CHAPTER 932: CHAPTER 932 LEO’S OTHER IDENTITY

But Hera gave more than she received. She never hesitated to stand between them and danger. Her sincerity, loyalty, and strength deeply moved them. It became clear that she wasn’t using them, she genuinely cared.

And because of that, they responded in kind. Not out of obligation, but out of love and respect. Giving their all wasn’t just a choice anymore; it was the only answer that felt right in return for everything she had already given.

"Oh damn! All these revelations from both the Avery and Hendrix sides are mind-blowing," Dave muttered, dramatically slumping onto the floor. His exaggerated reaction broke the tension in the room, helping settle everyone’s nerves.

After all, the truth they’d just heard was nothing short of explosive. It was the kind of revelation that could shake anyone, but now, everything made sense. And more than anything, hearing Hera finally come clean made everyone feel a quiet joy. It meant she now trusted them, truly, fully. And that meant the world.

Unknowingly, several of them felt a tingle in their noses, the kind that comes just before tears. Even Leo, despite his amnesia, felt his heart stir, resonating with the emotion in the room.

A warm silence fell over them. But it wasn’t awkward or empty, it was comforting, almost sacred. No one wanted to break it. So they simply stayed where they were, still and thoughtful, each arranging their own emotions in the quiet Hera had unknowingly gifted them.

Hera, too, felt lighter and happier after finally coming clean. She no longer had to hide like a guilty mouse sneaking around with a secret. The burden was gone. More than anything, she was overwhelmed with joy knowing that Leo, the one she loved, had been her fiancé all along. He had known her from the very beginning and still chose to honor the arrangement without pressuring her or revealing the truth.

Her heart was a whirlwind of emotions. Gratitude, affection, disbelief, and longing swirled within her. She wanted to repay Leo’s kindness and love in every way she could, because now, more than ever, she realized just how much he had silently done for her.

And this only proved that even before they met, Leo had already harbored feelings for her. After all, why else would he risk his life going up against the male leads of the novel if he didn’t care—even just a little? He had poured everything into avenging her and standing against the forces that brought down her family.

Yes, in the novel, Leo had become the so-called villain. But looking back, wasn’t he only a villain through the eyes of the protagonist? What real wrong had he committed?

None.

It was Alice who sparked the conflict, coveting others’ lives, power, and relationships. She manipulated the narrative, using Luke, Xavier, Zhane, Dave, and Rafael to fight for anything she wanted. And in the end, none met a good end.

If there was ever a true villain in this story, it was Alice. She was the anomaly, the disruptive force that shattered the world’s balance. And now, slowly, it felt like that balance was being restored. Maybe Athena’s true purpose in coming to this world was to correct the chaos Alice’s reincarnation had caused.

After all, before Alice appeared, no one really knew what kind of world this was. Had such drama ever existed? Did the Avery and Hendrix families fall? Did the male leads unite to destroy the Avery’s legacy? No one could say for sure, not even Alice herself, because she had died too early to witness any of it happening before she got raincarnated.

Back then, Alice hadn’t even managed to spark the slightest interest from Rafael or Xavier, let alone make them fall for her. Hera realized then that the only reason Alice ever caught the attention of the male leads in the novel was because of her female lead halo, nothing more. Without it, she had no real charm, no genuine pull. And now that the halo was gone, so was her chance, completely.

If not for Alice, Hera might never have met such a tragic end, nor would her family have fallen. Maybe even without crossing paths with the male leads, her life would have remained peaceful and full of joy.

Perhaps she would have still found someone who loved her wholeheartedly... or maybe, in that lifetime, she and Leo would have married and built a family of their own.

As that thought settled in, another realization struck Hera.

Now that she knew Leo was the heir of the Hendrix family and the said villain in the novel, it also meant he was Black Puma, the leader of the Northern Mafia. Suddenly, everything made sense. That was why Leo had been targeted by rival syndicates, leading to the ambush and him being cornered in the forest. And the reason they wanted him dead.

Based on Gerald’s intel, the former boss of the Northern Mafia had colluded with the Western and Southern factions in an attempt to seize control of both Leo and Luke’s territories. As a result, their attacks on the North had intensified.

Now that she had connected the dots, the picture was finally coming together.

Hera looked at Leo, a sense of urgency tightening in her chest. If things continued as they were, it wouldn’t be long before the other mafia factions targeted him again. Although their forces were currently strained due to Dave and Luke’s relentless raids on their cartels and territories, their situation would only grow more desperate if Leo were to join forces with Luke and Dave.

After all, both the Eastern and Northern factions refrained from dealing in drugs or other heinous crimes. They operated primarily in the grey areas, which was less dangerous, less morally corrupt ventures that the authorities could tolerate.

In fact, there were times when the authorities even relied on people like Luke to handle situations the official system couldn’t touch. These grey-zone groups weren’t fully part of the dark underworld, nor were they aligned with the lawful side, they existed in between, maintaining a delicate balance between both worlds.

That’s why Hera knew the Western and Southern forces had to be in a hurry. They were likely aware of Luke’s quiet collaboration with the authorities, which made him a difficult target. So instead, they were turning their sights on Leo, hoping to eliminate him first, take control of his territory and remaining forces, and use that momentum to reignite a full-scale war against both the Eastern faction and the government itself.

As Hera’s mind raced through all the possibilities, her brows drew together in concern. She turned to Leo, her gaze steady.

"Leo... what do you plan to do about the Western and Southern mafia factions now that things have escalated like this?"

Her voice was calm, but the weight behind her words made it feel more like a statement than a question, like she already knew he had a plan, and she was expecting him to share it. The room fell into stunned silence. Everyone froze, their minds momentarily blank, as if their brains had short-circuited. They didn’t fully grasp what Hera was referring to, at least not yet.

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