Chapter 973: Chapter 973 Owning A Mountain
If she were nothing more than an obsessive stalker, then her actions would likely revolve around clinging to Leo, perhaps even attempting to drug him in hopes of forcing a compromise and claiming him openly.
But if she were a spy, she would almost certainly pressure the people behind her to act quickly, before anyone connected her to the information leak. After all, if she truly was a mole, she’d believe she could safely blend in among the hospital’s staff, keeping her actions subtle while maintaining her watchful eye.
After the arrangements were settled, Hera and the others went about their day as usual. Leo, for once, didn’t make a fuss around her, but he couldn’t stop sneaking glances in her direction. Hera noticed, of course, yet she chose to pretend otherwise, quietly curious to see what he was up to.
When the day came to an end, Hera was sent back to her penthouse.
Luke had been called over to Dave’s side so they could begin strategizing how to intercept the Northern Mafia’s incoming shipment of weapons, leaving neither of them with time to spend with her.
Hera didn’t complain; she knew how important their work was. Xavier, meanwhile, was occupied with his new role, his grandfather keeping him close while personally teaching him the ropes and preparing him for the responsibilities ahead. That meant Xavier, too, couldn’t slip away to be with Hera.
In the end, only Zhane and Rafael were left to escort her back. Since Dr. Zigheart had given Zhane the go-ahead, he could take over Leo’s care whenever Zhane was out. And with their plan to lure out the suspicious female doctor, security needed to appear a little lax, creating the illusion of an opportunity.
Zhane, therefore, had to look distracted by his lover—Hera—so the woman would make a move. Rafael, on the other hand, had just wrapped up an exhausting all-nighter with the UE music director to settle Logan and Lucas’s issue, and was finally given time to rest. Thus, aside from the two of them, the others weren’t available.
But Hera, understanding how busy the others were, didn’t mind their absence.
When she, Rafael, and Zhane finally arrived at the penthouse, they were greeted by the comforting aroma of food. Hannah had just finished preparing dinner. Amy opened the door for them, greeting them with a gentle smile as she fussed over Zhane and Rafael, helping them out of their coats before neatly hanging them on the rack.
Seeing Amy like this, Hera was reminded of what had happened the other night. Concern flickered across her face as she looked up at her from her wheelchair.
"Amy, how are you doing? Is your knee still hurting? And what about your palm and the scratches you got from the shattered porcelain?" Hera asked softly, checking her condition with genuine worry.
Amy smiled brightly as she lifted her hands to show Hera the neatly wrapped bandages."Young Miss, thank you so much for worrying about me. Hannah took me to get treated right away, and since then, she’s almost taken over most of my work so I could heal faster and avoid touching water that might aggravate the wounds."
"But honestly, they’re just minor scratches, nothing serious at all. Hannah’s just been overly worried..." Amy said with a little laugh.
"Hannah was right, you should take care of yourself and rest more. Take this chance to visit your family or spend time with them. Just treat it as paid leave. While you’re away, have someone from the main manor cover for you, especially if you’re worried about Hannah taking on too much work," Hera said with a gentle smile.
She was relieved Amy wasn’t badly hurt. If she had been, Hera would already be plotting how to make Silvia pay. Still, even though Amy’s injuries were minor, Hera mentally added it to Silvia’s growing list of debts.
One day, she would collect. For now, she let Silvia bask in her temporary happiness. Hera wasn’t foolish enough to confront her head-on in her current condition. After all, even if Silvia was nothing more than a fake heiress and a stand-in, years of pretending had allowed her to build a solid foundation and connections with the wealthy elite.
Many still believed she was the true heiress of the Avery family, and plenty would lend her support if she so much as hinted at wanting someone gone. Hera knew she wasn’t strong enough yet to deal with Silvia outright, but the day would come.
For now, Hera would bide her time, slowly chipping away at Silvia’s connections and dismantling her foundation in upper society piece by piece. As she was quietly strategizing her next move, Rafael had already wheeled her into the living room, while Amy and Hannah busied themselves setting the table.
Zhane and Rafael exchanged a knowing glance when they caught Hera’s expression, sly and sharp like a cunning fox. Both chuckled inwardly, thinking, ’Whoever she’s plotting against is doomed. RIP...’ They shook their heads, half amused, half sympathetic for her yet-unknown target.
Before long, Amy returned to call them for dinner, and Hera was wheeled into the dining room. Tonight, Hannah had prepared a spread of Chinese cuisine: braised pork, shredded potatoes, sweet and sour pork, chicken soup with ginseng, and tomato with scrambled egg.
The dishes looked homey and simple, yet each carried Hannah’s signature touch. With her training as an international chef, she blended regional styles into every dish, subtly weaving in medicinal herbs to aid Hera’s recovery.
As the aroma of the dishes filled the air, Zhane’s gaze lingered on the table. The faint fragrance of medicinal herbs drifted from the food, and he gave a small nod of approval before tasting the tomato with scrambled egg.
The tomato was sweet with a light tang that perfectly balanced the slight saltiness of the egg. Hannah had also ground dried medicinal herbs into a fine powder and folded them into the dish so subtly that the bitterness was almost imperceptible.
If Zhane hadn’t grown so familiar with medicinal herbs after studying ancient medicine, he might not have noticed at all.
Satisfied that the dish was safe and beneficial for Hera, he served her a portion before moving on to the chicken soup with ginseng. The rich aroma alone revealed its quality, and a single sip confirmed it. Hannah hadn’t held back.
She had used a hundred-year-old wild ginseng, a treasure that elevated the soup’s value to no less than a hundred thousand dollars. Such ginseng was nearly impossible to find these days, as deforestation had devastated its natural growth.
The cultivated versions sold in the market paled in comparison, their effects lacking the potency of wild ginseng. And in medicine, that slight difference could mean everything.
Zhane could tell that it wasn’t just the chicken soup; every dish on the table carried traces of rare medicinal herbs, each one worth a fortune. Altogether, the meal could easily amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
But for the Averys, such extravagance barely scratched the surface of their wealth. They likely had countless other treasures hidden away.
What Zhane didn’t know, however, was that Hannah hadn’t spent a single dime to procure these herbs. They all came from a mountain that Old Master Avery had gifted to Hera. Along with the companies and income-generating properties he had placed under her name upon her return, he had also entrusted her with this mountain.
It wasn’t just any land; it was a pristine, untouched wilderness, rich with medicinal herbs and home to endangered animals. Since both grandfather and granddaughter loved hiking, fishing, and exploring the wild, Old Master Avery had secured this mountain long ago. Free from pollution and deforestation, its ecosystem thrived, and the herbs harvested there retained their purest, most potent qualities.
Because of this, Hera and the Avery family never had to worry about medicinal herbs. When Zhane’s collaboration with the Lennon family, who supplied his family hospital with herbs, collapsed, Hera immediately seized the opportunity. She dispatched Gerald to work with Zhane, leveraging the vast resources from the mountain under her name.
Only now did Zhane fully realize the depth of it all. The reason Hannah could so casually incorporate medicinal herbs into her cooking was not just the Avery family’s wealth, but Hera’s own direct access to such resources.
Remembering that he had signed a collaboration with Gerald, and knowing now that Gerald was Hera’s aide, Zhane understood that Hera possessed an almost inexhaustible supply of medicinal herbs. For her, scarcity was never a concern.
Zhane brushed the thoughts aside and focused on serving Hera more food, occasionally taking a few bites himself. Rafael, however, was insistent on feeding her, and Hera, long since accustomed to their fussing, ate with gusto as Rafael patiently fed her bit by bit.
Once the meal ended, Amy came over with a folder in hand and passed it to Hera. Since she couldn’t open it herself, Hera gestured for Zhane’s help. He took the folder, opened it, and revealed several golden tickets made from a unique material, smooth like polyester yet with the cool weight of metal. Curious, he handed one over to Hera.