Chapter 388 We Are No Paper Tiger
Although desperation often makes a person more dangerous, it can also drive them to act more frantically and hastily. Rather than carefully crafting a long-term plan, they might rush to find a quick solution, which could lead to mistakes and hasty decisions.
As their plans begin to unravel with growing loopholes, Hera seizes the opportunity to exploit these weaknesses to her advantage. With her strategy starting to pay off, she can now divert her attention from immediate concerns and allocate more energy toward other pressing matters, such as Minerva’s case and dealing with Alice, all while continuing her battle against her own fate.
"You bitch! It’s you! I’ll kill you!!!" Sienna shrieked, her voice piercing as she glared daggers at Hera. But Hera merely chuckled, amused by Sienna’s outburst. She was deliberately pushing all of Sienna’s buttons, knowing it would only intensify her hatred. Hera anticipated that this would drive Sienna to beg her brother to strike against her—perhaps even try to kill her.
Despite Hera’s strong belief in avoiding unnecessary danger, she knew she had to prepare for the worst. Given Sienna and her brother’s arrogance and their tendency to underestimate her, she was confident they would not meticulously plan for her. Hera was banking on this oversight, relying on her bodyguards to remain on constant standby. If the situation demanded an increase in security, she would not hesitate to bolster her defenses.
At the crucial moment, Gerald stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Dave and Zhane, who were shielding Hera. By taking on the role of spokesperson for the Avery family, Gerald aimed to divert some of the hostility away from Hera and towards the Avery family instead. Fully aware of Hera’s strategy, he was prepared to do whatever it took to support her and shield her from the brunt of the animosity.
After all, these people were his Young Miss’s enemies—those who had previously conspired to get her into trouble and now dared to act disrespectfully in her presence. Gerald had already shown restraint by not cutting her tongue off and silencing Sienna for her blatant disrespect. Tilting his head to crack his neck, he aimed to alleviate his irritation, but to Sienna, it only seemed like a menacing warning. It was as if he was signaling her to watch her words before he confirmed Hera’s earlier statement.
"It is true that the Avery family has taken grave offense at your brother’s actions on our territory," Gerald said, his eyes locking onto Sienna with an unwavering gaze. "His behavior was not only disrespectful but also damaging to our image and reputation. The Avery family is not a paper tiger; we prefer to mind our own business, but that doesn’t mean we won’t retaliate when provoked." Gerald’s calm demeanor only intensified the threat, making his words feel like the ominous calm before a storm.
"You see," Gerald began, taking a deliberate step closer, "we gave your brother ample time to repent and admit his mistake. Yet, he chose to hide, offering no apologies or acknowledgment of his wrongs. Now, tell me, how do you propose we handle this situation?" His approach made Sienna’s heart tremble, a cold, unsettling fear seizing her as though an icy grip were tightening around her entire being.
"No, it can’t be! That bitch must be lying and trying to shift all the blame onto my brother!" Sienna screeched hysterically, desperately trying to deflect responsibility. "She must have tried to drug a wealthy heir to seduce them and trap them with a baby. I’m sure of it!"
Gerald snickered, fully aware of Hera’s true role and intentions. He knew better than anyone that Hera, as the real boss of the Avery consortium and its future heir, had no reason to harm her own people or undermine her own establishment.