The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 1039

Chapter 1039: Chapter 1039 The Loudmouth
In truth, Zen was right. If Athena hadn’t told Hera so much about the world they lived in, she might still be in the dark about the Avery family’s capabilities, or even about her own background.

Just like the Hera in the novel, who had lived outside her family’s protection for so long, and because of that, she hadn’t understood the workings of upper-circle family relationships. Back then, all she cared about was love and helping Alexis, so she had handed over her entire inheritance without a second thought. And they had used it against her, ultimately causing the downfall of the Avery family.

If she had truly understood the value and consequences of what she was giving, she might never have surrendered it so recklessly. That was why, now, she approached everything regarding the Avery family with extreme caution. She was taking slow, measured steps, carefully weighing their power and assets, determined not to repeat the mistakes that had been recorded in the novel.

“So… you’re really my cousin?” Hera asked, her gaze on Zen sharpening, scanning him from head to toe.

Even Zhane, Athena, and Rafael looked at him with serious expressions, struggling to believe that the two were actually related. Perhaps it was because Zen’s grandfather had been adopted, there were no obvious physical similarities to Hera, so no one had ever suspected their connection from the start.

“Yeah, your mother was actually the only daughter of the Ainsleys. According to my grandfather, she’s always been passionate and a bit fiery-tempered since she was young. Her grandfather worried that, being the only heiress and with her temperament, some young man might try to swindle her. So the patriarch decided to adopt a boy to assist your mother if needed. That’s why my grandfather was adopted.”

“Since your mother decided to venture into business rather than politics or the military, Grandpa Victor took on the family’s burdens in her place. He worked tirelessly to accumulate contributions and rise in rank, all to support Auntie,” Zen explained.

The more he spoke, the more confused Hera became.

“Wait… why are you calling my mom ‘Auntie’ while Grandpa Victor is still ‘Grandpa’?” she asked.

“Well, it’s because when Grandpa Victor was adopted, he was already a teenager. Instead of being adopted by your grandfather, who was your mother’s father, he was adopted by our great-grandfather.”

“Technically, that made him your grandfather’s brother and your mother’s uncle. But to avoid affecting your grandfather’s position in the family, our great-grandfather never clearly defined Grandpa Victor’s exact status, which made things… a little complicated. Almost everyone understood it, though, which is why we’re roughly in the same age bracket.”

“And, like Grandpa Victor, I was supposed to be your support, too. But I never even saw you. Back then, I was going through my rebellious phase and decided to venture into the entertainment industry instead. Grandpa nearly kicked me out of the family registry because of it… hehehe.”

Zen rubbed the back of his head, looking sheepishly at Hera after finally telling her the truth.

“So basically, you were supposed to be her right-hand man… but you ran away from home, huh?” Athena said mockingly, looking up at Zen with amusement dancing in her eyes.

“Well… yeah,” Zen admitted with a nod. Then he paused, curious. “When did you find out about her identity?” He studied Athena carefully. He had always assumed she was a loudmouth, someone who couldn’t keep a secret for anything. But maybe… she was just a perverted girl who could keep secrets after all.

Athena, as if reading his thoughts, felt instantly insulted and pinched his sides sharply.

“W-What?! I haven’t said anything!” Zen protested, wincing as the pinch made him feel like his skin was about to be peeled off.

“Weren’t you just thinking that a perverted girl like me was a loudmouth who couldn’t keep a secret, and yet you’re surprised I knew and never said a word?!” Athena snorted as she pinched him even harder.

“H-How’d you know?!” Zen blurted out, then he realized his mistake and immediately slapped his palm over his mouth.

Athena’s grip only tightened, making her fury grow, while Hera couldn’t help but giggle at the lively scene unfolding before her.

Only after the two had settled down did Hera answer Zen’s question.

“Athena knew my identity a long time ago…” she began, careful not to specify exactly when. After all, Athena had known about her identity since they were young, and explaining that would raise too many questions, like how could she tell them Athena knew her identity at that time when the Avery family was supposed to be hiding it from Hera?

And how could she reveal that she herself had long known her true identity before reaching adulthood, without anyone officially telling her? Any further explanation would force her to bring up Athena’s transmigration and the fact that the world they lived in was a novel. The risk of them thinking she’d lost her mind was far too high.

So she kept her explanation as vague as possible and continued, “And I told Zhane, Rafael, Xavier, Leo, Luke, and Dave about my identity not long ago…”

Her revelation left even Athena momentarily shocked; it was the first time she herself had heard that Hera had already disclosed her identity to them. More than anyone, Athena knew the roles Dave, Zhane, Xavier, Luke, and Rafael played in the novel, so it was all the more surprising that Hera had chosen to let them in on her secret.

For some reason, Athena felt a flicker of nervousness. What if the five of them, Zhane, Rafael, Xavier, Dave, and Luke, were suddenly influenced by the storyline, their mindset shifted with the plot?

If that happened and they became Hera’s enemies, wouldn’t it put her in even greater danger? After all, they already knew her identity, and now they would know exactly who to target.

Hera, however, didn’t share Athena’s worry. She had thought about this for a long time, which was why she had delayed telling them until now. She had her reasons for finally revealing her identity.

One thing was certain, though: these five were the male leads of this world, just as Alice was the female lead, which made them as the world’s chosen ones. They were protected, central figures to the story, and she believed the world revolved around them, not the other way around.

And she had proof of this, after all, she had already managed to take away Alice’s female lead halo. If Alice could lose hers, then the five male leads, who also carried halos, would remain as the chosen ones as long as they retained the world’s favor and the power bestowed upon them. All Hera needed to do was protect those halos, and she wouldn’t have to worry about anything else.

Besides, now that the world recognized her as the new female lead after she seized Alice’s halo, what reason did she have to fear the five of them straying from her side?

So Athena’s worries were completely unnecessary, but she didn’t know that. Hera hadn’t told her the specifics of what she’d done or how everything had shifted since then. And now that Hera thought about it, she hadn’t seen Alice for quite some time. Was it because Alice was no longer the female lead? Had her designated role changed, pushing her to the sidelines of the story?

Either way, now that Hera finally understood her connection to Zen, she no longer felt any reason to worry. With that settled, the group left the parking lot and headed toward the entrance, where Liz and Bry were already waiting for them.

“Sister! What took you so long? I thought you went missing!” Bry cried out the moment he spotted Hera’s group. Most of the VVIP guests had already gone inside through the exclusive entrance, leaving only Liz and Bry waiting for them. A short distance away, a long line of regular guests stretched across the venue.

When people in the queue saw Hera and her entourage entering through the VVIP entrance, excitement rippled through the crowd. Many immediately snapped photos and posted them online, which quickly sparked another trending topic, boosting the visibility of Logan’s debut concert as it became the talk of the town.

Hera also paused to take a quick group selfie in front of the entrance and uploaded it to her social media, deliberately helping Logan’s name climb the trending charts. Even if some couldn’t attend the concert, the buzz would ensure that once his album dropped, countless people would already be curious about his music.

Clips and highlights would be shared afterward, and the album sales would surely skyrocket once it was released following the concert.

“Alright, let’s all head inside,” Hera said with a smile as she tucked her phone away.

“Um… do you want some snacks? We can get something for you if you’d like,” Zhane asked gently while pushing Hera’s wheelchair with extra care.