The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Chapter 135 Cheating?
Now, with Minerva’s suspicions echoing in her mind, Alice’s thoughts began to lean in that direction as well. As she pondered the situation, she found it increasingly implausible to imagine two “chosen children” in the world, akin to two tigers sharing the same mountain.

So, the only remaining explanation seemed to be that Hera had received outside assistance to enhance her performance in front of the camera, perhaps to bolster her image as a multi-talented individual or to craft a particular persona for her.

After rearranging her thoughts, Alice felt calmer than before, and only then did she notice Xavier’s sharp gaze, which made her breath hitch in her throat. She was all too familiar with that look on Xavier’s face; she had seen it before. He was truly angry.

She had no intention of stopping Minerva from saying more, nor was she planning to hold herself back from going after Hera now. After all, Hera had gone after her man, Xavier. Hera was also the reason why Xavier looked at her with such distaste, something that had never happened before in her past life.

Xavier and Rafael treated her like a fragile woman in need of gentleness and protection, but it never progressed to the level where they became her lovers. She believed it was because they were concerned about her feelings that they might scare her.

In her past life, she had been close to Minerva, even becoming her best friend. This bond led Minerva to heed her advice, temper her arrogance, and begin to listen to her brother. As a result, Rafael developed a favorable impression of Alice and began assisting her with her career in return.

So that’s what she had been planning this time: to befriend Minerva and become a positive influence on her, thereby getting closer to Rafael. But it seemed like everything was falling apart. She placed all the blame on Hera, accusing her of constantly trying to steal her spotlight and even embarrassing her in front of Xavier multiple times.

Alice took a deliberate step forward, her gaze shifting from Hera to the four Easter eggs held by the crew. Though her expression carried a mix of grievance and understanding, there was a newfound resolve in her demeanor. No longer appearing pitiful, she seemed to demand justice and equality, bravely standing up for others while bracing herself for any judgment that might come her way.

“Hera, we don’t want to jump to conclusions about you receiving help from your sugar daddy,” Alice began, her tone measured and diplomatic. “But considering the challenges of this event, with many of us struggling to complete even one task, it’s only natural to seek fairness and clarity. We’re not accusing anyone; we just want to ensure equity for all participants. I hope you understand.” With a genuine smile, Alice aimed to encourage a thorough investigation, emphasizing the importance of preserving the show’s integrity and the reputation of its organizers.

Alice’s words rang with a sincerity that left no room for doubt about her intentions toward Hera. Her courage, evident in her measured tone and genuine delivery, conveyed a desire for fairness rather than a personal vendetta. Yet, as the weight of her words settled over the place, Alice’s own vulnerability emerged. She bit her lip and instinctively retreated, lowering her head as an uneasy silence enveloped the space, amplifying the gravity of the moment.

The Director found himself caught between amusement and exasperation, unsure whether to laugh or sigh at the unfolding situation. Anticipating the flood of calls he’d inevitably receive later, he felt a headache brewing at the mere thought of dealing with Alice and Minerva’s persistent prodding of Hera during the show.

Since Alice already has experience in the entertainment industry, she knew that Directors of Reality and Variety Shows loved to have drama and strong topics to talk about in their shows, because this would bring more clout and viewers to their show. She’s been using this since the beginning but far from her expectations, instead of being the center of attention, she became the butt of the joke not only in front of the show’s crews but also in front of the whole internet.

Alice cast an apologetic glance at Hera, hoping to convey through her eyes that her intentions weren’t to single her out. However, it was undeniably challenging to overlook the discrepancy—Hera not only secured the second rank in the scavenger hunt but also amassed an improbable number of Easter eggs. In such circumstances, it seemed natural for doubts to arise, and Alice felt compelled to voice the suspicions shared by others.

Indeed, the sentiments echoed by the majority of participants and viewers were quite evident. They observed firsthand the arduous efforts exerted by others to obtain even a single item. This sentiment was shared widely, especially among those who didn’t exclusively follow Hera’s livestream. Many viewers who frequented Hera’s livestream attempted to contextualize the situation in the main chatroom, where viewers from various livestreams gathered.

Their explanations fell on deaf ears, dismissed as mere attempts to salvage Hera’s reputation. Zen couldn’t shake the feeling of responsibility; he realized that Hera’s current predicament was, in part, a consequence of his own brashness. After all, it was his decision to broadcast the discovery of the Easter eggs, a move aimed at provoking Alice, that had contributed to the unfolding drama.

Little did anyone anticipate that the Easter egg revelation would backfire on Hera instead. The Director found himself in a frustrating predicament, unable to mitigate the situation despite his best efforts to avoid this outcome.

Zen casts a cautious glance at Hera’s face, he is brimming with self-reproach. He yearned to offer her words of comfort but feared inadvertently exacerbating her distress. Sidling up beside her, he sought to express unwavering support. However, Xavier beat him to it, swiftly positioning himself behind Hera, just two seconds ahead of Zen.

Hera, in contrast, maintained a serene and collected demeanor as she observed the unfolding drama between Alice and Minerva. She found herself mildly entertained by their antics, noting with a sense of amusement their apparent inability to discern when to cease their provocations and heed the lessons of their past interactions. They both looked foolish who’s all barked with no bite.

Minerva interpreted Hera’s silence as an admission of guilt, convinced that she had resorted to cheating to gain an advantage over the others. “Hera, if you’re hesitant to confess, it’s understandable. Everyone makes mistakes, and there are still those who might sympathize with your situation and flaws. But deceit is another matter entirely. If you apologize now, we might consider it, although your results will still be nullified,” Minerva stated, her words tinged with a hint of sympathy masking her underlying satisfaction. Having learned from her past experiences, Minerva recognized the futility of directly confronting Hera. However, she couldn’t resist occasionally succumbing to impulses, albeit with a subtler approach inspired by Alice’s tactics.

Alexi fixed his gaze on Hera, torn between his belief in her character and the doubts sown by Alice and Minerva’s accusations. While he wanted to trust Hera’s integrity, the points raised by the others seemed logical, especially considering Hera’s recent display of wealth. It seemed implausible for Hera to acquire such expensive items out of the blue, given her known background because it’s not as if she’s a hidden heiress or something.

“Hera, perhaps it’s best if you offer an apology,” Alexi suggested softly at first. But then, as the mention of sugar daddies by Minerva and Alice resurfaced, images of Hera being pinned under by an unknown man flooded Alexi’s mind, fueling a deep-seated rage within him. His once gentle expression contorted into one of pure fury, his struggle to contain himself palpable.

He gritted his teeth, his gaze burning into Hera as if she had betrayed him personally. In that moment, he awaited her explanation as though she had cheated on him. If not for the presence of the camera, he might have whisked Hera away to demand an explanation in private.

Minerva saw this and nothing could made her happier than to know that Alexi is slowly seeing Hera for who she truly is.