The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 461

Chapter 461: Chapter 461 Athena On The Watch
However, all the online buzz was unknown to Hera and Xavier, who were still at the boutique responding to questions from the press.

With everyone eagerly snatching up the perfume from the shelves, the boutique was left somewhat bare, its once plentiful stock diminished by the enthusiastic shoppers.

This only made Hera smile even wider, as it was a clear sign that the product launch had been a resounding success.

Both she and Xavier continued to answer questions from the press, still dressed in the outfits they had worn in the promotional video.

Although Xavier had buttoned up his satin shirt and tucked it in slightly to appear more polished for the camera, he still exuded the allure of a siren just pulled from the sea.

In contrast, Hera embodied a sweet enchantress, her radiant smile captivating everyone as she posed for the cameras.

However, when one reporter asked Hera to demonstrate how she transformed into a character so different from her own image, she eagerly obliged.

With the camera rolling and the livestream capturing every moment, she stepped forward, ready to showcase her enchanting portrayal for everyone to see.

Although none of the reporters voiced their skepticism out loud—fearing it might offend Xavier—their doubts lingered.

They couldn’t shake the feeling that it was hard to believe Hera, a newcomer, could deliver a performance on par with Xavier, an internationally acclaimed actor and best performer.

Many suspected that the videographer had employed clever tricks to enhance her portrayal, and they hoped that by having Hera act live in front of the camera, they could confirm their suspicions. However…

Everyone was taken aback, feeling a mix of surprise and admiration as they experienced the transformation unfolding on their screens.

Goosebumps prickled their skin, a testament to Hera’s remarkable ability to embody her character.

In an instant, she morphed into an entirely different person, captivating the audience with her authenticity.

When she finally returned to her sweet and pure self, the stunned silence lingered, leaving everyone in awe of her talent.

As a result of this stunning performance, Hera inadvertently overshadowed Alice’s meticulously planned ascent in the entertainment industry.

Although the storyline initially helped Alice secure a new role to replace the one that Hera had taken from her, the undeniable chemistry between Hera and Xavier, coupled with their exceptional acting skills, managed to derail Alice’s progress.

Instead of propelling Alice forward, the pair’s dynamic performance captivated audiences and shifted the spotlight away from her ambitions.

Unbeknownst to Hera, Athena lounged in her room, munching on chips and sipping Coke, laughing heartily at the unfolding drama.

She had witnessed Alice’s name surge to the trending list, buoyed by the fame of the three international stars, and knew all too well that Alice would seize any opportunity to capitalize on this moment to elevate herself, attempting to ride their coattails to success.

Athena found it amusing to watch Alice’s desperate attempts to leverage their attention for her own gain, fully aware that Hera’s talent and charm were drawing the spotlight away from Alice’s ambitions.

Alice had soared to the top of the trending list, only to plunge to 15th place after the release of Hera and Xavier’s promotional video.

‘Ha ha ha! Can you imagine how Alice will feel once she realizes she reached the top, only to crash down so hard?’

Athena cackled, picturing the scene as she popped a handful of chips into her mouth and took a swig of her Coke, thoroughly enjoying the drama unfolding around her.

‘I bet Hera has no idea that Alice managed to snag an ambassadorial contract on her own! But still, ha ha ha!’

Athena laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face.

Only she knew the backstory, just like Hera, and she couldn’t help but think that the storyline was attempting to correct itself.

After all, Hera was now on a path leading her toward the male leads that were initially meant for Alice.

After observing Hera’s efforts, Athena had already pieced together part of her plan and was eager to see how everything would unfold.

That’s why she wasn’t bothering Hera at the moment; she understood that Hera was focused on getting to the male leads before Alice could.

Athena recognized how hard Hera was working to balance her time among the five men, no six men surrounding her, and she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt such a delicate strategy.

As Hera’s best friend for over a decade, Athena knew her inside and out, almost like the back of her hand.

She could easily decipher what was going on in Hera’s mind. Rather than fretting over it, Athena was filled with excitement.

She had always been a fan of the ‘Thin Line Between Love and Lust’ novel, and now that her best friend was actively vying for the female lead position, she was eager to witness how Hera’s passionate love story would unfold with all her male leads.

So, Athena lounged at home, following Hera’s every move on social media, unable to contain her excitement as she squealed with delight from time to time at Hera’s progress.

‘My teachings are finally bearing fruit! I was right to give my girl tips on handling men and staying vigilant against those white lotuses!’ Athena chortled, rolling around in bed while keeping her eyes glued to the screen of her phone.

Hera also chose not to disturb Athena, fully aware that she could never hide anything from her.

Most of what she knew was taught by Athena, so her every little action wouldn’t escape the notice of her romance-addicted friend.

Knowing that Athena was keeping to herself meant she was quietly observing from the sidelines, popcorn in hand, as if she were watching her favorite drama unfold.

Hera decided it was best to let Athena be for now.

Their close bond over the years had honed their ability to read each other’s thoughts as if they were their own.

After Athena finished reveling in Hera’s love life, she set down her phone, which was still playing Hera’s live stream, and stretched her neck and fingers before turning her attention to the laptop on her bed.

There, she tuned into Alice’s live stream and scrolled through a social media page that was busy bashing Hera.

Since Alice’s hired water army couldn’t propel her to the top of the trending list, they opted to target Hera instead, hoping to drag her down into the mud.

Aware of the longstanding animosity between Alice and Hera, they seized the opportunity to exploit this rivalry and undermine Hera’s rising popularity.

By doing this, even if Hera managed to trend on social media, the negative publicity would overshadow her success, ultimately tarnishing her reputation.

They aimed to contrast Hera’s rise with Alice’s achievements, suggesting that Alice had earned her place through sheer talent and hard work, while insinuating that Hera relied on her relationships with Xavier and Rafael to secure her opportunities.

This narrative was crafted to spread quickly and widely across social media, reinforcing the idea that Hera’s success was undeserved and diminishing her accomplishments in the eyes of the public.

Athena, who had been closely monitoring social media, quickly noticed the emerging narrative, as did Betty.