Under the heiress facade

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Chapter 3

As the car engine hummed to life, James turned to Hera. “Before we get to Norburgh, there’s something important I need to tell you. We’ll announce to everyone that the Everetts have officially adopted you.”

Hera looked up at James. They hadn’t discussed this before in their earlier phone call. Though being agreeable moments ago, she now seemed distant and reserved.

James felt uncomfortable under her gaze. It dawned on him then that Hera would always feel somewhat disconnected from the Everetts since they hadn’t raised her since childhood.

Pushing down his uneasiness, he patiently explained, “The Everetts have been relying on help from the Gaskell family to make our business successful.

“Now, Zyler Gaskell, the heir to the Gaskell family, is engaged to Giselle. Their marriage is important for both families’ interests and reputations. So, we need to make arrangements regarding you.”

Hera understood the situation quickly. The Everetts were worried that if the Gaskells found out about her humble upbringing, it might ruin the engagement.

“Oh,” Hera replied, sounding indifferent.

She casually pulled out her phone from her bag and got lost in a game, seemingly completely unbothered by the conversation.

James felt a sense of relief. He assumed that people from rural backgrounds would be easy to handle.

If Lilith hadn’t persistently asked and if James hadn’t been concerned about Hera’s true background possibly harming their family’s reputation, he wouldn’t have personally brought Hera back to the Everett residence.

Hera reclined in the car seat, completely absorbed in her phone. Her thumbs moved skillfully across the screen.

Frowning, James couldn’t resist sneaking a look at her screen. His disappointment grew when he realized she was just playing a basic matching game. Any remaining positive feelings he had for Hera quickly vanished.

came off as impolite and lacking ambition. He was worried she might embarrass

game involved 99 pairs of identical icons being shuffled and briefly

to match the pairs by tapping on two identical ones. In this round,

her speed. So, she refreshed the

boarded the plane and landed at Norburgh Airport two hours later. Aside from meal breaks, Hera spent nearly the entire

a new personal record—taking only three seconds to memorize and 27 seconds to

phone buzzed with a

is offering three times the usual pay! Aren’t you interested? It’s triple the

clicked her tongue

Raven: “Nope.”

for a deal worth millions? What’s going

taking a

do you think you’ll be back? I need to reply

on how I

Piglet: “You’re so childish!”

on the other hand, was focused on her workbook even during the

from the

…

herbs in her yard when she spotted two men in camouflage

tall and robust. His remarkably handsome face seemed to have been sculpted by

on his right chest hinted at a recent injury. Thankfully, it

Aaron Ludden, who

the herbs, Catherine asked, “Do

Bernard replied, pulling a bloodied cloth from his