The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress-Chapter 846 CEO Troupe

Then Hera spoke, her voice calm but cutting. "At least I spoke your shortcomings to your face—in your own language—so you can’t claim I’m backstabbing you or pretending to be morally superior. I haven’t done anything to you, yet you humiliated me and called me names, all because of your own antagonistic tendencies."

A devilish smirk played on Hera’s lips as she let her inner villain step forward. To Alexandre, that mischievous smile was irresistibly charming—making him like her more and more.

Hearing Hera’s words only fueled Mindy’s anger. She stepped forward, raising her hand to slap Hera’s face—only for Alexandre to catch her arm just in time. Even if he hadn’t, Hera was ready to step aside, letting Mindy stumble to the floor.

Hera hadn’t come here to cause trouble; she genuinely wanted to build business connections with Paris’s socialites. She hadn’t expected this kind of hostility, nor for Mindy to act so aggressively.

Maybe it was because Hera now carried some of the female lead’s halo, and troubles like this came and went naturally for her. But unlike other female leads, Hera wasn’t about to let herself be wronged or take undeserved slaps without fighting back. If pushed, she would slap right back.

Then Alexandre firmly pushed Mindy’s hand away, causing her to stagger back. Wearing high heels, she accidentally stepped on the back hem of her dress and tumbled to the floor in a humiliating heap. Several girls who disliked her tyrannical attitude couldn’t help but snicker at the sight.

Mindy had been raised as the sole princess of the Pinaults, always accustomed to getting everything she wanted—except when it came to Alexandre. They were both the darlings of their families, and usually, both got their way.

But Alexandre wasn’t interested in her, a fact Mindy knew all too well. Still, as long as she remained the only woman in his orbit, drawing his attention and making him spend time with her, she felt emboldened. Alexandre’s silence on the marriage alliance only fueled her confidence.

Because of her aggressive behavior, Mindy had hurt many people over the years—but she never cared. As long as she liked Alexandre, it didn’t matter to her whether he returned her feelings or not. But now, seeing him openly oppose her for another woman made her seethe with a fury she couldn’t contain.

She simply couldn’t accept it. Frustration boiled over inside her, and tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at Alexandre—only to find his gaze cold and indifferent, the same detached expression he gave to everyone else.

But what cut the deepest was the difference when he looked at Hera. His eyes were fixed on Hera, not with contempt or even curiosity, but with concern—afraid, perhaps, that she might think less of him, or judge his circle too harshly. That worry in his eyes wasn’t for her. It was for Hera.

Hera, on the other hand, stood quietly as the scene unfolded around her, falling into deep contemplation. The way things were progressing—how Alexandre had taken her side so decisively against his supposed fiancée—it all felt oddly familiar, as though she’d seen this exact moment play out somewhere before. The pacing, the tension, the emotional shift... it struck a chord of déjà vu.

Then, just as the thought began to crystallize, a soft whisper brushed the shell of her ear, accompanied by the warmth of someone’s breath.

"This is straight out of a CEO novel—the classic ’new love triumphs over childhood sweetheart’ trope," Athena murmured playfully, having appeared beside her without warning.

Startled, Hera jumped, losing her balance. Before she could stumble, Alexandre’s arm shot out, catching her firmly by the waist. His grip was steady, protective. Their eyes locked—his gaze intense, swirling with emotions that were hard to decipher but impossible to ignore.

Everyone around them held their breath, watching the moment unfold with rapt attention. And off to the side, Mindy remained frozen, her expression a mix of disbelief and heartbreak—she the very image of a woman abruptly cast aside.

Athena tapped her index finger against her chin, arms loosely crossed as she watched the scene unfold with theatrical interest. "Yup, classic CEO trope," she mused aloud, eyes gleaming with amusement.

Then, glancing down at the fallen Mindy, she added thoughtfully, "So this is the ’out with the old, in with the new’ phase. I wonder... will the next act be Alexandre realizing he loved Mindy all along because of their shared history? That it was just a moment of confusion caused by the thrill of someone new?" She paused dramatically. "And then comes the infamous redemption arc—cue the wife’s crematorium storyline."

She spoke as if narrating a drama, unaware that Liz had quietly joined her side, nodding in agreement as though they were co-commentators on a reality show. Minerva, on the other hand, stood beside them, utterly clueless, blinking at both of them in confusion. She hadn’t the faintest idea what they were going on about.

"Yeah! I think so too—this is totally the ’CEO chases wife to the crematorium and redemption arc’ type of novel," Liz chimed in with a grin.

Her sudden comment startled Athena so much that she let out a loud yelp, making everyone nearby turn their heads. The unexpected noise jolted Alexandre out of his daze, and he gently loosened his grip on Hera’s waist.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft with concern.

Hera patted her chest, still a little shaken. Inwardly, she sighed in relief—if she’d actually fallen like Mindy, it would’ve been a disaster. Mindy had on a floor-length mermaid gown, so even though she ended up on the floor, it still offered some coverage. Hera, on the other hand, was wearing a dress with a high slit. If she had landed on her backside, it wouldn’t just be embarrassing—it would’ve been a full-on scandal, underwear and all.

"Yeah... thank you," Hera replied softly, not realizing her hand was still resting on top of Alexandre’s. He felt the warmth of her touch linger, and his heart began to pound uncontrollably. He didn’t want to let go—couldn’t, even if he tried.

Meanwhile, Mindy remained frozen in place, her emotions a storm of anger, disbelief, and helplessness. Watching Alexandre gaze at Hera like that—so tenderly, so protectively—was more than she could bear. She didn’t need anyone to spell it out. She had known Alexandre her whole life, memorized every subtle shift in his expression, every nuance of his mood. And right now, all the signs were clear as day.

He was interested in Hera.

And Hera was dangerous—to her pride, to her position, to everything she had staked on being the only woman by Alexandre’s side.

Her hands clenched at her sides, but before she could act out again, a gentle hand touched her right arm. Startled, she turned and saw a red-haired woman, young and stunning, although her dress didn’t fit her well.

The woman offered her support, helping her up with ease. Mindy had been stuck, unable to rise properly in her tight mermaid gown, and the small act of help caught her off guard.

"Miss, are you alright?" the woman asked in English, her voice kind and calm.

Mindy’s lips twitched. ’Great. Another foreigner,’ she thought bitterly, rolling her eyes.

But strangely, her irritation didn’t swell the same way it had with Hera. This one didn’t feel like a threat... at least not yet.