Chapter 4 Evicted

Hera winced in pain as she attempted to rise to her feet. The embarrassment was palpable as she found herself the unwitting center of attention for passersby. To her dismay, some even seized the moment to snap pictures and capture videos of her unfortunate predicament.

She gritted her teeth and made her way out, every step a struggle against the pain coursing through her. Yet, as excruciating as it was, it paled in comparison to the heartache she was dealing with.

She dialed her best friend's number, ready to vent it all out. But when Athena picked up, all her words vanished, and she could only sniffle and let the tears flow.

Hearing her friend's pitiful sobs, Athena grew restless and asked, "Babe, where are you right now?"

Gasping for breath, Hera managed to respond, "I'm by the flower bed in front of my building... got kicked out... from my own place." The realization of her situation hit hard, and she broke into even louder wails.

Athena bolted out of her studio, grabbing her keys. "Don't move, I'll be there in 15." She didn't give a second thought to her appearance as she dashed to the garage, keeping the call going, simply listening to her best friend's heart-wrenching sobs, feeling every bit of her pain.

She had cautioned her best friend countless times about Alexi's inevitable betrayal, but Hera remained stubborn, convinced that her goodness and efforts would win him over. Now, facing the harsh reality, Hera realized her mistake. Despite the temptation to say 'I told you so,' Athena refrained, understanding that adding insult to injury wouldn't help.

Athena sped through the streets, disregarding the possibility of a ticket for running red lights. True to her word, she arrived at Hera's location in just 15 minutes. However, upon her arrival, Athena found Hera unconscious and pale, sending a jolt of nervousness through her. Without hesitation, Athena sprang into action, quickly and carefully dragging Hera to her car and rushing her to the hospital.

As Hera slowly opened her eyes, she found herself under a white ceiling, greeted by the familiar scent of disinfectant. Glancing around, she spotted a doctor attentively assessing her condition. His appearance was striking, with delicate features that contradicted his stern demeanor. It was a perfect combination that could easily capture any girl's heart.

His stern voice cut through the air, devoid of any warmth or hospitality as he asked, "How are you feeling? Any discomfort?" This was enough to bring her back to her senses.

It was only then that the reality sank in—she was in the hospital. Struggling to piece together the events that led her here, Hera recounted her tearful call to Athena and the overwhelming pain in her stomach that had gripped her. Despite her efforts to endure the pain, she eventually succumbed to unconsciousness just minutes later.

She surmised that Athena must have been the one to bring her to the hospital upon arriving. Scanning the room for any sign of her friend, Hera found it empty, with no trace of Athena to be found.

"If you're searching for the lady who brought you in, she stepped out to make a call. But let's focus on your well-being for now. Shall we continue with my questions?"

Hera nodded and offered her apologies for not responding earlier. "I'm sorry, doctor. I don't feel any discomfort, but I do feel quite weak."

The doctor nodded understandingly. "It's understandable. You've pushed yourself physically and emotionally, especially on an empty stomach." He paused, his gaze shifting to her face. "You're young, and it's crucial to prioritize your health. Fortunately, it seems you're dealing with gastritis, but neglecting your well-being could lead to ulcers or even worse complications down the line."

Despite his stern demeanor, he remained a caring and dedicated doctor at heart. Hera smiled warmly at him and nodded in agreement. "I'll heed your advice, Doc. Thank you!"

"Hmmm." He hummed in agreement and continued. "No need for thanks, it's all part of the job. I'll pass your prescription to the nurse, and you can pick it up at their station. Just make sure to follow the instructions and take your medicine on schedule. I'll be off now."

"Thank you again, Doctor!" 

Hera's carefree smile seemed to soften the doctor's stern expression, causing the corners of his lips to twitch upward slightly before he exited the room completely.

After a brief wait, Athena returned, her eyes lighting up with relief as she saw Hera awake. "Oh my goodness! You scared me there!" Approaching the bed, Athena took a seat beside Hera and inquired, "How are you feeling?"

"Feeling better now. The doctor said it was just gastritis," Hera replied with a weak smile.

"Are you hungry?"

Hera nodded.

"Great! I brought chicken porridge and some fruits for you," Athena exclaimed as she wheeled the food table to Hera's lap and arranged the meal. "Want me to play the part of the caring nurse and feed you?" she asked playfully.

Hera couldn't help but chuckle at Athena's playfulness, feeling a wave of comfort wash over her. She realized that having a loyal friend like Athena was far more comforting than any romantic relationship could ever be.

"I'm perfectly capable of feeding myself, you know. My hands aren't disabled," Hera remarked with a smile, gently urging Athena to take a seat in the nearby chair.

Athena chuckled lightly and allowed Hera to eat her food, taking out her phone to browse the internet to pass the time. However, her amusement quickly turned to frustration as she stumbled upon a trending topic online, causing her to let out an exasperated yelp. "The audacity!" she exclaimed, her anger palpable.

Hera paused mid-bite and glanced over at Athena. "What's wrong?" she asked, noticing her friend's sudden change in demeanor.

Athena's frustration bubbled over, and she couldn't contain it any longer. She handed her phone to Hera, urging her to see for herself what had sparked her anger.

[#Trending: An extreme fan breaches the apartment of Rising Star Alexi!!!]

[#Trending: An extreme fan tried to seduce the Rising star, Alexi!!!]

The post includes Hera's photo, leaving her fully exposed without any blurring or concealment, making her easily recognizable to everyone. The attached photo captures the moment she was forcefully pushed outside.

Hera read through the comments.

[alexiismyhusband: She is beautiful, no wonder she is confident to seduce my brother Alexi...]

[IampasserbyGod: There are people like her everywhere... It is really disgusting!!!]

These comments are a little better but there are those who threw curses and death threats too.

[Aleximybrother: A vermin like her needs to be drowned, it's my good deed for our brother Alexi. I hope he will not be traumatized by this incident]

[Hornydog: LOL, if I have that kind of beauty throwing herself at me, I'd be totally happy. XOXOXO]

[Alexi_is_my_husband: When I see this bitch, I'll throw sulfuric acid on her face so she'll have no chance to seduce anyone.]

[Auntienextdoor: Women nowadays would do anything for money and fame. In our days.... TSK! TSK!]

The more Hera read the comments, the colder her heart grew. It's hard to believe that Minerva and Alexi weren't aware of this situation. It seems very likely that Minerva is the mastermind behind this trending topic.

Then, another trending topic began to gain traction in online searches. It was a post by Minerva, featuring a picture of her and Alexi enjoying dinner at a five-star hotel, with Alexi presenting her with a bouquet of red roses. The caption read, "I'm so happy to have such a sweet boyfriend. Happy 1st Anniversary, my love."

The same post was liked and shared by Alexi's official social media account which garnered thousands of likes and almost half a million comments.

[Alexiforlife: OMG! They are a match made in heaven!!!]

[Alexifandom: I'M IN LOVE with this couple!]

[Alexifandom1: So they've been dating for a year now, or maybe more! OMG]

[alexiismyhusband: I believed in love again.]

[Alexi_is_my_husband: I accept my defeat. I'm glad that Ms. Briley seemed to be unaffected by the extreme fan incident.]

There was a lot of support for their relationship declaration and the fan's hatred towards Hera intensified, they searched for her on social media and flooded her account with insults and curses.

This solidified Minerva's status as Alexi's girlfriend, while Hera was relegated to the role of just an obsessed fan. Hera and Athena seethed with anger at the injustice of it all.

"We can't let this go, Hera. We need to clear your name."

"I know... And I will." Hera's voice turned a degree colder.

"What's your plan?" Athena asked worriedly.

Before Hera could respond, the door swung open, catching her off guard. To her surprise, her grandfather entered the room, his expression stern yet caring. "Would you like me to handle this, my dear?" he asked, his tone gentle yet authoritative.

"Grandpa!" Hera's voice trembled, tears welling up in her eyes. The sight of her grandfather filled her with a mixture of relief and anguish, prompting her to release all the pent-up frustration and injustice she had endured. With choked sobs, she looked utterly pitiful, and her grandfather couldn't bear to see his granddaughter in such distress, feeling his heart ache for her.

Despite being in his 60s, the old man still possessed a robust and sturdy frame; if not for his white hair, he could easily pass for a man in his 50s. However, his stern demeanor softened into flustered concern upon seeing his granddaughter in tears. Despite his initial intentions, he found himself unable to scold her for her actions, knowing he couldn't bear to see her in such distress over a man like Alexi.

He took long strides and stood before his granddaughter, doing his utmost to comfort her and coax her tears to cease. However, no matter how hard he tried, Hera's cries only grew more intense with each attempt.

After shedding enough tears, her eyes were swollen, and she finally responded to her grandfather's earlier statement. "Grandpa, I'll handle this situation," she declared, wiping away her tears before continuing, "I'm ready to return and take on the responsibility and inherit the consortium."