It wasn’t just Hera who noticed this shift—Athena did too, and she couldn’t be happier about it. After all, since her transmigration into this world, Athena hade to see Alice for what she truly was, and it certainly wasn’t the picture-perfect female lead.


    But then, Athena began to entertain another theory—a theory based on the countless novels she’d read.


    What if Alice wasn’t the true female lead?


    What if it was Hera all along?


    Athena couldn’t help but think that Hera’s physical attributes alone far surpassed Alice’s, practically screaming "protagonist." Add to that her remarkable background and abilities, and it became clear to Athena: Hera was the best option to be the heroine of this story. That is, if she’s going to based it in all the novels she’s read so far.


    As for Alice? She was beginning to look more and more like a mere shadow inparison.


    Aside from ying the role of a white lotus flower and a green tea bitch, Alice didn’t seem to hold a candle to Hera in any way. Sure, Hera had been naive in the past, but wasn’t that the typical mold for a female lead?


    They were supposed to be foolish and vulnerable at first, stumbling through life, only to eventually realize they were wasting their time on the wrong people. It was through this process that they found their true path and rose to their rightful ce.


    Hera embodied that perfectly. But Alice? There was nothing about her that screamed "female lead." Perhaps she could be praised for her time management skills, or for relying on the male leads to rise to fame—but even that felt like she was merely riding on the coattails of others. Hera, on the other hand, had true personal strength.


    Besides, Alice was reincarnated. In her first life, she met a tragic end, sure, but even then, she had no romantic connection with Rafael or Xavier. When she returned to life, she began to flourish by using her knowledge of the future to her advantage.


    Sure, there are female leads in other novels who tragically die without achieving much, only to be reincarnated and given a second chance. Alice might fit into that category, but the question remains—aside from targeting Hera and manipting Minerva, what has Alice actually aplished?


    But what about Hera in Alice’s previous life? Did she still die? Probably not. Without Alice’s interference, Hera might have been caught up with Alexi, with Minerva ying the role of the mistress.


    But what if no one had been manipting Minerva from the shadows, like Alice did? Would Hera still have met her demise? Or would Alexi have been married off to the Avery family, living a life of luxury, while his vampire like family rose to power, bing a wealthy and influential family?


    Moreover, as Athena could clearly see now, Alexi didn’t just seem indifferent toward Hera—he was obsessed with her. Perhaps, without Alice’s interference, Alexi would still have chosen Hera, driven by that obsession.


    Why wouldn’t he?


    Hera was breathtakingly beautiful, immensely wealthy, and with her, he’d never need to work a day in his life while living in luxury. But more than that, Hera was obedient, virtuous, and tolerant—a model wife in every sense.


    That is, of course, unless Athena had stepped in to help Hera discover her true self. With Athena’s guidance, Hera was able to break free from the emotional and mental maniption of Alexi and his family, allowing her to stand confidently and unapologetically in her own beauty and power.


    But even with Alexi’s being Hera’s setbacks, once Hera had found her inner strength, Athena was certain that she wouldn’t let him walk all over her. Hera wasn’t the kind of person to passively endure, especially not once she embraced her true self.


    After all, Hera was a lioness at her core. While she may have been naive in her youth, that couldn’t be said anymore in the future. Her experiences in the outside world and her growing involvement in managing her family’s business would surely transform her. And soon, she would no longer be the same naive girl—she will be a woman with a fierce will to protect herself and those she cared about.


    But was Athena the only one to consider this possibility?


    Of course not.


    Hera, being the overthinker she is, had thought of it too. She often found herself lost in countless "what ifs" and possibilities. The thought had crossed her mind more than once, but without any way to confirm it—especially now that she learned Athena had read the novel on a pirated site and missed some crucial details.


    But if it was true that Alice was the cause of all her suffering, then Hera wouldn’t show any mercy, not even if Alice was the world’s favored child. After all, Hera had five other "sons of fate" by her side—the male leads.


    Now, what Hera needed to do was slowly but surely change her fate. Although Alexi showed signs of trying to change, he no longer had a ce in the future she envisioned for herself. She had given him a chance—far too many, in fact—but he continued to disappoint her.


    So she couldn’t be called cold-blooded for choosing to leave him behind and embark on her own journey. After all, Alexi was an adult too; he should have known that every actiones with consequences.


    Not long after, the ne they were on took off. Once they reached cruising altitude above the clouds, the flight attendants began serving meals to the passengers. Hera received a beautifully ted set of pan-fried salmon and scallops, apanied by wine, sd, bread and butter, and a slice of strawberry shortcake. It was a delightful meal, and she thoroughly enjoyed it.


    Afterward, as drowsiness began to set in, a flight attendant came by to check on her. Fortunately, each first-ss passenger had already been provided with a nket, so Hera didn’t need to ask for anything. She simply put on her eye mask and fell into a peaceful sleep—until Athena gently woke her again when the next meal arrived.


    This rhythm continued throughout the flight. The attendants gave Hera and her friends special attention, ensuring they were alwaysfortable. In fact, the level of care was so thoughtful that it almost felt like they were flying on a private jet.