[Athena: Wait... that’s actually possible?]
[Hera: Absolutely. I’ll make sure to wrap this issue up today, so by tomorrow, we’ll be the ones reaping the benefits of all this buzz.]
[Athena: ? л??a?a?a]
[Athena: I knew it! I chose the right person to pledge my allegiance to! Hahaha!]
[Athena: Alright, I’ll follow your lead.]
[Athena: By the way, Liz mentioned that the IGI Expressions Competition is happening soon, and she’s encouraging you to give it a shot. Honestly, I think you have a natural talent for jewelry design. It might not be fully refined yet, but Liz told me you’ve improved a lot since she started teaching you the basics. She’s confident you could earn some recognition.]
[Hera: I can only do my best. I sent Liz my designs yesterday, and she gave me some advice. Thepetition is just around the corner—it’s happening in France next week. So I decided to participate before we head to the next race.]
[Athena: Babe, aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?]
[Hera: I don’t have much time. I need to build my reputation and power as quickly as possible—my family’s enemies won’t wait for me to grow stronger. It’s all thanks to you that I was able to start sooner. You opened my eyes, and because of that, I’ve been able to slowly break away from the original storyline instead of ending up as the naive fool who handed over her inheritance to an ungrateful ex.]
[Hera: Instead, I’ve been able to focus on expanding my opportunities, strengthening myself and my people, and gathering as much talent under my wing as possible.]
[Hera: None of this would have been possible without you...]
[Hera: <i>°~ LoVE You, bestie~°</i>]
[Athena: Oh my! I’m touched. It’s not every day that you get all emotional and open up about your feelings.]
[Athena: This really made me happy.]
[Athena: I truly hope you find your happiness, babe. I mean it.]
As Hera read Athena’s messages, a lump formed in her throat, and her eyes turned red. She sniffled, emotions welling up inside her.
Athena was right—it wasn’t often that she expressed her feelings so openly. She had always bottled them up, not wanting to burden others with her worries.
Or maybe it was just her overthinking—she had grown so used to internalizing everything that sharing her thoughts and emotions felt foreign, always leading her back into the endless cycle of overanalyzing.
But perhaps the male leads around her, along with Leo and theirpany, had gradually helped her open up.
Sure, they each had their own ws and strengths—sometimes they were overbearing and domineering—but beyond that, they treated her well and stood by her side when she needed them.
Their support lightened her burden, making her feel like she was no longer fighting the world alone.
For the first time, she truly felt that there were people behind her, ready to push her forward and catch her when she stumbled. She didn’t even have to ask—they simply acted, always looking out for her.
She felt the warmth of theirpanionship—it was akin to a familial bond, yet distinctly different. Deep down, perhaps she had already epted them as an irreceable part of her life—her own male leads who belonged solely to her.
The realization sent a warmth blooming in her heart, like a flower unfurling in the first light of spring. It wasforting, soothing, and above all, it made her feel lighter.
Maybe it was because she had finally stopped resisting her emotions and had begun to embrace them instead.
While Hera was lost in her thoughts, internalizing her emotions, the men around her took notice. They saw her eyes turning red, her gaze fixed on her phone for an unusually long time, and then came the soft sniffles—signs that she was on the verge of tears.
Panic set in instantly. They assumed she had been reading the onlinements, that the negativity had finally gotten to her, shaking her confidence and breaking her heart.
Before rushing tofort her, they all turned to re at Dave with murderous intent, silently ming him for handing Hera’s phone back. Dave let out a defeated whine, shrinking under their collective judgment. Though he wanted to protest, deep down, he couldn’t deny it—this really was his fault.
They all scrambled tofort Hera, their usualposure thrown into chaos. Even the ever-stoic Zhane nearly spilled the hot tea in his haste to set it down before rushing forward, determined to lift Hera’s spirits.
Hera, who had juste to terms with her emotions, snapped back to reality and was met with the sight of Luke, Zhane, Rafael, and Dave hovering around her in full-blown panic.
Luke knelt on one knee before her, his warm hand gently sping hers, while Zhane mirrored his position on the other side, holding her left hand with concern.
Meanwhile, Rafael and Dave sat close, one gripping her shoulder and the other brushing strands of hair away from her face. Their touches were filled with unspoken reassurance.
"S-Sweetheart, don’t feel down," Dave stammered, his voice filled with concern. "Don’t let what they’re saying get to you—we all know none of it is true. And don’t worry, I’m already handling it."
"My people are taking care of everything. All those trending topics will be wiped from the tform, and anything simr won’t even be allowed to resurface until theizens lose interest." He spoke with righteous determination, as if vowing to shield her from the world.
"That’s right, little minx," Rafael added, his voice firm yet reassuring. "My PR team is already handling the situation, and they’ll make sure your name is cleared. We’ll push a different topic to the top of the trending list, and soon enough, all of this will be forgotten."
"You know how short the inte’s memory isizens only follow whatever’s trending. With the right PR response, this will blow over in no time. So don’t stress, just leave it to us, okay?"
As he spoke, he gently brushed Hera’s hair back in a soothing motion. For someone who always carried himself like a ruthless mafia boss—intimidating and callous—offeringfort so tenderly felt unfamiliar. But, surprisingly, he didn’t dislike it.