The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Chapter 196 She’s like a Shrew
Leo fixed his gaze on Alexi, his hostility and anger palpable as if he could devour him whole, his eyes seething with malice. He then turned his attention to Minerva, who glared at Hera with pure hatred in her eyes. “I didn’t expect to meet CEO Briley’s sister here,” he remarked, dismissing Alexi entirely after giving him a disdainful once-over. Leo was determined not to lose to the same man twice, especially now that Hera had awakened from her infatuation with the incompetent individual. He redirected his focus to Rafael’s sister before continuing, “But, I’ve always heard that his sister was elegant, beautiful, and possessed impeccable etiquette—a girl her parents would proudly showcase to others. Yet, who is this woman acting like a shrew?” His words dripped with sarcasm as he sneered at Minerva.

Hera couldn’t suppress a soft laugh, despite her efforts to remain composed. Leo’s delivery of the insult was both funny and classy. She thought she could learn a thing or two from him. However, her laughter didn’t go unnoticed by Minerva, whose anger flared even more. Minerva glared daggers at Hera, but Hera wasn’t having any of it and retorted, “Don’t look at me. I didn’t provoke you or tell you what to do.” She rolled her eyes, and this time, it was Leo who chuckled, amused by Hera’s mischievous side.

Leo had always known Hera as soft-spoken and gentle, but now he saw a different side of her—one that could be sharply sarcastic with those who tried to trample on her, often turning the situation in her favor. On the show, he had seen her be fun and adventurous, harmonizing well with the villagers, and handling Minerva and Alice with finesse. However, experiencing it firsthand was even better. He could now clearly observe Hera’s subtle actions and expressions that the camera didn’t capture. Her mischievousness was evident, and to him, it was quite endearing.

Minerva gritted her teeth and snapped, “Hera! Don’t you dare get close to my brother! Keep your dirty hands off him!”

Hera smirked and replied, “Oh my! I have no idea what you’re talking about. Stop projecting your own morals onto me.”

Minerva shrieked hysterically, “Stay away from my brother! A bitch like you can’t dream of marrying into a good family like mine. My brother wouldn’t even look at you, bitch!” She seemed to lose control at the mention of her brother. It was natural for her to react this way, especially if she suspected that Rafael was romantically involved with Hera. Not only did she hate Hera with a vengeance, but the idea of Hera becoming her sister-in-law was intolerable to her.

There was already bad blood between them, and the storyline wouldn’t allow for any reconciliation, especially for Minerva. She was easily manipulated, unable to handle her own emotions, let alone distinguish her genuine feelings from those influenced by the story.

“Believe it or not, I could make you disappear with a snap of my fingers!” By now, Minerva looked even more like a shrew, so different from how the story had described her. She was supposed to be a woman of beauty, defiant and mischievous but not like this. Though she was known for her sharp tongue and straightforwardness, she was not supposed to act like a shrew, especially not in front of others and certainly not losing her temper like this.

How could she possibly act as Alice’s protector from the inner circle if she couldn’t even defend herself logically? Hera hadn’t even taken any drastic steps to fight back against her slander, yet Minerva was already losing her cool. Hera raised her eyebrows, initially tempted to provoke Minerva further. However, she changed her mind, unable to see any semblance of the Minerva from the novel in the woman standing before her.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to inform your brother of your threats. That way, he can at least have your back if you mess up again,” Hera said with a chuckle. Minerva’s face turned bright red, and she became a laughingstock in front of everyone. Her behavior resembled that of a pampered child, and those from prominent families surrounding them found her actions unappealing for someone from a well-known family with a good background.

They regarded Minerva with disdain, echoing Leo’s sentiments. They all knew that the heiress of the Briley family was not the person standing before them; she looked and sounded different from what they remembered. The Briley couple had always treated Minerva like a princess, and she had been pampered by everyone in her family. She had never experienced being looked down upon or treated in such a manner before. Minerva’s chest heaved up and down, a sign of her inner turmoil.

To Hera, the character closest to Minerva in the novel was none other than Athena. Athena embodied mischief and supportiveness as a friend, known for her straightforwardness and sharp tongue…

Before Minerva could retort, Leo stepped in, shielding Hera and guiding her away. Hera casually flipped her hair to the side and smiled at Minerva before allowing Leo to lead her away. “Are you okay? You shouldn’t pay attention to what she’s saying,” Leo said, trying to comfort Hera and make her feel understood.

With his right hand, Leo held her hand while his other hand rested on the small of her back. Leo felt a twinge of nervousness, half expecting Hera to pull away. Meanwhile, Hera’s mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the possibility that Minerva and Athena had swapped roles in the storyline. ‘Did Athena and Minerva’s positions as the secondary female leads change too?’ Hera pondered this seriously. If true, she could potentially assume Alice’s role as the female lead. But then, who would become the antagonist and the villainess in her place? Would the original villains remain unchanged, or would there be alterations?

Her thoughts were abruptly drawn back to reality as Leo tightened his grip on her hand and the small of her back, his expression fraught with concern. He couldn’t discern whether Hera was upset by Minerva’s words or if her distress was directed at him. Leo was on edge, uncertain of how to proceed.