The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress-Chapter 883 Pre Race

That thought alone made Xavier cheer up considerably. He began eating with renewed enthusiasm, even scooping extra food onto Hera’s plate, as if he were fattening her up or making sure she had enough energy for the long day ahead. Meanwhile, Alexandre sat across from them, silently watching with envy, chewing his food without tasting it, everything suddenly felt bland, like he was biting into cardboard.

Antoine could only glance at Alexandre with quiet pity. Lucky him, he had been decisive enough to let go of his feelings for Hera before it was too late. There were plenty of fish in the sea, he told himself. Maybe none would shine as brightly as Hera, who burned like a star, but chasing someone so far out of reach could only lead to heartache.

And looking at Alexandre now, clearly entangled in his own longing and unable to escape his feelings, Antoine felt validated in his decision. That kind of obsession was its own kind of torture. And when the pain became too much, who could he even complain to?

No one.

Especially not after the information he had gathered the night before, learning just how powerful the men surrounding Hera truly were. She wasn’t lacking in suitors who could protect, support, or cherish her.

If he, Antoine, were to throw himself into that mix, what would he even bring to the table? And worse, what if he ended up being crushed between giants? He had no interest in being left in tatters, maybe not even his boxers would survive if things turned ugly.

Their countries were different. Their influence was different. Was he truly ready to sacrifice his wealth, his position, his name, just to chase someone into a world where he had no footing?

No. He knew better.

So, Antoine had woken up from his infatuation. He only wished Alexandre would do the same. But the stubborn ox wouldn’t listen; he was hell-bent on ramming straight into the wall, bruising himself just to see what lay beyond. So, Antoine stepped back. He’d let him. And in the meantime, he’d just sit back and watch the drama unfold.

But after accidentally hearing Hera’s sultry, sweet voice last night, even he had to admit, he was tempted. Deeply tempted. For a brief, reckless moment, he even considered going for it, even if it meant being burned to ashes by her current boyfriends.

After all, it seemed that surviving among them required more than just charm; it took strength, grit, and the audacity to stand tall among wolves. And if he wasn’t up to the task?

They wouldn’t just tear him apart, they’d probably chew him up, spit him out, and send him crawling back home with nothing left... not even his boxers. Honestly, with the kind of men Hera kept around her, he wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow tricked him into selling himself and then helped them count the profits.

While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, they finished breakfast and followed the hotel manager to a hidden passage that led to the rooftop, a restricted area no one even knew existed. Just as they arrived, a large Leonardo AW139 helicopter began circling overhead, surveying the area before making a smooth descent.

The aircraft was massive, capable of accommodating 15 passengers in addition to the two crew members. Everyone was genuinely taken aback; they had expected a small helicopter, not something that looked like it belonged in a VIP rescue mission or used by billionaires.

Once the helicopter landed, a crew member opened the door, and Hera was escorted by Xavier, who carried her bag like the devoted boyfriend he was, unbothered by the fact that the Hermes Kelly looked hilariously out of place on his arm. He helped Hera climb aboard, then followed after, placing her headphones gently over her ears before putting on his own. Meanwhile, the others stood frozen, still in awe at the sheer size and luxury of the aircraft.

It wasn’t until the hotel manager urged them along that anyone moved. Alexandre was the first to snap out of it. After a moment of deliberation, he marched forward and took the seat beside Hera, unwilling to back down in front of Xavier’s smug presence. He wasn’t the type to quietly surrender and slink away like a defeated dog, especially not when it came to Hera.

Xavier gave Alexandre a long, deliberate look, then promptly ignored him, turning his full attention to Hera instead. Hera, feeling the unspoken tension radiating from both sides, sat stiffly upright and stared straight ahead, as if trying to burn a hole through the back of the pilot’s seat.

Then Xavier gently reached over, guided her head toward his shoulder, and subtly adjusted his posture, lowering his shoulder to make it more comfortable for her."Get some rest," he murmured. "You’ll need all the energy you can get for the race."

Hera wasn’t sleepy at all, but somehow, Xavier’s voice carried the weight of a spell. And as the helicopter lifted into the sky, the thunderous sound of the rotors faded into the background, and she drifted off to sleep, dreamless and deep.

When she finally stirred awake, it was to the soft poke of Xavier’s finger on her cheek, his smirk far too pleased with itself. She blinked and realized they had already landed in a wide open clearing, just fifteen minutes away from the race venue.

Given that the Leonardo AW139 helicopter cruises at approximately 306 km/h, they reached the race venue in under an hour, around 50 minutes. With an additional 15-minute drive to the actual location, the total travel time clocked in at about 1 hour and 5 minutes.

Hera felt surprisingly refreshed after her power nap during the flight. Being beside Xavier made her feel safe and assured, allowing her to rest deeply despite the noise of the rotors.

Upon arrival at the garage, her crew was already in motion, meticulously inspecting her car, especially the brakes and engine, to eliminate any risk of malfunction or accident. Meanwhile, another team was actively running laps around the circuit to map out the course, recording detailed footage to give Hera a strategic briefing. They highlighted the key turns and danger zones so she could mentally prepare and adjust her expectations.

Though they had less than an hour to prepare, the team treated every second with utmost seriousness.

Meanwhile, Athena, Liz, Minerva, and Antoine made their way to the VIP stand. The lounge was fully air-conditioned, equipped with widescreen monitors for real-time race coverage, and enclosed in glass to shield the guests from the harsh wind and roar of the track.

Alexandre and Xavier remained in the garage to stay close to Hera and monitor her performance alongside the crew. They wanted to see her real-time lap stats and track records as the race progressed. This wasn’t Xavier’s first time in Hera’s garage, so he moved with easy familiarity, settling into a folding chair and watching the same monitor that the coach and manager were intently focused on.

Meanwhile, Hera stepped away to change into her racing suit, and her team performed one final round of checks on her car, tuning the engine, double-checking the tires and brakes, and making sure everything was race-ready.

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