The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 818

Chapter 818: Chapter 818 Reversal
Alice’s expression twisted in frustration as she lost control of her composure. Her grip on Minerva’s wrist tightened, making Minerva flinch in pain. With a sharp glance, Minerva quickly yanked her hand free and frowned, saying nothing. Instead, she turned and quietly walked toward Hera, gently reaching for her hand like a scolded puppy seeking comfort and reassurance.

When Minerva offered her hand, the red bruising on her wrist—where Alice had just grabbed her—was clearly visible. Hera frowned at the sight, her gaze shifting briefly to Alice before returning to Minerva. Gently patting Minerva’s head, she said with a soft voice, “Alright, let’s take care of your wrist first. You’re Rafael’s beloved sister—he wouldn’t even raise his voice at you, let alone his hand. You’re your family’s precious treasure, and yet your delicate skin is already this red from just being held.”

Though Hera’s tone was kind and comforting, her words were carefully chosen to make sure Alice heard every bit of it. It was a subtle rebuke, not loud or harsh, but unmistakable. At the same time, Hera couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. She had provoked Alice, fully aware of her feelings for Rafael and her likely attempt to use Minerva to get closer to him.

But how could Hera possibly let that happen? Rafael was her man now—and more than that, letting the male lead get close to Alice would be like handing a knife to a butcher. It would only help Alice reclaim her female lead halo—the very halo Hera had fought so hard to steal in order to rewrite her own fate.

Seeing Hera about to lead Minerva to the first-class cabin in another section of the plane—separated by a thin black embroidered curtain—Alice knew she couldn’t let Minerva leave with a misunderstanding.

Anyone with a brain could read between the lines of Hera’s words; she was clearly blaming Alice for being too rough, and for causing Minerva’s wrist to redden and swell. And the worst part? It was true. In her panic, Alice hadn’t realized how tightly she’d grabbed Minerva’s wrist.

Now, watching Minerva cling to Hera with a new sense of closeness and trust, Alice felt a wave of panic rise in her chest. She could feel the growing distance between her and Minerva, though she couldn’t pinpoint when it began. But deep down, she knew—this shift had everything to do with Hera.

‘Hera! Hera! Hera! It’s always this bitch ruining everything!’ Alice’s thoughts spiraled in fury. ‘It’s already impossible to get close to Xavier—he’s constantly flying overseas, buried in endorsement deals and ambassador duties like some overworked idol on a never-ending world tour. So I placed all my hopes on Rafael… but this damn Hera keeps getting in the way! Always!’

She clenched her fists at her sides, barely able to contain her frustration. ‘I can’t accept this. I won’t let it continue. She must have said something to Minerva—something to turn her against me. Did that scheming bitch slander me behind my back?’

Despite the storm brewing in her mind, Alice forced herself to stay composed. Her eyes welled with tears, the picture of wounded innocence, as she slowly stepped closer to Minerva.

Alice let out a soft, choked sob as she timidly reached for Minerva’s hand, her fingers trembling. “M-Minerva, I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely louder than a mosquito’s hum. She looked so pitiful—tears brimming in her eyes, her expression full of regret and quiet bravery, as though she were the one who had been hurt yet still worried about her friend.

Watching her like this, who wouldn’t feel moved?

Some of the nearby passengers, who were just settling into their seats, glanced over at the scene. A few of them began to frown, feeling a twinge of disapproval toward Hera. To them, it looked like she was making a fuss over a minor issue and holding up the aisle, preventing others from passing through. In their eyes, it was unnecessary drama—an inconvenience over something that could’ve been handled more quietly.

And this—this might be exactly what Alice was aiming for. As always, she played the victim, rallying public sympathy to turn the crowd against her enemy and letting others do her bidding. But would Hera let her get away with that? Of course not.

‘If she wants drama, I’ll give her drama.’ Hera thought.

Hera didn’t like misunderstandings, true, but she could also be petty and vengeful, especially when someone kept provoking her over and over again. She wasn’t a saint, nor did she pride herself on having an endlessly patient temper. Even the gentlest cat will hiss and lash out when pushed too far—how much more so Hera?

With a calm, composed smile, Hera stepped forward and intercepted Alice’s hand before it could reach Minerva. She clasped it firmly, her expression soft and magnanimous as if offering comfort, but the strength in her grip told another story. Alice’s face immediately twisted in pain as Hera’s fingers pressed down like a steel vise, making her feel as though her bones might snap.

But Hera hasn’t finished her performance yet. If Alice could play the pitiful victim in front of an audience, then so could she—and Hera had no intention of losing to her in a battle of acting. With a silent, gleeful chirp in her heart, Hera thought smugly, ‘Hehe, let’s see who the better actress is—me or you.’

Tears welled up in Hera’s eyes as she pouted ever so slightly, her expression softening into one of gentle concern. She looked at Alice with the kind of understanding usually reserved for an older sister trying to correct a younger sibling. Then, in a sweet but clear voice, she said:

“Alright, alright. We won’t ask you to apologize to Minerva for pinching her wrist so hard it nearly got dislocated—Minerva’s not blaming you anyway. But you really shouldn’t cry, Alice… If you keep this up, people might start thinking it was Minerva who hurt you.”

Hera gave a soft, understanding nod, as if trying to console Alice while also gently scolding her—playing the role of a reasonable and mature girl who was simply trying to prevent further misunderstandings.

To onlookers, it might seem like Hera was trying to keep the peace… but those who paid close attention could hear the barbed warning beneath the kindness, and see just who was really in control of the stage.

At first, the onlookers didn’t catch on to what Hera had done—until Alice suddenly yelped and slapped her hand away with a loud smack. The sound echoed through the cabin, sharp and startling, drawing everyone’s attention.

It must have hurt.

Hera’s porcelain skin immediately flushed an angry red where she’d been struck. She bit her lip, clutching her aching hand, and looked back at Alice with wide, stunned eyes—but said nothing.

Minerva’s heart jumped at the sound. She instinctively turned, her eyes landing on Hera’s trembling form. Hera was tearing up. And for someone who had faced down monstrous threats like the big snake and the syndicate that kidnapped Minerva without flinching, to see her like this—shaken, silent, in pain—it said everything. That slap hadn’t just stung; it had genuinely hurt her.

Minerva’s nerves spiked. The anger that was once reserved for Hera suddenly redirected itself toward Alice. Her protective instincts flared, and whatever lingering sympathy she might have had for Alice evaporated in an instant. Minerva’s expression darkened as fury took over—her inner villainess no longer aimed at Hera, but now fully turned on Alice.

“Alice! What do you think you’re doing?!” Minerva’s voice rang out sharply, filled with frustration. “Was it really necessary to slap Hera’s hand that loudly just because she was trying to make sense of things? If you wanted to take the first-class seat for yourself, why not just say it outright instead of playing these ridiculous games? Why escalate things like this?”

Minerva’s words were biting, and with them, it became abundantly clear that, despite how sheltered she had been and how much she’d turned a blind eye to Alice’s theatrics, Minerva was no fool.

She saw right through Alice’s act. After all, Hera had noticed the flash of hatred in Alice’s eyes—eyes that were clearly directed at her. Minerva, standing just beside Hera, had seen it too.

Now that Minerva’s rose-colored glasses were gone, she could finally see Alice for who she truly was. Once a friend, Alice was now revealed as someone who had been playing her all along.

Minerva had only given her the courtesy of preserving her pride, so she only intended to avoid Alice until she got the message that Minerva no longer wanted to be friends with her, but crossing the line and targeting Hera in front of her was a grave mistake. That instantly angered Minerva.

No matter how much Alice acted oblivious, this time, Minerva wasn’t going to let it slide.

“M-Minerva, you misunderstood me,” Alice’s voice wavered, her hand trembling as she raised it in front of Minerva. “Look, look at my hand! She pinched me so hard, I thought my bones were going to get crushed. I just… I couldn’t take the pain anymore, and I acted impulsively. Please, believe me.”

For once, Alice wasn’t lying—but it didn’t matter. She knew how to manipulate emotions, but she couldn’t expect to be the only one playing that game. After openly hurting Hera and now complaining about the consequences, Alice was only digging herself deeper into a hole. If she suddenly tried to play the innocent victim, it would only make her seem unreasonable—a girl who pretended to be innocent while playing the blame game.

The onlookers weren’t fooled. They saw right through Alice’s act, and they knew she was trying to shirk responsibility by pushing all the blame onto the one person she had wronged. No one would believe her now.