Chapter 7 I'm no longer Hera Ainsley

In the book, it was foretold that Hera's character would undergo a dark transformation following the loss of her parents and the relentless hardships she endured outside. Eventually, she crossed paths with Alexi during high school, instantly captivated by him. Their whirlwind romance ensued, with Hera ardently pursuing Alexi until he succumbed to her advances, and they got into a relationship.

However, Alexi's modest background posed financial constraints, making it difficult for him to attend the prestigious international school for the affluent but he and his family persevered because they were looking for a better future. When Alexi and Hera enter into a relationship, Alexi's family opposes it vehemently. They disapproved of Hera being dependent on their family's little wealth and preferred Alexi to be with someone from a wealthy background. This was the sole reason they insisted on sending Alexi to a prestigious international school.

They knew that their son, Alexi was good-looking enough to rope in a wealthy young lady and not a poor orphan like Hera that's why they treated her poorly. Hera could only persevere and believe that through her hard work, she would be able to change their prejudice against her.

Just the typical cliche troupe romance, the author did not put so much effort into Hera's romantic life with Alexi, it's probably because the author is lazy or just plain excited to jump on to the romance for the main female lead and second female lead, thinking of all the smut going with the two and their male leads.

Soon, Alexi was scouted by Star Ocean to debut as their artist.

As he ventured into the entertainment industry, Hera assumed the role of a tireless provider, toiling tirelessly to fund his extravagant lifestyle. Upon reaching adulthood and inheriting the Averys' wealth at 18, Hera showered Alexi with gifts and transferred the majority of her shares and properties to him.

Yet, despite her sacrifices, Alexi's heart belonged to Minerva. He callously exploited Hera's affections and resources, ultimately conspiring with Minerva to use the Avery fortune against her, orchestrating her demise.

Upon learning of Hera's tragic fate, old Master Avery became the antagonist in Alexi and Minerva's lives, intensifying their bond as they united against him. Eventually, old Master Avery's demise transpired after the collaboration of the secondary and main female leads, along with the support of the latter's influential harem.

That's right, the romance novel belongs to the Mary Sue Reverse Harem genre and is aptly titled "The Thin Line Between Love and Lust." It falls under the R18 category, promising a tantalizing and provocative story.

Initially, Hera brushed off Athena's revelations as symptoms of Chunibyo, or eighth-grader syndrome, attributing them to an overly active imagination. However, their high school years brought an unexpected twist when they encountered Alexi, who not only attended the same school but also joined the same club as Hera and Athena.

The revelation left Hera in disbelief, causing her to reconsider the validity of Athena's claims. In an attempt to avoid attracting Alexi's attention, Hera consciously minimized her presence at school. However, her efforts to remain inconspicuous inadvertently sparked Alexi's curiosity, leading him to pursue her relentlessly, like a persistent adhesive.

Despite Hera's impoverished and orphaned background, Alexi's unwavering pursuit demonstrated his genuine affection for her. After two years of persistent courtship, Hera finally relented and agreed to enter into a relationship with him. Following their high school graduation, they began sharing an apartment funded by Hera's resources, while Alexi diligently saved most of his income for their future home.

Hera's belief in the possibility of altering her fate grew as she witnessed Alexi's unexpected deviation from the storyline. Despite Athena's reservations, she lent Hera her support, though not without occasional reminders to stay vigilant against the plot armor of the second female lead.

However, despite her hopes for a different outcome, Hera found herself abruptly dumped by Alexi, leaving her to be Minerva's target.

With no way out, she resolved not to remain passive any longer. Instead, she decided to take an active role that would bring her satisfaction. She chose to confront them directly if they came after her or the people important to her.

She refuses to wait around to become a victim. With Athena by her side, she knows she has unwavering support, even when things get tough.

But of course, for starters, she has to sleep first and sleep some more! If possible, she would like to sleep for a few days.

During her days of relentless work, she never had the luxury of sleeping in, every second was precious, and now she regrets it. On her first day staying with Athena, she slept throughout, only waking up when Athena would forcefully drag her out of bed to make her eat.

"Babe, I understand breakups suck. But don't forget to take care of yourself," Athena urged worriedly, her hands on her hips as she stood in front of Hera.

"Just so you know, I'm not sulking. I've just come to appreciate the bliss of sleep, something I couldn't fully enjoy before, due to the endless work I had to undertake just to survive and provide for my cheating ex." Hera murmured drowsily as she fed herself.

Athena reflected on how relentlessly busy her best friend used to be, akin to a spinning top with no pause. She silently agreed, realizing that this was a rare opportunity for her friend to finally give her body and mind the rest they deserved. The transition in her life was monumental, and now she had the means to live carefreely and abundantly to savor life's simple pleasures, such as sleep and shopping.

As Athena contemplated their past, she realized they had never gone shopping together. Determined to treat her best friend, Athena planned a lavish shopping spree once everything settled down. Hera had never indulged in spending on herself for clothing or self-care.

Since childhood, Hera had been frugal, never afforded the opportunity to splurge on expensive attire or shoes. Athena, too, had chosen to endure the same hardships as her best friend, ensuring Hera felt supported. While it was no inconvenience for Athena, having experienced poverty before her transmigration, her mother felt sorry for her baby daughter's situation and this also touched Hera deeply, instilling a sense of gratitude for their bond.

Unbeknownst to Athena, Hera had meticulously planned a surprise outing to pamper her friend. Every detail was meticulously thought out, and Athena was in for a delightful surprise.

Athena would likely give her younger self a resounding thumbs-up, affirming that befriending Hera was the best and most significant decision she ever made.

Before Hera could crawl back to her bed, her phone rang, and upon answering, Alfonse's respectful voice resonated from the other end of the line. "Young miss, I've found a suitable place for you. Would you like to visit it?"

"Hmmm," Hera mumbled in agreement initially, but as Alfonse's words registered in her mind, her drowsiness evaporated, and she promptly made up her mind to meet him.

"I'll be there in 30-45 minutes. Just send me the address," she replied decisively.

Within moments, Hera received the address from Alfonse, prompting her to leap out of bed for a quick shower.

Since she hadn't bought any new clothes yet, she relied on the spare clothes Athena had prepared for her.

While Athena had chosen to live a life akin to Hera's, there was one aspect she refused to compromise on and that was wearing cheap clothes that had rough texture. She preferred clothing with the finest textures, with only the highest quality but is only known by people of wealth and unknown to commoners, so most people would think that it was just cheap clothes with no brands. These clothes are actually manufactured by her family's company so she could have an endless supply of clothes.

Hera opted for a simple white t-shirt, blue ripped jeans, and white Louis Vuitton shoes that have no visible logo, not unless you examine them up close.

She then excitedly went to the living room to look for Athena so they could check the new place together. But Athena wasn't there, she tried to look for her around the condo but she was out.

Hera quickly called Athena. "Girl, where are you?"

After a minute, Athena replied. "Mom called for a pampering session and wanted me to come with her. Why?"

"Alfonse found me a new place. I'm heading there now."

"Already?! You only requested it yesterday! I thought it would take at least 3-4 days. Wait for me, I'll get dressed now."

"What are you doing anyway?" Hera asked curiously.

"Whole body massage and I don't know what my mom added in the package. She's over the moon about you returning to the Avery, which means I'm going back too so she dragged me along for the ride." She paused, and Hera could hear a rustle on the other side. "Actually, Mom wanted you to join us, but I declined on your behalf. I figured you could use some more rest. I assured her that we'll have plenty of time for our girls' date in the future."

Hera chuckled, she could imagine Athena's mother, who was full of energy despite nearing her 50s. "Alright."

Then, as if she remembered something, she said, "You don't have to hurry home. I'll go with Alfonse for now to check the place. You can accompany Auntie for the day."

"I'm coming with you!" Athena insisted.

Hera raised her eyebrows. "Why are you so insistent on coming? Don't tell me you just want to ditch Auntie and use me as your excuse?" She chuckled.

As if caught red-handed, Athena sighed. "Not really. I just wanted to make sure you're not going to choose something cheaper to save money."

"Why would I?" Hera questioned, looking confused. "I have plenty of money at my disposal, and I'm starting anew, aren't I?"

Athena let out a sigh of relief. "I was worried you'd stick to your old habits."

"Before, I lived as Hera Ainsley, needing to be frugal. But now, I'm Hera Avery, the sole heiress of the Avery Family."

Athena's face lit up. "Alright! I will be coming to your housewarming instead and I am looking forward to a high-end house!"

"Then look forward to it" Hera smirked.