The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress-Chapter 1054 Cutting Off Ties

Rafael couldn’t shake the image of his sister, reduced to someone else’s sidekick, carrying out their bidding. He knew it was because she was lonely, so desperate for connection that she had been blinded to what true friendship really was. She hadn’t seen the red flags, happily doing morally questionable things just so Alice wouldn’t have to dirty her hands.

But what about Minerva? Did she deserve to become someone’s tool? The sister he had doted on, pampered, and protected had become a shadow of someone else, and he felt partly to blame. He always made time for Hera, for his friends, for his business, but he hadn’t made time for his own sister.

Their parents had each other, so they didn’t feel lonely. He had Hera. But Minerva? Was her loneliness the reason she had fallen for someone like Alexis, a scumbag who didn’t care about her?

Minerva had been starved of attention for so long that even a little coaxing or kind words could make her cling to people, people who only ever wanted to use her. Take Alexis, for example. He manipulated Minerva to get what he wanted, all while juggling relationships with two women. And Minerva? She had to play the villain, hurting Hera, while Alexis stayed hidden in the shadows, letting her take the blame.

Then there was Alice. She appeared more polished than Alexis, but her intentions weren’t any different. Like him, she wanted Minerva to do her bidding while she remained safely in the background.

In truth, Alexis and Alice were cut from the same cloth; they are vain, selfish, and hypocritical.

Rafael wanted to call out his sister’s name, but his throat tightened as a flood of emotions pressed against his chest. For a moment, he even forgot the silent standoff with the man before him, his gaze drifting to where Minerva stood.

But she wasn’t the little girl who would run to him, spilling her grievances like she used to. She stood there now as a strong, independent woman. Perhaps it was the moment she chose to pursue her own career that she truly stepped out of her shell, letting go of the past and no longer existing merely as Alice’s sidekick.

Her perception had broadened; perhaps it came with her awakening. She was now aware of her surroundings, of the feelings of others, and of her own future. It was as if she had finally broken free from the invisible shackles imposed by the storyline, no longer limited to being Alice’s shadow, the second female lead, when she was capable of so much more.

She no longer let her loneliness dictate her emotions. She had learned to discern people’s intentions and think for herself, refusing to let anyone treat her the way she had been treated before. That should have made Rafael happy, but instead, it left him feeling lonelier, realizing that his little sister had grown up.

But Alice didn’t let her finish. With a sob that trembled through her voice, she cut in, pitiful and accusing, "Are you telling me it was my fault?"

Minerva, though she treated Alice well, was not the type to be talked down so easily. She had endured enough of Athena’s sharp tongue to learn a thing or two. Now, having decided to set boundaries with Alice, she no longer needed to hold back her temper. She saw Alice clearly for what she was, a two-faced woman, skilled at playing pitiful while shifting blame onto others.

If Minerva remained a pushover, Alice would continue to gaslight and manipulate her, just as she had before. That would risk Minerva becoming Alice’s sidekick once more, and possibly even hurting her brother’s feelings in the process. The thought only strengthened her resolve not to back down.

"Have I ever said that I’m blaming you?" Minerva snapped, her voice steady but firm. "Alice, don’t try to gaslight me or make it seem like it’s my fault. Ever since we became closer, I’ve never treated you badly. Everything I had, I shared with you. Even when others slandered you, I stood in the front line to protect you, and even acted like a shrew if it was necessary!"

Minerva took a deep breath. Now that she had started speaking, she felt more confident airing her grievances, ensuring Alice couldn’t easily throw shade back at her. Still, she couldn’t ignore the possibility that Alice might try to turn this into a spectacle and maybe even livestream it for everyone to see.

After all, there was indeed a huge possibility that Alice might be livestreaming, and Minerva, not wanting to cause a scene or stir trouble, could let her continue while unaware that Alice’s little broadcast had already started trending as a "backstabbing friend" episode.

In truth, Minerva knew Alice well enough to sense that this possibility was high. Her assumption proved correct: Alice was indeed livestreaming their standoff, hoping it would generate buzz.

Even if the attention she got was negative, infamy was still a form of fame. Even if people flocked to her page to curse her, but still, that engagement still created visibility, something Alice desperately needed before filming for the movie began.

Her approach was like hitting more than two birds with one stone. First, she wanted to show off in front of Hera. Second, she aimed to seduce all of Hera’s lovers. And third, she planned to capitalize on Hera and Logan’s current popularity.

So when she and her new backer came down and saw Hera enter with Logan, her plan formed instantly, no second thought needed. She immediately started the livestream with a headline: [Trending: Hera and Logan seen having dinner together.]

She framed it to look as if Hera and Logan were having an affair, using it as clickbait to draw curious netizens. While viewers flocked to the livestream, she created drama in real time, keeping everyone hooked and boosting engagement, all to maintain a high retention rate and maximize attention.

She effortlessly captured the viewers’ attention. Even when they realized they had been misled by the headline, that Alice had made it so sensational and deceptive that it bordered on slander, they didn’t matter to her. She no longer had a carefully curated persona to protect; she was already infamous as a plagiarist, and her past actions were well known.

In fact, the more viewers who fell for the clickbait, the better. Attention, even negative, was exactly what she craved right now. It was also why she continued confronting Hera and the others without backing down, desperate to remain the center of focus, no matter the cost.

"Alice... before, your tears might have meant something to me. But when I was hospitalized after being abducted, did you show any sisterly concern? None. You only cared whether your visit would get you closer to my brother."

Minerva let out a self-deprecating chuckle, and Alice froze, shocked that Minerva knew the truth. For a moment, panic flickered across her face. But then, seeing Rafael, she quickly regained control, masking her fear. She wouldn’t let him see that Minerva was right. Instead, she adopted her familiar act of being the one wronged, pretending innocence once again.

"Minerva, what are you talking about? Before, it was Hera you were slandering, and now it’s me? I even brought you soup back then! If you didn’t like what I brought, you should have just told me..."

Alice sobbed again, trying to make Minerva appear ungrateful. But Rafael’s expression darkened at her words. He remembered being hospitalized at the same time, and how unlike him, surrounded by visitors, Minerva had been mostly alone. Zhane had been their attending physician then, and Hera had checked on her, but beyond that, there had been few people who checked up on her and little concern shown for her well-being.

To realize that the best friend Minerva had trusted the most hadn’t truly cared when she needed it most must have been a harsh awakening. No wonder Minerva was finally seeing Alice clearly, without the rose-tinted glasses she had once worn.

"Alice, I have a clear conscience. I have never wronged you, so don’t act as if I’ve backstabbed or betrayed you. And if you’re trying to guilt-trip me for getting close to Hera, stop."

"She’s with my brother now, and fighting with her like I used to would only tear our family apart. Besides, I know I was the one who wronged her back then, and for her to forgive me, it was her kindness and grace, nothing more."

"Why are you speaking for her? Has she said anything about me? Or have you even asked her?" Alice cut Minerva off, her voice sharp. She couldn’t let Minerva continue praising Hera, after all, the livestream had been meant to make Hera look bad, not elevate her image. Every word Minerva spoke only enhanced Hera’s reputation, and Alice wasn’t about to let that happen. She needed to stop Minerva before it was too late.