NOVEL NEXT Chapter 942 Know Your Place
Even Hera frowned, clearly displeased with how Dave had spoken to another woman. She opened her mouth to scold him, but Rafael gently stopped her with a light touch on her arm, shaking his head.
Silvia, humiliated and seething, turned bright red with rage, but Dave remained completely unfazed. When Hera's phone chimed with the notification of a successful transaction, he didn't even spare Silvia another glance. Instead, he casually turned back to Hera's side, his once-murderous expression instantly replaced with his usual goofy grin.
"Sweetheart, praise me, I just got your money back," he said cheerfully.
But Hera had seen it. She'd caught that flash of lethal intent in his eyes the moment he turned around. It only softened when he noticed her watching him.
That's when it truly hit her, Dave, despite his antics, wasn't just a playful flirt. He was a man who sat at the same table as presidents and world leaders, and still managed to leave them at a disadvantage. Compared to Luke, who was dangerous in his own right, Dave might be even more terrifying… especially when he decided to get serious.
Hera had grown so accustomed to Dave's soft approach and playful antics that she'd almost forgotten who he truly was. Beneath that lighthearted facade was a sharp, decisive man who despised underhanded tactics but used them himself, especially when someone tried to seduce him despite knowing he was already in a committed relationship.
That kind of behavior was what Dave detested most. So, it was no surprise that his usual silliness faded, replaced by a cold seriousness. Rafael noticed the shift instantly, which was why he gently stopped Hera from speaking. He understood Dave's reasoning and knew now wasn't the time to rebuke him.
Utterly humiliated and seething, Silvia stormed out of Hera's penthouse, heels clicking furiously as she made her way downstairs. But before leaving, she shot a glare toward the mansion staff and gestured for them to follow.
The servants, heads bowed, trailed behind her in silence. As they passed Hera, each one gave her a respectful bow and apologetic look. Hera met their gazes with a gentle, reassuring smile. She wanted to make it clear that none of this was their fault.
To ensure Silvia wouldn't vent her frustration on the staff, Hera immediately sent a message to Cindy.
[Hera: Cindy, Silvia came to my penthouse and saw some of the mansion staff inside, along with Amy and Hannah. Can you help me come up with a reason that won't raise her suspicion about my identity just yet? I also don't want her taking her anger out on the staff, they might get hurt like Amy did.]
[Cindy: What? Silvia came over? Young Miss, what exactly did she do?!]
[Hera: She barged in, punished Amy by whipping her palm and forcing her to kneel. She also broke my Chicken Cup, the one worth $40 million. So I made her pay. Since she didn't have the cash, she gave up her three newly purchased cars instead... She's definitely furious, and she's leaving with the staff from the mansion. I'm worried she'll retaliate against them.]
[Cindy: That vile woman!]
[Cindy: Don't worry, Young Miss. I'll take care of it.]
Without wasting another moment, Cindy exited the chat and scrolled through her contacts until she found Silvia's long-forgotten number. She tapped a message.
[Cindy: Miss Silvia...]
Moments later, a message popped up with fake sweetness laced in sarcasm.
[Silvia: Oh my! To what do I owe the honor of receiving a message from Miss Cindy? (^_^)]
[Cindy: I heard you've returned. You must've been surprised to find the mansion short on staff. I borrowed them temporarily since Old Master Avery and my father are both away, and the staff was free. I wasn't aware you'd be coming back so soon. I needed help over at Green Dragon Manor to host our most important partner. I hope you don't mind?]
[Silvia: Oh? A partner? Is she from a powerful or wealthy family?]
[Cindy: Yes. Someone highly esteemed. In fact, Old Master Avery holds her in very high regard, which is why I requested the mansion's staff to assist her for now. They're well-trained, and I didn't have time to find an equally capable team for her estate.]
[Silvia: I see… Why does Grandpa value her so much? Is she some kind of royal or heiress?]
[Cindy: Something along those lines. The Old Master hasn't shared the full details with anyone, since it's a confidential matter. But from what I understand, they're working together on a major project. She's concealing her true identity, and the Old Master asked us to assist her in every possible way during her stay.]
[Silvia: Is that why you rented her the penthouse for ₱9.6 billion instead of ₱12 billion?]
[Cindy: Yes, that's correct.]
[Silvia: I see… Understood.]
Silvia stopped replying to Cindy's messages, which left Cindy uneasy. She wasn't sure if Silvia truly understood, so to be certain, and to reassure Hera that the staff was safe, Cindy drove straight to the main mansion.
She raced through the streets, and thankfully, she did. The moment she arrived, she was greeted by an infuriating sight—every staff member who had accompanied Hera to the penthouse was now kneeling on the ground. Silvia was lounging on the leather couch like she owned the place, a cigarette in hand, one leg crossed over the other. Her sharp eyes scanned the kneeling staff, as if she were deciding what punishment to dole out to each one.
Fury surged in Cindy's chest.
"Miss Silvia," Cindy called out sharply, striding into the room without hesitation, her voice laced with barely restrained anger. "You said you understood. So what is all this?"
She didn't bother hiding her contempt. Cindy only recognized one true master—Hera. She had vowed to be Hera's sword and shield, loyal to her alone. Silvia, in her eyes, was nothing more than a placeholder who should've known her place. But instead, Silvia kept overstepping, stirring up trouble at every turn.
"Oh my, Miss Cindy has arrived," Silvia said slowly, her tone calm but her eyes cold and unreadable. "I was merely disciplining the staff, just a reminder that they should inform their masters when leaving the mansion. I was left all alone with no one to attend to my needs."
Cindy's brows drew together, her voice sharp and biting. "How interesting," she said coolly. "But I hope Miss Silvia understands, you are not one of the masters of this mansion."
Her words struck like a whip.
Silvia's calm façade cracked. Her expression darkened, a storm gathering in her eyes. She loathed being reminded that she wasn't the real heiress of the Avery family, and even more, she despised being looked down on.
"Cindy," Silvia spat through clenched teeth, her voice laced with venom, "you're just a dog of the Averys. Know your place!"
Her body tensed, like she was ready to pounce at any moment.
"I do know my place, that's exactly why I follow my master's wishes," Cindy said coldly, her gaze unwavering. "But what about you? You don't just ignore your place; you pretend to have one that was never yours. Everyone knows you're not the true heiress of the Avery family, so stop acting like you are, unless you want to end up with nothing in the end."
Her words were like knives, sharp, deliberate, and impossible to ignore. Though harsh, they rang with truth. Cindy wasn't trying to humiliate Silvia; she was trying to wake her up before she lost everything.
"And who do you think you are to lecture me?!" Silvia screamed, her voice cracking. "You're just a mutt! Nothing more!"
But Cindy didn't flinch. She stood silently, composed and calm, the very embodiment of control and loyalty. Her silence only deepened Silvia's humiliation, making her feel like a joke, like a child throwing a tantrum while the adults watched in pity.
That feeling, of powerlessness, of being treated as a fool, boiled in her chest like lava. And Silvia felt as though she would explode.
"Please hold your temper, Miss Silvia, or I'll have no choice but to report your behavior to the Old Master," Cindy said calmly but firmly.
And just like that, Silvia's rage faltered. Of all things, what she feared most was losing the Old Master's favor. She had spent years carefully crafting the image of a pitiful, obedient girl in front of him, hoping that, out of sympathy, he would eventually adopt her into the Avery family.
But despite all her efforts, she was still just a guest, not an heir. No inheritance rights, no official place, just someone clinging to the edge of the Avery name.
She hated being reminded of that more than anything.
Even if she despised everyone else, she couldn't afford to lash out in front of the Old Master. Not when she needed his approval so desperately. If Cindy truly tattled, it would shatter the "good girl" image she had worked so hard to build.