Chapter 29 Pay for my Meal?
"Shut up, you pauper!" Claire’s hysterical voice reverberated in the lobby, rendering everyone silent.
Hera, unfazed by Claire’s outburst, calmly inquired, "So, what do you want to happen then?" Her question held a hint of disinterest as if she were merely going through the motions.
Claire, momentarily regaining some semblance of composure, seized upon the opportunity. "Since you asked, I want you to pay for the food you’ve eaten too. Then, I would feel appeased and I would silently follow the restaurant’s verdict."
Inwardly, Claire relished the thought of Hera being unable to afford the exorbitant bill of an exclusive restaurant. She knew Hera’s financial limitations well and felt a surge of satisfaction at not being the one in the worst position. She believed that the General Manager would just go along to fix the issue since the crowd was growing bigger.
With a hint of malice, Claire awaited Hera’s reaction, hoping for tears or anger, perhaps even a display of desperation. Anything to shift the focus from her own hysterics to Hera’s perceived shortcomings. She believed that everyone enjoys making fun of poor people like monkeys in zoos.
Claire’s frustration mounted as Hera remained stoic, seemingly impervious to her challenge. Despite Claire’s longing for a reaction, Hera’s countenance remained unchanged—void of emotion, devoid of any indication of unease or vulnerability.
Growing increasingly vexed by Hera’s unflappable demeanor, Claire persisted, her voice now laced with irritation. "Did you not hear me?! Or are you deliberately ignoring me?!"
Hera maintained her cool composure, meeting Claire’s gaze with unwavering calmness. "I’m not deaf; I heard everything you said. And so did everyone else."
"Then why are you not answering?" Claire questioned through clenched teeth, fighting to maintain the sliver of composure she had managed to reclaim. Internally, she trembled not with rage, but with the dawning realization of her mistake and its potential implications for her father. As she unwittingly entangled Hera in the mess, her mind raced to find a solution amidst the chaos she had wrought.