That same woman had carved her own path, earned every bit of recognition, and imed her position through sheer will and grit. And yet now... she looked so lost.


    "Don’t worry, I made copies. If Young Miss Hera can’t participate in the finale in France and can only send her design likest time, then I’ll ask Miss Goldsmith to represent her again," Larry said with measured calm.


    "We just need to properlypensate the Goldsmith family for the trouble—I already provided a down payment."


    Cindy’s brows shot up as she caught on to what Larry truly meant. Though he said pensation," it didn’t necessarily mean money. And while they didn’t currently have any ventures in the jewelry industry, with Hera now crowned champion in jewelry design, it wasn’t hard to follow the trajectory of her thoughts.


    From a business standpoint, this was the perfect opportunity to expand into the jewelry market and make a ssh. Doing so wouldn’t just elevate Hera’s name professionally—it would silence those who would im that she only got to where she was because of her family.


    People would surely alwayspare her to her high-profile parents, casting shadows of expectation and pressure.


    But Hera was different. She had been operating in the shadows, quietly building her power behind the scenes. No one could shake her mindset or pull her down byparing her to her parents.


    Instead of being burdened by expectations, she used the obscurity to her advantage,ying a foundation that would yield even greater rewards in time.


    Seeing how determined, talented, and hardworking Hera was, both Larry and Cindy were certain: she wouldn’t just live up to her parents’ legacy—she would surpass it.


    When the time came for her to take over the consortium from her grandfather, she would do so not as someone handed a position, but as someone who earned it in her own right.


    Perhaps even Old Master Avery saw this. Perhaps that’s why he never pressured her and instead allowed her the freedom to "y around" for a while.


    He must’ve known that his little granddaughter was quietly preparing, growing stronger in the shadows. So that when she finally stepped into the light, everyone would see clearly—Hera Avery was no soft persimmon. She was a force to be reckoned with.


    "Alright, let’s handle things for now. Young Miss is still tied up here. We’ll take care of the loose ends ourselves, and I’ll wait for the right moment to check in with her when she’s in a better state of mind," Cindy said, ncing at Hera once more. This time, she understood exactly what needed to be done in the meantime.


    After all, no matter how mature Hera seemed, she was still only 19, and the weight of all the pressure she carried was immense. It was only natural that, at times, she’d feel overwhelmed and need to pause to process it all.


    Overthinking was just a part of dealing with such pressure. Cindy couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her, but she also knew that Hera was incredibly strong, perhaps stronger than anyone truly realized.


    Cindy believed in Hera’s strength and resilience. She knew that, despite the pain and confusion Hera felt right now due to Leo’s condition, she would rise again.


    Hera thought so too.


    She just needed time to pause and regain her bnce.


    Since the moment the storyline began, she felt like she was constantly being swept along in an unending cycle of drama, troubles, and danger.


    Her mind, overactive and always thinking ahead, had be a survival mechanism, especially after discovering that she was nothing more than cannon fodder in someone else’s story.


    This realization had shaped her into someone who was always preparing, always meticulous, constantly on the move, and forever calcting her next steps to avoid the plot’s traps.


    But after what had happened to Leo, she was reminded of a painful truth: people like her—those without a protagonist’s halo—were just side characters in the grand story, expendable and often overlooked. It made her feel tired, worn out from the constant battle. Yet, deep down, she knew she couldn’t stop. Not now, not ever.


    Her mind was spiraling, yet at the same time, it feltpletely nk. The contradiction was overwhelming, and it was all too much for her to process.


    In that moment, she couldn’t handle anything, and Cindy’s decision to let herself, Larry, and Gerald take care of the loose ends on their own was the best choice. It allowed Hera the space she needed to just pause and collect herself.


    Hera stared nkly at the red <i>"Emergency"</i> sign above the door. Though she knew Zhane had a higher chance of saving Leo, her mind kept swirling with "what ifs," leaving her consumed by worry.


    She couldn’t stop imagining the worst-case scenarios, and the fear made her entire body tremble. The thought of losing Leo, especially now that she knew how deeply she loved him, was unbearable.


    "Leo, please be safe. Please," Hera whispered, her hands sped tightly in front of her as she lowered her head in prayer. It had been a while since Zhane entered the operating room, and there was still no news.