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UNDER THE HEIRESS' FACADE

Chapter 1

1170971

It was late August in the deep mountains where Jadonia and Valdenland met. A
young woman in a snug dress and an older lady stood before a nameless grave.

The young woman, Hera Youngworth, was born into the Everett family of Norburgh.
However, she was given to the wrong family due to a mistake at the hospital 17
years ago.

Just a week ago, the Everetts located her. Today, they were here to bring her
back to the city.

Catherine Youngworth shifted her gaze from the tombstone to Hera. "Let's start
heading downhill. The Everetts will arrive shortly. Once you're back in the
city, you'll be recognized as an Everett. It's time to leave the past behind."

"Okay, Grandma. You go ahead. I'd like to stay a little longer," Hera replied.

Catherine took one last glance at the tombstone, let out a sigh, and said,
"Don't keep them waiting."

Hera stood alone, silently gazing at the nameless tombstone.

Suddenly, she heard rustling in the woods behind her and glanced up. Something
was stirring among the trees and approaching her.

Turning around cautiously, she caught the glint of sunlight on her long
eyelashes. A figure dressed in dark camouflage dashed out from the woods,
stirring a heavy scent of blood into the air.

The tall man had camouflage paint on his face, making it hard for Hera to see
his features. Yet, she spotted a flag on his right arm.

Meanwhile, Hera could still hear rustling sounds from the woods behind him.

Bernard Killian hadn't expected to run into anyone in these desolate mountains.
With a growl, he cautioned, "It's dangerous here. You should go!"

Drained of energy, he stumbled and collapsed before Hera. He lay motionless, his
blood staining the grass beneath him.

Hera frowned. The smell of blood was overpowering, leading her to believe that
Bernard had likely lost consciousness due to excessive bleeding. He might not
survive if she didn't act fast to stop the bleeding.

Suddenly, two men dressed in light camouflage suits emerged from the woods.

The first man, Edwin Elrod, who had curly hair, spoke in Terranish, "There's a
woman over here!"

The second man, Albert Barlowe, had a crew cut and thick lips. He glanced at
Hera and said, "Let's take her with us."

It seemed that Albert hadn't seen a woman in a while. His gaze turned lustful as
soon as he laid eyes on Hera.

Hera's heart pounded. She had lived in this borderland for 11 years and was
aware of its dangers, but this situation was new.

Despite her anxiety, she silently thanked her lucky stars that Catherine had
gone down the mountain before her.

Hera calmly looked at the weapons they were holding, then spoke in standard
Terranish, "Please don't harm me. I'm just a villager."

Albert stepped forward, using the barrel of his gun to lift Hera's chin. Her
face was beautiful and soft. He imagined that touching her would be pleasant.

He licked his lips and grinned. "Miss, you speak Terranish quite well. Come with
us. I'll take you everywhere and we'll live a good life."

Hera fixed her gaze on the ominous gun barrel, her throat tight with fear.
"Fine, just please don't hurt me. I'll do whatever you say. I'll pack my things
and go with you right away."

Her timid response only fueled Albert's dark intentions. He smirked with a hint
of malice. "Since you're so agreeable, let's begin with making me happy!"

Edwin chimed in with a similarly unsettling laugh.

Albert dropped his weapon and seized Hera's right hand, pulling her close.

Quick as lightning, Hera ran her left hand along the side of her tight dress,
revealing a silver needle between her fingers. She then thrust the needle into
Albert's ST 9 acupuncture point.

Albert froze, his head dropping to meet Hera's icy gaze. The fear that had been
in her eyes moments before was now gone.

Edwin sensed trouble and muttered curses under his breath. He pointed his gun at
Hera but hesitated to shoot, fearing he might hit Albert instead.

Once Albert fell unconscious, Hera shoved him aside and rolled swiftly toward
the tombstone. She grabbed a handful of white powder from a basket and flung it
at Edwin.

Edwin hurried to reload his gun, but it was too late. The powder filled the air,
and as he breathed it in, his vision blurred. He felt his senses dulling. Within
moments, he collapsed unconscious, just like Albert.

The powder Hera used was her own mix, designed to repel wild animals. Without an
antidote, they wouldn't wake up for at least an hour.

Hera got to her feet and looked down. She noticed that the dress Catherine had
tailored for her was stained and ripped from the stones. She frowned, feeling a
pang of regret.

Then, she moved closer to check Bernard's injury. He had been shot in the right
shoulder blade, and blood was flowing from the wound.

Hera undid the intricate camouflage uniform Bernard wore and lifted the slit of
her dress. Along the edge of the slit, rows of silver needles of various lengths
and thicknesses were found.

She picked a few and carefully inserted them into Bernard's acupuncture points,
which aided in stopping the bleeding.

Next, she tore off a fabric from her torn dress and used it to bandage Bernard's
wound. Unfortunately, given the circumstances, she couldn't remove the bullet.

As Bernard slowly woke up, he felt a numbness in his right shoulder. He was
still feeling dazed, but he snapped wide awake when he felt someone's hands on
his chest.

Hera had just finished wrapping a bandage around his wound when Bernard grabbed
her right wrist.

"Don't worry I'm just tending to your injury," Hera reassured him.

Bernard finally got a good look at her face and was surprised. "C-Cecily?"

Hera was shocked. She looked at Bernard's face, which was smeared with
camouflage paint. Then, she pulled away from his grip and distanced herself.

The name Cecily was known only to the Killian family. Hera wondered if the
person standing before her could be one of the Killians.

Chapter 2

1170972

Hera felt completely stunned.

All of a sudden, the sound of an approaching aircraft grew louder. Bernard's
backup had arrived.

Hera looked up and saw a helicopter hovering above. The helicopter's door slid
open, and a ladder lowered down. A man dressed in camouflage, similar to
Bernard's attire, descended from above.

Hera swiftly dashed away.

Bernard pushed himself up, his eyes following her disappearing figure. With a
pleased grin, he mumbled, "So, you were hiding here. I'll be back for you."

…

At the foot of the mountain, two sleek black BMWs were parked in front of a
rundown house. The yard was bustling with curious bystanders.

In the living room, Catherine welcomed the Everetts, who had arrived from the
city.

James Everett, Lilith Cresswell, and their daughter, Giselle Everett, who had
been mistakenly taken at birth and raised by them, were here.

The three's impeccable attire clashed sharply with the shabby state of the
living room.

Giselle scowled at the worn cup before her, feeling a wave of repulsion. She
glanced around the living room, taking in the peeling paint on the walls and the
chaotic mess of herbs scattered across the floor.

To make matters worse, there wasn't even an air conditioner in the house on this
scorching summer day. Instead, an old ceiling fan whirred above, its irritating
squeak only adding to her discomfort.

The idea that Giselle was part of this rundown family was unbearable to her. She
was firmly convinced that she was meant to be an Everett.

Giselle clung to James' arm, looking upset. "Dad, it's sweltering in here. Does
Hera not want to see me because she thinks I stole her parents?"

"What are you talking about? It wasn't your fault to be mistakenly taken at
birth. Why would she blame you?" James snapped.

Before arriving, the Everetts had called to say they were coming to take Hera
back to their home. As for Giselle, they had raised her for 17 years and had
grown attached to her, so they decided to continue raising her.

"Then, why is she taking so long?" Giselle seemed even sadder. She turned to
Catherine. "Um, could you go find Hera? And ask her to hurry?"

Her tone sounded like she was instructing a housekeeper on tasks.

Catherine let out a sigh as she observed Giselle's behavior. She was about to
stand up, but James intervened, "It's fine. Let's give her five more minutes. If
she hasn't returned by then, we'll go first."

Lilith quickly placed her cup down. Finding their biological daughter had been
an arduous journey, and she wasn't going to let this visit slip away without a
word.

Just as she was about to speak persuasively, a clear voice was heard speaking
from outside, "Grandma, I'm home."

All heads turned toward the doorway, where a tall, slender young woman stood.
Her figure was outlined by the light behind her.

Hera carried herself with a certain aloofness which hinted that it wouldn't be
wise to cross her.

Even with her advanced age, Catherine's eyes were sharp. She noticed the large
tear in her dress as soon as Hera entered.

"Hera, what's wrong?" Catherine approached with concern.

Hera supported Catherine and reassured her, "Grandma, I'm fine."

She looked down at her dress and added, "I just... accidentally tore my
clothes..."

It was then everyone realized Hera's dress was dirty and tattered.

Giselle was overcome with disgust. She hadn't anticipated Hera not even having
decent clothes to wear. She made a firm decision never to return to this shabby
place again!

"Don't worry, I'll make another one for you," Catherine assured. She gestured
toward the group and said, "Come meet your real parents and their daughter who
was mistakenly switched at birth with you."

Hera landed her gaze on James. He wore a suit, had thick hair, and was slightly
overweight. Despite being in his late 40s, he looked more like he was in his
early 40s.

James had been waiting for over half an hour in the sultry and rundown place,
only to be greeted by Hera, who was dressed in tattered clothing.

What aggravated him even more was Hera's lack of courtesy. She didn't bother to
offer a greeting. Impatiently, James questioned, "Why did you keep us waiting so
long?"

"I tripped while coming down the mountain," Hera explained, her eyes cast
downward. Her long eyelashes covered her cold gaze, making her look like a
regretful child.

Seeing how much she resembled Lilith and how sorry she seemed, James couldn't
bring himself to scold her anymore.

"You look a bit messy. Come on, let's get into the car," James said.

He quickly turned away, ready to leave as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Lilith stepped forward and gently took Hera's hand, checking for
injuries. "Hera, I'm your mother. Let me see if you're hurt."

Her concerned expression mirrored that of Hera's adoptive mother, Daphne Jones.

"I'm fine. Thank you," Hera said.

Giselle came over and attempted to pull Lilith away. "Mom, let's go. Dad's
waiting."

"Alright, alright." Lilith nodded. She then turned to Hera and said, "Let's head
home. Your father's waiting."

Hera nodded and said goodbye to Catherine.

Giselle became displeased when she realized Lilith was completely focused on
Hera. She pulled harder on Lilith, but Lilith remained firmly rooted in place.
This only added to Giselle's frustration.

Annoyed, she released her grip and intended to seek out James, but Catherine
stopped her.

"Giselle, have you truly considered this? Are you certain you want to leave?"
Catherine asked sincerely.

Only then did Hera cast a glance toward Giselle, taking note of her long, sleek
hair. While Giselle wasn't beautiful, her designer attire gave her the air of a
daughter from an affluent family.

"No, thank you," Giselle declined promptly.

She sneered inwardly. She wasn't foolish enough to abandon a life of luxury to
endure hardships in this remote and impoverished place.

Catherine let out a sigh. "Alright then. Go ahead. Take a trip to see your
father whenever you can."

As soon as her biological father was mentioned, Giselle's expression turned
grim.

The Everetts had investigated her background and found out that her biological
father, Lucius Killian, was serving a life sentence in prison for murder.

"I only have one father—James Everett," Giselle stated firmly, then forcefully
pulled Lilith away.

Hera stayed quiet.

As Giselle walked away with a determined expression, Catherine sighed and shook
her head. Then, she faced Hera. "It's your turn to go, Hera."

Hera hummed in response. Leaning in, she hugged Catherine and whispered, "I'll
go see Dad and do whatever it takes to prove his innocence."

Without giving Catherine a chance to persuade her otherwise, Hera grabbed her
bag and headed for the door.

Only one car remained in the yard. The driver stood by the door, waiting for
Hera. As he opened the door for her, she noticed someone seated in the back
seat.

Chapter 3

1170973

As the car engine hummed to life, James turned to Hera. "Before we get to
Norburgh, there's something important I need to tell you. We'll announce to
everyone that the Everetts have officially adopted you."

Hera looked up at James. They hadn't discussed this before in their earlier
phone call. Though being agreeable moments ago, she now seemed distant and
reserved.

James felt uncomfortable under her gaze. It dawned on him then that Hera would
always feel somewhat disconnected from the Everetts since they hadn't raised her
since childhood.

Pushing down his uneasiness, he patiently explained, "The Everetts have been
relying on help from the Gaskell family to make our business successful.

"Now, Zyler Gaskell, the heir to the Gaskell family, is engaged to Giselle.
Their marriage is important for both families' interests and reputations. So, we
need to make arrangements regarding you."

Hera understood the situation quickly. The Everetts were worried that if the
Gaskells found out about her humble upbringing, it might ruin the engagement.

"Oh," Hera replied, sounding indifferent.

She casually pulled out her phone from her bag and got lost in a game, seemingly
completely unbothered by the conversation.

James felt a sense of relief. He assumed that people from rural backgrounds
would be easy to handle.

If Lilith hadn't persistently asked and if James hadn't been concerned about
Hera's true background possibly harming their family's reputation, he wouldn't
have personally brought Hera back to the Everett residence.

Hera reclined in the car seat, completely absorbed in her phone. Her thumbs
moved skillfully across the screen.

Frowning, James couldn't resist sneaking a look at her screen. His
disappointment grew when he realized she was just playing a basic matching game.
Any remaining positive feelings he had for Hera quickly vanished.

He even began to regret bringing her to the Everett residence. Hera came off as
impolite and lacking ambition. He was worried she might embarrass the Everetts
if they were seen together in public.

James was unaware that Hera was actually deeply immersed in Flip-and-Match. The
game involved 99 pairs of identical icons being shuffled and briefly shown for a
minute before being flipped over.

Hera had to rely on her memory to match the pairs by tapping on two identical
ones. In this round, she memorized all the icons in ten seconds and completed
the level in 48 seconds with a 1% error rate.

However, she wasn't content with her speed. So, she refreshed the level and
started over.

After the car pulled up at the airport, they boarded the plane and landed at
Norburgh Airport two hours later. Aside from meal breaks, Hera spent nearly the
entire journey refreshing the level of her game.

Finally, she achieved a new personal record—taking only three seconds to
memorize and 27 seconds to clear, with a flawless 0% error rate.

Right then, Hera's phone buzzed with a WhatsApp notification.

Piglet: "Hey Raven, are you really not accepting any job offers? Someone is
offering three times the usual pay! Aren't you interested? It's triple the
money!"

Hera clicked her tongue impatiently.

Raven: "Nope."

Piglet: "Not even for a deal worth millions? What's going on with you?"

Raven: "I'm taking a break."

Piglet: "When do you think you'll be back? I need to reply to someone."

Raven: "It depends on how I feel."

Piglet: "You're so childish!"

James thought of Hera as just a typical teenager glued to the internet while
Giselle, on the other hand, was focused on her workbook even during the flight.
James saw them as complete opposites.

He was convinced that hiding Hera's true identity as the Everetts' biological
daughter from the public was the best choice to avoid any future embarrassment
for the family.

…

In the rural village, Catherine was drying herbs in her yard when she spotted
two men in camouflage suits approaching from beyond the fence.

Bernard was at the forefront. He stood tall and robust. His remarkably handsome
face seemed to have been sculpted by a great artist.

A noticeable bloodstain on his right chest hinted at a recent injury.
Thankfully, it had been tended to.

Following Bernard was Aaron Ludden, who appeared youthful and boyish.

Setting aside the herbs, Catherine asked, "Do you need medical assistance or
medicine?"

"We're looking for someone," Bernard replied, pulling a bloodied cloth from his
pocket.

Catherine's expression turned cautious as she inspected the cloth. The
embroidery matched her own handiwork, sparking a memory of Hera's demeanor
earlier that morning when she returned home.

She glanced at the bloodstain on Bernard's chest and asked, "Who are you?"

Bernard noticed Catherine's expression change and gently explained, "We're
special forces working on a secret mission for the country. A young lady helped
us catch criminals and even saved me.

"We need her to come with us to give an official statement about what happened,
and I want to thank her in person."

"Oh, I see, but you're too late." Catherine relaxed. "She left two hours ago and
won't be back."

Bernard frowned. "Where did she go?"

After a moment's pause, Catherine replied, "She went to the Everett residence in
Norburgh."

"Okay, thanks." Bernard turned to leave.

Aaron caught up with Bernard and teased with a grin, "Boss, have you been away
from the unit too long? Or are you losing your memory? Since when do we have to
give statements after a mission?"

"Since just now," Bernard replied.

Aaron was stumped.

Bernard handed Aaron the blood-stained cloth and said, "Clean it up, and
tomorrow, give it back to me along with the owner's address."

Chapter 4

1170974

Three cars arrived at Norburgh Airport to pick up the Everetts. James had
important business at the company, so Lilith, Giselle, and Hera went home before
him.

An hour and a half later, they reached the Everett residence. After exiting the
cars, Lilith welcomed Hera into the house. "Hera, we're home. Your grandma and
your brothers are staying with us."

Hera nodded in response.

Leading the way, Giselle announced, "Grandma, we're back."

After handing her bag to the housekeeper, she quickly headed to the living room,
flaunting her status as part of the Everett family.

A young boy, about six or seven years old, dashed out of the living room. It was
Gino Everett, the third child of James and Lilith.

"Giselle, you're here! Did you bring me any presents?" Gino exclaimed eagerly.

"What kind of gifts could you expect from the boonies?" An elderly voice came
from the living room.

"Good point. It's not worth getting my hopes up," Gino grumbled as he sank back
into the couch, returning to his video game.

Hera trailed behind Lilith as they entered the luxurious living room decorated
in lavish Baroque style.

Mildred Barker sat gracefully on the couch, savoring a cup of coffee with an air
of elegance. She had grayish hair and was dressed in lavish attire.

Giselle quietly settled beside her and poured her another cup of coffee.
"Grandma, where's Gideon?"

Mildred sipped her coffee and said, "He flew out to Emberwood around noon. He
said he was visiting a biological institute."

Lilith was saddened at the news.

Before leaving this morning, she had informed her eldest child, Gideon Everett,
that they would pick up Hera. It was a significant day because it marked the
reunion of the Everett family, and she hoped they would all be home together.

Gideon always did things his own way, but he consistently made the Everetts
proud, so Lilith couldn't bring herself to scold him because of this. Pushing
aside her sadness, she led Hera forward.

"Mom, we've brought Hera back," Lilith said. Then, she introduced Hera to
Mildred, saying, "Hera, this is your grandmother."

"Grandma," Hera called out softly.

Mildred ignored her. She set her cup down and called for the housekeeper. "Judy,
please bring out the rest of the caviar so Giselle can enjoy it."

"Sure," Judy McCoy replied. She returned shortly after with the caviar.

"Thank you, Grandma," Giselle said graciously. She then deliberately lifted the
caviar and enjoyed a bite, almost as if she were flaunting it. "It tastes
amazing."

"Take your time, dear. There's no rush. You must be exhausted after spending the
day in the car. Enjoy some good food to recharge, and remember to take care of
yourself so that Mr. Gaskell will be smitten by you."

Mildred affectionately tucked a stray hair behind Giselle's ear.

Giselle nodded with a sweet smile and hummed in response. Noticing Hera being
left out, Giselle's satisfaction with herself grew even more.

Lilith noticed Mildred was purposefully ignoring Hera. She called, "Mom."

"Oh, you're back," Mildred said, pretending she had just noticed Hera and giving
her a once-over.

Hera had a delicate face with her hair neatly braided. Her unexpectedly fair
skin contrasted with her cold eyes and thin lips.

Mildred's gaze drifted down. She saw Hera wearing a dirty, torn dress that
hugged her figure tightly. She carried a worn bag, and her white shoes were
covered in mud.

Mildred wrinkled her brows disapprovingly at Hera's outfit choice, convinced it
reflected her less sophisticated upbringing.

She thought Hera held no significance to the Everetts, yet they were obliged to
support her financially.

"Judy, get her a pair of slippers. Don't let her track dirt into the house and
ruin the wool carpet I had air-freighted from Lumoria," Mildred instructed.

"Got it," Judy replied, promptly fetching a pair of slippers for Hera. "Ms.
Hera, could you please change your shoes?"

Hera stayed silent.

Lilith noticed Mildred's disdain for Hera from her gestures and remarks.

When Lilith and James began dating, the Everetts were still farmers in the
countryside. However, their fortunes changed when they discovered a valuable
mine underground, turning them into overnight millionaires.

Mildred started acting snobby, turning her nose up at folks from the
countryside. She pushed Lilith and James to break up, and the whole family
eventually moved to Norburgh.

In Norburgh, they launched a company, bought a grand mansion, and splurged on
luxuries. It was all to rise in social status and shake off the label of being
newly rich.

It was only when James insisted on marrying Lilith and she became pregnant with
a son that Lilith finally gained acceptance into the Everett family.

The memories of her past made Lilith feel uneasy whenever she thought about it.

Hera had just gotten back from the countryside. Lilith could already predict
that Hera would face even more disapproval from Mildred.

"Mom, life in the mountains is rough. Hera has been through a lot since she was
young—"

"That's enough. Hurry and help her freshen up and change into something more
suitable," Mildred impatiently cut in and waved her hand.

"Hera, I'll show you to your room," Lilith said.

Hera simply nodded, catching the disdainful look on Mildred's face.

Giselle's appetite for caviar vanished instantly when she witnessed Lilith's
kindness toward Hera. She felt entitled to that affection from Lilith, and
seeing Hera receive it instead only fueled her resentment.

Fuming with jealousy, Giselle turned to Gino, who was engrossed in his video
game.

"Gino, are you giving up on your study room?" Giselle asked.

Frustrated from losing a game, Gino cursed under his breath. He promptly left
the game console behind and rushed to the third floor.

Chapter 5

1170975

After arriving at the third floor, Lilith pushed the door open and gestured
inside. "I'm not sure if this matches your taste. Look around and let me know if
it suits you, or if you'd like to add anything."

The room boasted a chic, princess-like decor, brimming with feminine allure.
However, it failed to resonate with Hera's preferences.

Feeling Lilith's hopeful gaze upon her, Hera reluctantly nodded. "It's alright—"

Before she could finish speaking, someone forcefully pushed her, causing her to
lose her balance and stagger.

"Out! This is my study!" Gino's glare bore into Hera with intense hostility,
resembling a lit fuse ready to explode.

Lilith found herself caught in the middle. She asked, "Hera, are you okay? Gino,
didn't we agree that this room was meant for your sister?"

Gino's unexpected outburst left Lilith feeling flustered.

The second and third floors of the mansion were fully occupied, leaving only the
housekeeper's room and guest rooms on the first floor.

Given Hera's status as a member of the Everett family, staying on the first
floor was out of the question. Thus, Lilith arranged an agreement with Gino.

Gino agreed to share a study with Gideon, thereby vacating Gino's study for Hera
to utilize as her room.

"She's not my sister! I don't have a sister who showed up from the countryside!"
Gino objected strongly, trying to push Hera away again.

Hera gracefully sidestepped his advance.

Caught off guard by her agility, Gino stumbled and collided with the foot of the
bed. Instantly, his pained cries echoed through the room.

"What's wrong? What's going on?" Mildred's voice came from behind.

Giselle had helped Mildred up to the third floor.

Gino ran to Mildred and burst into tears. "Grandma, help me! This hick just
shoved me!"

Hera stayed quiet.

"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll handle this fairly for you." Mildred comforted
him by patting his back. "Let me see where you're hurt."

Gino's face was a mess of tears and snot. He had a big bump on his forehead.

"Oh dear, how did you hurt yourself so badly? Will it affect how you look?"
Giselle exclaimed dramatically.

Gino cried even harder at the mention of his appearance being affected.

"Gino, let me see. I'm sorry. It's my fault for not watching you closely
enough." Lilith anxiously tried to approach Gino, but Mildred pushed her away.

"What are you waiting for? Quickly, call the doctor!" Mildred scolded her, then
glared at Hera. "We'll talk about this later!"

Hera remained silent.

The mansion was in chaos. Everyone's attention was centered on Gino.

Watching Hera being left on the sidelines filled Giselle with satisfaction. She
saw Hera as nothing more than a country bumpkin unworthy of Lilith's attention.

Gino sobbed in Mildred's arms in the living room downstairs. His puffy, red eyes
tugged at Mildred's heartstrings.

Mildred scolded Lilith, telling her to urge the family doctor, and instructed
Judy to fetch a hot pack. Before long, Judy returned with one.

"Gino, stop crying. Applying this hot pack should help," Mildred reassured,
preparing to apply the hot pack.

But before she could, a stern voice cut in, "Don't use that. Use ice cubes
instead."

Mildred turned to see Hera standing on the staircase.

Hera was still clad in her tattered, snug dress, with her bag slung over her
shoulder. She had an air of confidence that made Mildred suddenly uncertain if
she was a city dweller or from the countryside.

"What makes you think you know better? Using a hot pack can boost blood flow and
reduce swelling," Mildred retorted and glared at Hera.

Mildred carefully applied the hot pack over the sizable bump on Gino's forehead.

"Ouch!" Gino winced and began to resist.

"You need to bear with it. Applying the hot pack over the swollen area is
necessary for reducing the swelling," Mildred insisted.

She signaled for Judy to help in keeping Gino still.

Lilith sympathized with Gino but didn't dare oppose Mildred's instructions. She
could only watch anxiously.

In that instant, Mildred felt someone grab her hand. Her eyes sparked with anger
when she realized it was Hera. "What are you doing?"

Hera remained cold and repeated, "You should use a cold compress."

"Move aside! Don't meddle. I know what I'm doing. Why would I hurt my grandson?"
Mildred yanked her hand away from Hera's grip.

She had seen Fanny Paterson, her friend, use this technique to ease swelling and
bruises on her grandson before. There was no way she could be mistaken!

Hera stayed quiet.

Seeing the opportunity, Gino squirmed out of Mildred's embrace and into
Lilith's. His face was covered in tears and snot. He looked utterly miserable.

Mildred boiled with anger. Just as she was about to instruct Judy to bring Gino
back to her, the family doctor, Wilbur Hobgood, arrived.

1170971,1170972,1170973,1170974,1170975
Under the Heiress' Facade
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