Under the Heiress' Facade

Samantha asked again, "You can't do this and that. Then, what do you want?"

Hera took another sip of the wine gloomily.

"That's why I called you out. Help me think of a solution."

Samantha kept silent.

"Great. It's a dead end," Hera sarcastically thought.

Meanwhile, in a VIP room on the third floor of Nightless Haven, Bernard sat in a corner, drinking sullenly.

Shaun wanted to call some hostess in for some fun, but a single look from Bernard made him drop the idea. He exchanged glances with Theo, who was also invited since he was on a business trip in Jedburgh. Ever since Bernard started dating Hera, he had stopped coming out for drinks with them. He seemed to be deeply in love and was dedicated to the relationship. Now that he suddenly asked them out, they figured something must have happened.

"Bernard, it's rare for you to ask us out for drinks. Are we really just drinking? You can do that at my family's winery, you know. We have all the vintages."

Shaun couldn't help but ask.

Bernard simply replied, "Too far. Not going."

Shaun didn't know what to say in response.

He then lit a cigar.

"So, did you have a fight with your girlfriend?"

"No."

Shaun was losing his patience.

"Then, why are you looking so gloomy?"

Bernard only kept drinking in silence.

Theo, who was sitting nearby, poured him another drink and asked, "Bernard, is it about your identity?"

As expected of the strategist Bernard favored, Theo's guess hit the nail on the head.

Hera confessed her identity as Dr. Shadow to him that night, which made him happy but also guilty. He felt guilty because not only was he hiding his identity from her, but he had also been lying to her. "Do you have any good advice?"

Bernard looked up at Theo.

Theo had previously advised him to reveal his identity to Hera as that could help their relationship develop. But doing so would require Hera to swear on her life to never reveal his identity as Grandmaster of Astral Nova.

The organization within Astral Nova was very complex. Besides the grandmaster, there were ten elders whose identities remained secret to maintain the balance of power and for the development of Astral Nova's business.

Since Bernard took over, only a few knew his true identity.

Thus, knowing that identity wasn't necessarily a good thing.

Theo adjusted his glasses.

"For now, I think you can only continue to hide it until a suitable opportunity arises."

Bernard kept drinking in frustration. This was the only option at the moment.

In the private room on the second floor, Hera hadn't come up with a good solution either, but she had managed to get herself drunk.

Samantha quickly took the wine glass from her.

"Hera, stop drinking. You're drunk. What's your dear Bernard's number? I'll call him to pick you up."

"Not drunk... Don't call him..." Hera said with a hiccup as she wobbled out of the room.

Samantha suddenly realized that if Bernard were around, he wouldn't have let her come to the bar. She figured that Hera must have sneaked out.

So, Samantha hurriedly gathered her things and chased after Hera.

"Hey, don't just run off like this. The elevator's this way. Where are you going?"

Hera drunkenly said, "There's a handsome guy over there..."

"My dear, this is so not you."

Samantha quickly supported Hera and dragged her toward the elevator.

She really regretted bringing Hera out for drinks. When sober, Hera was an angel, but when she was drunk, she would become a total flirt.

Samantha finally managed to take Hera to the elevator. The elevator doors opened, and Samantha instantly froze when she saw the person inside.

At that time, only six words flashed through her mind.

"My dear Hera, you're done for!"