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Novel Catalog
Chapter 151
Hera nodded but her expression remained distant, the roses surrounding her doing little to soften her mood.
Nash, noticing the change, asked, “Do you like it?”
Hera shook her head, her gaze fixed on the roses that stretched across the path. “It’s beautiful, but I don’t like it.”
Her words hung in the air. She couldn’t bring herself to appreciate the beauty of the flowers—after all, these roses were Kai’s gift to Helena, and she would not, could not, like them.
Nash tilted his head, his eyes glinting with curiosity. “What if I was the one who prepared these roses for you?”
Hera’s lips curled into a half-smile, but there was no warmth in it. “Then, I still wouldn’t like them,” she replied, her tone firm. “How much money did you waste on all these roses? I don’t like a man who’s wasteful with money.”
Nash chuckled softly, amused by her bluntness, but he didn’t press the issue. “Alright, it’s getting dark. Let’s hurry and go inside so Skadi and the others don’t wait too long.”
Hera, still holding Nash’s pinkie, led the way, walking briskly through the fading light. As they reached the entrance of the Chateau Hotel, a large green lawn spread out before them, illuminated by soft golden lights.
In the middle of the lawn, a massive heart of roses lay on the grass, with “Happy Birthday” spelled out in blue roses at its center. Carmen, dressed in luxurious clothing from head to toe, stood at the heart of it all, posing with a beaming smile.
“Come, strike a pose!” Skadi called out, her voice full of energy. She was taking pictures of Carmen, who effortlessly shifted poses, clearly enjoying the attention.
Bianca, standing nearby, had a bandage on the corner of her eye, and bruises on her face were hidden under a thick layer of concealer. When she noticed Nash and Hera, she rushed over to them.
“Coach, Hera…” Bianca’s voice was a little shaky, but the warmth in her tone was unmistakable.
Hera immediately pulled Bianca into a tight hug. “Bianca, you’re alright,” she said softly, her voice filled with concern.
A smile tugged at Bianca’s lips, and for a moment, the tension in the air seemed to lift. “Hera, you’re right on time! Step in so I can take your picture!”
Skadi waved enthusiastically at Hera.
Hera shook her head, offering a strained smile. “It’s alright, you guys keep taking pictures!”
“Today’s your birthday, this perfect setting is for you!” Skadi insisted, grabbing Hera’s arm and leading her into the scene.
Carmen, noticing the attention on Hera, stepped away from the roses. She quickly made her way over to Skadi’s side. “Skadi, show me the pictures you took of me!”
Skadi laughed lightly. “Don’t you trust my photography skills?”
Carmen grinned cheekily. “Send them to me through WhatsApp later!”
Hera, still caught in the whirlwind of the situation, turned to Carmen. “Carmen, long time no see!” she greeted enthusiastically, trying to maintain her usual warmth.
Carmen gave her a brief glance, her lips pressed into a thin line. She nodded curtly, her smile absent, before turning away to walk over to a man in a suit by the roadside.
Hera’s smile faltered, and she felt a pang of discomfort. She hadn’t expected Carmen to be so indifferent, but it still stung.
Skadi, sensing the shift, quickly explained, “Hera, that man is Carmen’s boyfriend. I think he’s the eldest son of the Second Tier Elite Family in Capiton!”
Hera’s brows furrowed, a feeling of unease settling in her chest. She couldn’t help but feel a flicker of irritation, but she kept her composure, offering a polite smile. “I see.”
Nash, ever the quiet observer, cast a calm, unreadable glance at Carmen and the man. It was clear to him that Skadi had a knack for attracting people who were less than kind to others.
Bianca, who had been watching the exchange, leaned in and whispered, “Carmen’s personality is like that. She can’t be bothered by anyone who isn’t in her circle of friends. Before I got the Phoenix Crown, she wouldn’t say more than a word to me. But when I got the Phoenix Crown today, she immediately wanted my phone number.”
Nash chuckled softly, crossing his arms. “You guys are from the same school?”
Bianca nodded, a hint of bitterness in her tone. “Skadi and Hera are in the same class, and I’m in the same year as them. Carmen is our senior.”
Nash fell silent, his eyes scanning the scene, as though weighing something in his mind.
Bianca glanced up at him, her gaze lingering. “Coach Calcraft… you… could you still teach…?”
Before Nash could respond, Skadi’s voice called out to him from across the yard. “Nash, quickly come and take a picture of Hera and me!”
Nash shot her a quick look but didn’t say anything, his expression neutral. He knew what was happening—another round of smiles and forced poses—but for the moment, he simply stood by Hera’s side, letting the evening unfold around him.