response since the confrontation began—and just like that, a single sentence was enough to bruise Emily’s ego.


    The previously silent Alice, who had been watching the spectacle unfold from the very beginning, finally saw an opportunity to chime in and taunt Hera.


    "Hera, don’t be like that. We’re just concerned about you," she said with a faux sympathetic smile. "We know you might be thinking of getting a financial backer using a student loan, but that will only lead to trouble. We’re simply trying to show you how the real world works—it’s not all fairytales and happy endings."