The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 791

Chapter 791: Chapter 791 The Storyline Stepping Up Its Game?
Alice’s face immediately fell, her lips twitching awkwardly as she processed what just happened. In an instant, quick-witted and quick-handed netizens captured the moment, turning it into a meme that quickly went viral.

Laughter spread across the internet as people easily read the disappointment in her expression. Without a single word, they knew exactly what she was thinking: She had believed, in that fleeting moment, that she had won the championship.

She envisioned herself proudly accepting the award, convinced that her design was superior. Maybe in Alice’s mind, being younger than Andarta Aria gave her the edge, that the judges saw more potential in her.

She had truly believed that when her name was called, victory was hers—only for that thought to be shattered, live, right before the camera.

Despite the slip-up, Alice was still a skilled actress. In mere seconds, she composed herself, quickly rearranged her thoughts, and masked the disappointment. With a practiced smile, she carried herself as if she were the happiest person alive to receive such an honor.

She walked confidently to the stage, graciously accepting her moment in the spotlight, ready to deliver her thank-you speech to the audience.

“Thank you, everyone, for believing in me. This recognition truly makes me feel appreciated, and it’s proof that all my hard work has paid off. Although this is my first time creating jewelry designs, I’m incredibly grateful for those who encouraged me and pushed me to believe in myself. I truly appreciate each and every one of you who saw my potential. I’m honored to stand here today with such talented individuals.”

Alice’s speech was warm and appreciative, carefully crafted to emphasize that this was her debut in jewelry design. By subtly highlighting her “high potential” and framing herself as a fresh talent, she cleverly marketed herself without others noticing.

She knew how to retreat and regroup, learning her lesson not to charge forward recklessly again and again, always ensuring she controlled the narrative.

With this strategic approach, Alice aimed to shift the focus onto her new persona, diverting attention away from her past mistakes and flaws.

It could be said that Alice’s plan was a success. While netizens quickly turned her brief, incredulous expression into a meme, her speech had a lasting impact. Many came to believe in her talent and potential, seeing her as someone who could rise to great heights in the future.

Her ability to acknowledge and appreciate the support she had received won her back many fans. They began defending her once again, claiming that despite her past mistakes, it wasn’t too late for her to turn things around.

In an industry as murky and unpredictable as the entertainment industry, it’s easy for anyone to lose their way, and many of her fans emphasized that point. Though Alice’s defenders often clashed with others in the industry, the reality was that few could argue with the fact that the entertainment world could be harsh and unforgiving.

In this way, Alice’s attempt at a “rebranding” was largely successful.

And this is what Alice hoped for; this day felt like her best day. She felt like she had been reborn and that more luck was coming her way.

The viewers even saw a little gold halo shining on her while she stood on top of the stage. Athena, who was watching from below, squinted her eyes; she could tell that this was the storyline’s doing.

It was trying to make Alice gather more luck and made the viewers see Alice as the child of fate. Then Athena’s chest thumped violently as she started to feel nervous.

Athena inhaled sharply, her gaze fixed on Alice. ‘Damn it! I think we’ve been played!’ she thought, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior.

She looked up, realizing the significance of Alice’s position. Standing on that stage, in front of all those viewers, was a victory in itself—it was as if Alice was already rising to the top.

Fortunately, this wasn’t the entertainment industry, and Alice hadn’t actually clinched the championship. She’d only managed to gain a bit of luck, some public love, and support. But still, the fact that she had successfully rebranded herself and garnered more fans would definitely put Hera in a tight spot.

Athena frowned, considering how hard it was for Hera to steal Alice’s fate even after all this time. Despite her efforts, Hera had only managed to siphon away a small portion of Alice’s fortune. But if Alice continued to gather favor and luck, wouldn’t it become even harder for Hera to steal more of it?

After all, luck and heaven’s favor were things Hera had to fight tooth and nail for. But then again, it made Athena wonder—had the emergency that pulled Hera away been orchestrated by the storyline, or was it Alice’s doing? Had Alice manipulated things so that Hera couldn’t participate, preventing her from stealing the spotlight again?

Athena sank into deep thought as her gaze shifted to Alice. Just then, the host called for Andarta Aria’s representative, Liz. Liz snapped out of her reverie and began making her way up to the stage, but she wasn’t alone—Larry Winckman followed her.

The moment he stepped onto the stage, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone knew exactly who Larry Winckman was, and the fact that someone had managed to secure him as the legal representative to handle the paperwork was nothing short of extraordinary.

With his presence, the spotlight that had briefly been on Alice shifted, dimming her moment. The golden halo that had surrounded her flickered and faded until it disappeared completely.

The viewers, who had briefly thought they saw a halo, blinked in confusion, dismissing it as nothing more than the stage lighting. Soon, the thought slipped from their minds entirely.

Seeing this, Athena, who had been so worried moments ago, couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She slapped Zen’s back playfully, laughing with unrestrained joy.

‘Shit! I got so nervous for nothing!’ she chuckled, wiping away the tears that had started to form in her eyes. Still, despite her relief, she knew she had to inform Hera about what she’d witnessed—the storyline backing Alice had clearly stepped up its game.

Thanks to Athena, Larry Wickman, and the rising star of the jewelry design world, Andarta Aria, they quickly claimed the spotlight and dominated the trending rankings. Alice’s name was swiftly bumped off the list, turning her into little more than a foil once again. When Alice found out, her face darkened, the expression as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Although Alice managed to gain a modest following of around five thousand new fans, it paled in comparison to the massive surge in popularity Hera experienced every time she made it to the trending topics. It simply wasn’t enough.

More than that, even Athena’s social media saw a surge in followers, with fans shipping her with Zen, and Zen himself experienced a notable increase in his fan base.

Larry Wickman’s company also gained a massive following, as many didn’t realize how handsome he was until now. Liz, standing beside him, also garnered attention, with people recognizing her strong connections, which led them to see her as capable and influential.

Several companies, impressed by the powerful duo on stage, approached her father about potential business collaborations. Unbeknownst to Liz, just by representing Hera on stage, she helped her company earn millions, with its brand skyrocketing in the domestic market, largely thanks to Larry Wickman.