As expected, the moment the ballnded in Athena’s court, she quickly backpedaled. Clearing her throat, she wasted no time in changing the subject.


    "Right! Instead of heading to the venue,e to my house first. My mom wants to see you," Athena blurted out before abruptly ending the call.


    She fled the conversation in a hurry, terrified that Hera might actually follow through with her threat. With just one call to her mother, Sasha would undoubtedly pull out a file of potential suitors she had scouted for her daughter.


    What would follow was an intense round of bargaining—like a marketce negotiation—debating which man would best suit Athena’s temperament.


    That would be a nightmare.


    And worst of all, Athena knew she would be the one on the losing end.


    Hera giggled happily at her best friend’s flustered reaction, feeling satisfied with her sessful tease. With a smile still on her lips, she changed course and headed toward the Lowery Manor, which was on the other side of the city.


    Traffic slowed her down, stretching the drive to over an hour. By the time she arrived, the sun was already high in the sky, and exhaustion was creeping in from the long drive. Luckily, her car was a convertible, allowing her to enjoy the fresh air without feeling like she was being marinated under the sun.


    As soon as Hera parked her car outside, Athena came jumping out of the family manor, rushing toward her with uncontainable excitement. Before Hera could even grab her bag after stepping out of the car, Athena had already seized her wrist and was dragging her inside like an eager child.


    "Mom! Hera’s here!" Athena called out the moment they stepped through the door, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. The housekeeper chuckled at the sight, clearly amused by her young miss’s energy.


    Hera, noticing Athena’s unusual excitement, furrowed her brows. "What’s going on?" she asked curiously.


    "Just stay right here," Athena instructed, gently pushing Hera down onto the plush living room sofa. The housekeeper had already anticipated their arrival, cing a freshly squeezed ss of orange juice and a te of cookies in front of Hera with a warm smile.


    "Young Miss Hera, please enjoy some snacks while I prepare lunch," the housekeeper said with a warm smile.


    Meanwhile, Athena dashed upstairs to fetch her mother. It wasn’t long before her chirpy voice echoed from the second floor, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. Momentster, Sasha let out a delighted gasp upon seeing Hera.


    "You look absolutely stunning!" Sasha eximed, her eyes lighting up in admiration. She had seen Hera many times before, usually dressed in simple outfits that still couldn’t hide her natural beauty and graceful temperament.


    But today, with Hera elegantly dressed, the effect was entirely different—Sasha couldn’t help but be captivated.


    "Oh my! Hera, you’ve grown so much!" Sasha eximed as she hurried over and sat beside her, immediately taking Hera’s hands in hers.


    "I heard you’ll be walking the runway wearing my daughter’s designs," she asked excitedly, her eyes shining with pride. I’m so happy you girls grew up together, always supporting each other. I can’t wait to see you both standing side by side on stage."


    For a moment, her gaze softened, and her eyes turned misty as if she were recalling a distant memory.


    Pressing her lips together, she looked at Hera with deep affection, a motherly warmth in her expression.


    Over the years, knowing that Hera had lost her parents and was left with only her grandfather, Sasha couldn’t help but feelpassion for the girl. She had been best friends with Hera’s mother, and upon hearing from Athena that she wanted to stay by Hera’s side, Sasha’s heart ached.


    She felt not only sympathy but also a profound sense of responsibility, extending her motherly love to Hera as if she were her own daughter. That was why she and her husband had allowed Athena to leave home and live alongside Hera, ensuring that she was never truly alone.


    Now that both her daughter, Athena, and Hera were taking steps toward their dreams, Sasha felt a whirlwind of emotions. Letting them rely on each other while living independently had been a difficult decision, but in hindsight, it had been the right one.


    Though it may have seemed harsh at the time, it had given Hera the sense of familial bond and unwavering support she needed to keep pushing forward.


    "Hera, I’ve wanted to do this for a long time," Sasha said warmly. "You know that throughout the years of your friendship with Athena, I’ve already considered you as my own. By now, I’m sure Athena has told you that during the banquet tonight, I’ll be formally introducing her to the public as our daughter returning home. But along with that..." Sasha paused, gazing at Hera with the affectionate look of a mother. "I wanted to ask for your opinion on something important."


    Hera smiled, gently squeezing Sasha’s hands. "Please, go ahead, Auntie."


    Taking a deep breath, Sasha finally said, "I would love to formally recognize you as my goddaughter in front of everyone tonight."


    Hera’s eyes slowly widened in surprise, her gaze shifting to Athena, who stood behind Sasha with a hand resting on her mother’s shoulder in silent support. A wide grin yed on Athena’s lips, her excitement unmistakable. It was clear from her expression that she had known about Sasha’s intentions all along—no wonder she had been so eager and animated so early in the morning.