CHAPTER 930: CHAPTER 930 A FAMILIAL LOVE

That’s why he knew exactly how hard she worked to become who she is. He was there when she secretly took a job at a casino to earn quick money; he was the one who picked her up by the ear with a scolding but helpless smile.

He never abandoned her. He simply chose a different way to protect her. He wanted Hera to understand how the world worked, to walk among ordinary people and see how they think, to experience the weight of power and privilege, to recognize the cracks in the system. Only by doing so could she learn how to fix it, how to lead, and how to protect others.

He allowed her to stumble so she could grow, to see the ugly side of the world so she would never be naive, and so that no one would ever be able to take advantage of her again.

Unfortunately, the Hera in the novel never truly understood her grandfather’s intentions. She believed he was simply too absorbed in building his wealth, and she felt deeply betrayed that, despite his fortune, he had allowed her to live in poverty and struggle.

In her longing for love and validation, she sought it from others, particularly from Alexi and his family, desperately trying to earn their acknowledgment, hoping it would prove she wasn’t unloved or unwanted.

Consumed by emotion, she blinded herself to her own potential, to rise above, to have ambition, to take control of her destiny. She failed to recognize that her grandfather had always been watching from a distance, aware of everything she was doing.

She mistook his restraint for control, misunderstanding him time and again. In the end, they never reconciled. Even in death, their relationship remained broken.

And yet, despite their strained bond, the Old Master sacrificed everything to avenge her, his life, his power, and his reputation. That was the depth of his love, a love Hera never saw because she was chasing an illusion. So when Athena gently brought this truth to light, Hera was left to face her own painful realization of how blind and foolish she was in the novel.

And so, with Athena’s guidance and the memory of her grandfather’s love, Hera genuinely gave her all this time. She was determined to meet his expectations, not just out of guilt, but out of respect for the love she had failed to recognize before. She poured her efforts into honing her skills. If opportunities didn’t come her way, she would create them herself.

When she couldn’t afford to enroll in a martial arts school for self-defense training, she applied as an assistant at a local studio instead. She took on cleaning duties, helped with the students, and quietly observed the lessons.

Then she practiced alone, diligently repeating every move she saw until she began to grasp the techniques. Her efforts paid off; she was eventually promoted to assistant instructor, correcting students’ postures and watching over their training sessions.

Later, after mastering key techniques and even managing to go toe-to-toe with the head instructor, she was promoted again to full instructor.

She applied the same mindset to other areas, determined to pick up every skill she could, becoming a true jack of all trades. But unlike those who flitted from one interest to another, she committed to mastering each craft she pursued.

She refused to be labeled as "a jack of all trades, master of none", a phrase too often used to belittle those who lacked consistency or depth. For Hera, it wasn’t about dabbling; it was about excellence, adaptability, and relentless self-improvement.

And so, she became who she was because of the people around her. If Athena hadn’t come into her life and guided her, she might have ended up just like the Hera in the novel, wasting her talent and potential on a man who was never worth it. It was because of Athena that she found the strength to change, and through her, she even crossed paths with the men now standing by her side.

But then, Hera stilled. As she looked up at Leo, a sudden realization dawned on her. Still, she said nothing. She remained quiet and allowed her grandfather to continue speaking about Silvia and the arrangement they had made.

"So, sweetie, don’t overthink it. While Silvia may be known to the world as the heiress of the Avery family, your subordinates, especially your personal aides, know the truth. They take orders only from you or from me, never from her. If you have instructions, give them openly and let them help you carry the burden. And if Silvia ever oversteps her bounds, I leave her to your discretion; handle her as you see fit."

"After all, we’ve already given her everything she ever asked for. Although people might think that she took on the assassination attempts meant for you, the truth is, my people did everything they could to keep her out of real danger."

"She may have lived a thrilling life, but she was never truly in harm’s way. So don’t burden yourself with guilt over her. I’ve done my part for her, for the sake of her parents’ sacrifice, but beyond that, we owe her nothing. We lost our loved ones, too."

By the end of his words, Old Master Avery’s voice trembled, revealing the pain he still carried. Even now, the loss of his son weighed heavily on him, for that son was the only one he ever had, raised singlehandedly after losing his wife.

He even had to bury his own son’s belongings and personally arranged the funeral with his own hands. Hera couldn’t begin to fathom how painful that must have been for a father, but she could hear the sorrow etched into every word her grandfather spoke. That lingering grief struck something deep within her; after all, the people who died in that crash were her own parents, too.

If Silvia ever intended to use the tragedy of her parents’ death to guilt-trip them, Hera wouldn’t stand for it. Both of them had lost their families in that crash. And it wasn’t as if her parents were to blame for what happened.

Besides, just as her grandfather said, Silvia had lived a life of privilege and luxury, one she never would have known even if her parents had survived. They had given her everything she wanted. Hera knew then: she would no longer feel guilt for things that were never her fault.

But even love and kindness had their limits. Hera was quietly relieved to see that although her grandfather had raised Silvia and treated her well, he never let that affection turn into blind favoritism.

After all, even someone who raised a dog could grow attached and end up spoiling it, offering more affection than they might give to another creature, no matter how equally deserving.

Hera had honestly prepared herself for the possibility that her grandfather might ask her to go easy on Silvia, to forgive and let things slide for the sake of the past. But instead, he gave her clarity. He reminded her why she didn’t need to hold back, why she didn’t owe Silvia more than what had already been given.

It showed that while he might like Silvia and treat her with kindness, that affection would never overshadow his love for his real granddaughter. That knowledge made Hera’s heart swell. Her nose tingled, and her eyes turned red with the sudden rush of emotion.

"Alright, Grandpa. I won’t be too hard on her, as long as she knows her place," Hera said with a soft smile. "But if she ever crosses the line, I won’t hold back either. Still, you don’t need to worry about any of that. Just focus on your health so we can spend more time together." Her voice ended with a light chuckle, clear and melodious like a summer breeze.

Her grandfather let out a hearty laugh in return. "Of course, my lovely granddaughter. Now that you’ve met your fiancé, and even gained a few more admirers, I’ll have to do my best to live to a hundred. That way, I can see you walk down the aisle and watch my great-grandchildren running around the mansion."

His laughter only grew as he spoke, while Hera’s face flushed a deep red. Their conversation, after all, had been loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. The others looked at her with playful smirks and knowing eyes, too delighted to interrupt, but clearly enjoying her embarrassment.

After all, from what they could gather, it seemed that Hera’s grandfather didn’t object to any of them. In fact, he was already talking about the future, and it appeared he had no issue with the idea of all of them being with Hera—together.

That alone was the best outcome they could have hoped for. Well, perhaps with one exception—Leo, whose brow remained furrowed as he glanced at the others, all wearing pleased, satisfied smiles.

Then Hera ended the call and said her goodbye to her grandfather. As the screen dimmed, a heavy silence settled over the room.