The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 836

Chapter 836: Chapter 836 Dress Accordingly
At those words, Minerva instantly sprang up as if someone had stepped on her tail. Her reaction was so sharp, it practically confirmed Athena’s suspicion.

After all, Minerva had been worrying about gaining weight—not just for vanity’s sake, but because a part of her feared that looking a little heavier might make her less attractive to men.

She was no longer with Alexi, true, but that didn’t mean she had given up on love. If anything, she was determined to find someone even better—someone who could outshine Alexi in every way. Not for revenge, but to prove to herself that loving the wrong man once didn’t mean she was completely blind. It was simply a mistake… one she intended never to repeat.

“You guys seem to be having a good time?” Hera’s voice called out as she suddenly peeked her head through the door. Without waiting for an invitation, she strolled into the room and plopped down beside Athena, immediately reaching for the snacks.

The moment she started munching, she could feel several eyes on her.

“W-What?” she asked, startled, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel mid-bite.

Athena burst into laughter.

“See this girl?” she said, gesturing at Hera with amusement. “She loves eating more than I do! I was only influenced by her! But look—she’s got a tiny waist and just the right amount of curves in all the right places. So, Minerva, if you’re worried about getting fat, just look at this one and chill.”

She gave Hera a hearty pat on the shoulder, which quickly turned into a series of thumps on her back as Hera nearly choked on the food in her mouth.

Hera coughed and sputtered, utterly lost as to what was happening. “W-Why am I being dragged into this?!” she managed to croak out between coughs, while Athena just laughed harder.

“W-What?!” Hera asked, bewildered.

But Athena just shook her head with a knowing smile. She’d seen Hera before—the little foodie who ate so much yet never gained weight. Stressing over something as small as a few extra pounds, like Minerva was doing, wasn’t helping anyone’s health.

‘Why not just enjoy the process?’ Athena thought to herself. ‘They can always exercise more.’ After all, there were plenty of ways to lose excess fat—just like Hera did.

Remembering this made Athena laugh even harder, a kind of laugh only she truly understood.

The others in the room glanced at her, puzzled, as if she’d lost her mind. Even Hera gave the group a slight shake of her head, silently saying, ‘Let her be. This is just how she is—there’s no helping it.’

The two best friends were so perfectly in sync and utterly hilarious that everyone chuckled lightly—everyone except Alice, who remained quiet and somewhat reserved.

After all, Alice had been following them around the entire day, and not even once did she catch Hera losing her composure while spending money. In fact, her viewers seemed to enjoy watching Hera splurge on just about everything.

Since many of Alice’s viewers came from working-class backgrounds, this kind of extravagant content—something far from their everyday lives—was not only entertaining but oddly satisfying. Instead of damaging Hera’s reputation, Alice unintentionally boosted her visibility and popularity. Her attempt to expose Hera backfired, driving even more traffic to Hera’s name.

Frustrated but not ready to give up, Alice decided to steer the narrative in a different direction. Soon, an old rumor began resurfacing online and gaining traction once more. One claimed that Hera was actually the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family. Another accused her of funding her lavish lifestyle with men’s money—either by milking her suitors or having a sugar daddy in the shadows.

The first rumor gained attention because there had once been news of a prestigious family quietly accepting an illegitimate child into their fold. However, the identity of that child was never revealed, and the family hadn’t introduced them to the public—perhaps out of embarrassment or an attempt to avoid scandal. Now, curious netizens were digging again, eager to connect the dots.

Alice was placing all her bets on this new angle to tarnish Hera’s name. But Hera? She didn’t care in the slightest. She was far too busy munching on her snacks—tired, hungry, and unbothered by the drama brewing online.

After a quick bite, the group left the art gallery and headed to a Michelin-starred restaurant. The place was fully booked and exuded exclusivity, with patrons dressed in formal or semi-formal attire.

As they reached the entrance, the staff politely informed them of the restaurant’s dress code. Without fuss, Hera and the others simply crossed the street to a nearby boutique and picked out semi-formal off the rack.

Hera chose a simple yet elegant knee-length, silver spaghetti-strap dress that hugged her figure. It featured a subtle slit on the left side and a low-cut back, which she softened by letting her hair fall loosely. She completed the look with golden heels, striking a perfect balance between classy and effortless.

Since everyone had to change, the boutique staff offered to send their casual clothes back to their hotel, and the group gladly accepted.

Athena went for a sleek black cocktail dress that flattered her figure, Liz chose a minimalist nude tube dress, while Minerva picked a mint-pink, fluffy dress that gave her a princess-like charm.

Hera, however, stole the spotlight. Her silver dress accentuated her hourglass figure—snug around her waist and highlighting her curves in all the right places. She looked breathtaking.

Athena couldn’t help but compliment her multiple times. “Seriously, Hera, you’re going to give the entire restaurant a heart attack looking like that.”

Athena glanced at Hera once more and let out a dramatic sigh. “Damn, girl! If I weren’t straight, I’d be all over you right now!”

Hera chuckled, nudging her friend with a playful grin. “Oh please, I know you only have eyes for chiseled jawlines and eight-pack abs.”

The two burst into laughter, exchanging knowing smiles like the close friends they were.

And Alice? Well, Hera had been more than generous all day—letting Alice tag along without complaint, giving her no chance to twist the situation into another “poor me” narrative for social media. Hera didn’t offer to buy anything for her this time, either. After all, she’d done more than enough.

Forced to spend her own money, Alice had no choice but to grit her teeth and purchase a dress herself—dropping $10,000 on a fiery red gown with matching stilettos. The color did suit her bold red hair, but the cut and design didn’t flatter her at all. She looked more like a teenager playing dress-up in her mother’s clothes.

Athena had tried to give her friendly advice earlier, suggesting something more fitting for her frame. Even Minerva, with her usual bold tone, recommended a flowing white chiffon dress that would’ve better complemented Alice’s features and image. But Alice, clearly triggered after seeing how effortlessly stunning Hera looked in her simple silver dress, ignored them both.

What frustrated Alice the most was that despite Hera’s outfit being understated, it exuded effortless elegance and quiet seduction. It wasn’t loud or attention-seeking, yet it turned heads naturally—graceful, balanced, and impossible to compete with.