Chapter 214

News of Hera's perfect score reached Gideon like a siren song. He promptly abandoned work early, laden with goodies for a celebratory feast. The aroma of delicious food filled the air as Gideon tirelessly cooked, eager to surprise Hera when she returned from school. Just as he plated the final dish, a message buzzed on his phone. Gino: "We're skipping dinner! I'm treating Hera and her classmates to a celebration. Enjoy the feast!" Gideon's eyes narrowed. He had specifically instructed Gino to bring Hera home for a surprise, but his good intentions were trampled by Gino's bravado. Fury simmered within him, and he tapped out a swift reply: "Return my money." Moments later, a notification pinged, and five million had landed in his account. This was followed by another message from Gino: "Five million, repaid." However, Gideon wasn't finished yet: "Principal repaid. What about the 50 percent interest?" Gino's reply arrived promptly, punctuated with a string of exclamation marks.