The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress
Chapter 857 Her Retaliation Begins

Chapter 857: Chapter 857 Her Retaliation Begins

[HeraIsMySister: And let’s be honest—none of the incidents Alice hinted at were even started by sister Hera. She’s always minded her own business. If you don’t believe it, there’s actual evidence out there. Don’t blindly follow hearsay.]

[HeraIsMySister: Ever heard of paid trolls and water armies? Yeah—those fake accounts that spew lies like garbage from a trash fire, with mouths stinkier than a grandpa’s sweaty sock with athlete’s foot. Gross. Eck!]

[OldMan: @HeraIsMySister Little girl, who are you calling stinky with athlete’s foot? I’ll have you know my feet are as soft as a baby’s and smell like lavender!]

[Doodle: @OldMan Lavender? You mean the kind that puts people to sleep the moment they catch a whiff?]

[Anali: If the shoe fits, OldMan... (－‸ლ) (¬_¬)]

...

While the internet was in an uproar over Alice’s design presentation, her name quickly climbed to dominate the top 10 trending topics for the first time. Hera watched silently as every single headline and discussion revolved around Alice and her so-called masterpiece. When Alice returned backstage, she didn’t waste the opportunity to throw Hera a smug, provocative smile before strutting off to the side to take a call from her manager.

With new endorsement offers flooding in and several top brands reaching out, Alice was practically glowing. If she decided to pivot into becoming an influencer-designer, she’d likely attract a wave of followers and sponsorship deals overnight.

Even if Rafael continued trying to block her path or take legal action, it wouldn’t matter much—at this rate, Alice could choose to forcibly end her contract with SOE and pay the breach penalty, which stood at around six million dollars. But with her name now gaining traction on the international stage, that amount was pocket change compared to the lucrative opportunities lining up at her door.

The thought alone had Alice nearly squealing in delight as she chatted animatedly with her manager, her expression bright and giddy. It was almost as if she truly believed the talent and design were her own and had completely forgotten—or willfully ignored—the fact that she had just stolen Hera’s work and claimed it as her own.

Just as the staff called Hera to head toward the stage, Alice threw one last glance in her direction. Seeing Hera’s stormy, expressionless face only made Alice giggle with delight, as if she were savoring a personal victory.

Hera clutched her laptop tightly as she walked, her jaw clenched and her fingers digging into the edge of the device. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to hold back the rising fury burning through her chest.

She hadn’t expected the original female lead to be this shameless—this outright malicious. Tactics like this were usually the mark of a villainess, not the so-called heroine. But clearly, Alice had long since blurred that line.

And now, after everything Alice had pulled, no one could fault Hera if she finally decided to retaliate.

When Hera stepped onto the stage, a wave of surprise rippled through the crowd. Even the live chat froze for a moment—stunned into silence. Moments ago, people had been bashing her name, while many of her fans knew that she had an upcoming racing competition the next day. Many believed the rumors and never imagined she’d show up at the event, let alone walk up to the stage with such calm composure.

The entire venue fell into a hushed silence—you could hear a pin drop.

Then Hera began. "Hello, everyone. Many of you may not know me, or may not be familiar with my face. But I go by the pen name ’Andarta Aria.’ And before I begin my official presentation, I’d like to show you the design that earned me a spot on this stage."

With smooth precision, Hera opened her laptop. She didn’t need to do much—just a few keystrokes. Sasha had already hacked into the system and overridden the big screen, preventing the organizers from immediately displaying the 3D animation of her latest design.

Why? Because if she started with the same design Alice had just presented—her stolen design—she would be labeled a plagiarist on the spot, with no chance to explain. The judges would cut her off before she could defend herself, and to the livestream audience, that would be the final verdict. If any of the staff or organizers were colluding with Alice—and Hera had reason to believe they might be—they wouldn’t give her the opportunity to clear her name once her work appeared.

So, Hera chose to take an unconventional route.

She would first show them her past work—designs that carried her unmistakable signature, her design language, her soul. She would make the audience see her style, her patterns, her personality—and only then would she reveal the truth. Piece by piece. Layer by layer.

With just a few taps on her laptop, Hera brought her previous award-winning design onto the big screen—the very piece that had earned her the championship title back in her home country. The audience gasped in awe. Ethereal and breathtaking, the design shimmered with a delicate brilliance that immediately captured everyone’s attention.

Even the judges, who moments ago looked ready to interrupt her and dismiss her presentation to avoid "wasting time," fell silent the moment the design appeared. The atmosphere shifted.

Meanwhile, Alice, still on her phone backstage, was oblivious to the change. She wore a smug smile as she chatted with her manager, her eyes never even glancing at the screen. In her mind, Hera was already finished. The design had been presented under her own name without issue. The judges had accepted it. No one had questioned her.

So why bother worrying about a plagiarist’s pathetic counterattack?

After all, Alice thought, she was already ascending—brands were calling, endorsements were flooding in. Hera was just a stepping stone, and soon she’d be buried beneath her triumph. There was no suspense in the outcome. To Alice, Hera wasn’t worth her attention anymore.

But in her arrogance, she failed to see the storm brewing on the screen behind her. She didn’t notice the way the audience’s eyes widened. She didn’t hear the murmurs of recognition, or feel the momentum slowly shifting as Hera began her presentation—with calm, fire, and truth.

The audience in the venue—and those watching the livestream—began to admire Hera’s design with growing fascination. As she started manipulating the 3D model on the big screen, rotating and enlarging it in sections, some viewers were puzzled by her actions. They didn’t understand what she was trying to do.

But those with discerning eyes—the designers, critics, and long-time enthusiasts—noticed something. They remained silent, watching intently, waiting for her to continue.

Though Hera’s method seemed unconventional, no one stopped her. After all, true talent often comes with privileges—one of them being the space to speak in one’s own way.

And as her design unfolded in layers, refreshing everyone’s memory of the name "Andarta Aria," it became clear that beyond her youth, Hera’s talent wasn’t just legitimate—it was exceptional. The quiet murmur of respect began to ripple through the room.

"As you can see, the theme of this jewelry set is fantasy and deep sea," Hera began, her voice steady but warm. "When I was very young, I loved listening to my parents and grandfather tell me fairy tales. That’s probably where my imagination first took root."