Under the Heiress' Facade

Tyler answered, "Yeah."

Hera narrowed her eyes.

"You're the Grandmaster of Astral Nova?"

He put a finger to his lips to shush her and said cryptically, "That's a dangerous question to ask. It could get us into deadly trouble."

She frowned. She knew Astral Nova was a powerful and mysterious organization, but she never thought it would be so dangerous that she would run into deadly trouble if she asked about it. Then again, Tyler might not be lying if Astral Nova was so powerful that even the four influential families would bow to it.

And to think, Hera had unknowingly flirted with death when she repeatedly attacked Astral Nova's firewall the last time.

"The organization's inner workings can be highly political at times, but you can dig up any information you want through its network within minutes. So, how about it?" Tyler probed.

He was still smiling, his gaze beguiling and full of lethal charm. With a face like his, he could make anyone say yes.

Hera stared at him and asked, "So this is the third condition?"

Confusion briefly flashed across Tyler's eyes, but Hera saw it anyway. She knew at once that he was not the Grandmaster of Astral Nova.

However, he might be a member of the organization if he had so blatantly invited her to join it. He could also be playing her for a fool and trying to trick her into giving up personal information. Thankfully, her wits came in the nick of time.

Tyler was not as simple as his personal file had made him out to be. He was more than an illegitimate son who had been adopted by the Presgrave family to be trained and appointed as heir. "No, thanks. You said it yourself, I could get killed just for asking the wrong questions," Hera said flippantly.

"How will a weak and helpless damsel like me fend for myself if I were to join such a dangerous organization? It's too much for a coward like me to handle."

The corner of Tyler's lips twitched at the mention of her being weak and helpless. He had been threatened at needlepoint by her not hours ago. And no coward would infiltrate Astral Nova's system and wreak havoc.

He was starting to think she might need a lesson on vocabulary.

"Don't turn down the offer just yet. Go home and sleep on it," Tyler said.

He took out his phone.

"Here. Give me your number, and we'll talk on WhatsApp."

Hera was about to double down on her rejection when he added, "Besides, you should have a backup plan in case Bernard has been lying to you."

She stiffened and looked up at the roguish man before her. She wondered about his identity and how he knew so much about her.

When Tyler's phone screen dimmed from inactivity, he tapped on it.

As it lit up, he grinned at Hera and prompted, "Come on, give me your number. Maybe one of these days, you'll learn that Bernard has been lying to you. You're welcome to join me if that happens." Hera unlocked her phone and exchanged numbers with Tyler.

Meanwhile, at Celestial Gardens, Bernard was reviewing the worksheet on his computer in his study room at Ursa Major.

At that moment, Samson knocked on the door and entered.0

"Bernard, we just got word that Tyler sought out Ms. Youngworth at the clinic. They went to his bar and stayed there for about an hour."

Bernard's eyes narrowed as his gaze darkened.

"Got it. Keep an eye on them."

"Yes, sir."

After Samson left, Bernard picked up his phone and made a call.

He warned icily, "Stay away from her."