CHAPTER 918: CHAPTER 918 ANTOINE’S VIEW AND MINERVA’S NEW PATH

Although Alexandre was itching to serve Hera some food himself, he didn’t recklessly jump into the fray. He knew that if he did, the men surrounding Hera, who currently looked like a pack of obedient puppies, would instantly transform into the three-headed hound Cerberus and tear him apart.

So instead, he waited patiently, observing carefully for an opening. He made sure not to provoke them or make them feel like their territory was being encroached upon. Any sign of intrusion would surely put them on guard, and that was the last thing he wanted.

Seeing how harmoniously they moved around Hera, how naturally they catered to her, Alexandre realized that winning Hera’s favor meant first earning their acceptance. If he wanted a chance to join this tight-knit circle, he’d have to make them lower their guard and welcome him in as one of their own.

Only then could he be presented to their queen as a new consort.

He could even imagine them helping him prepare, fixing him up, and cleaning him off, just to ensure he made a good impression. They seemed like the type who’d go to great lengths just to make Hera smile. And rather than fighting the current and challenging each one of them, Alexandre would much rather go with the flow.

If these men gave their blessing, Hera might not even stand a chance.

Thinking of all this, Alexandre beamed happily, a bright grin spreading across his face. Antoine, on the other hand, stared at him with a skeptical look, as if wondering whether Alexandre had completely lost his mind. Instead of feeling flustered or anxious with so many love rivals circling around Hera, the man was actually smiling?

Antoine didn’t know whether Alexandre had hit his head or had finally given up on his one true love, just like he had. A dozen melodramatic scenes began playing out in Antoine’s head, tragic farewells, silent heartbreaks, noble sacrifices, as he looked at Alexandre with quiet pity.

That was until Alexandre caught the look on his face and, instantly, got annoyed, smacked him on the back of the head.

"What the—? What was that for?" Antoine protested with a pout, clearly unhappy with the unexpected smack. But Alexandre didn’t care; Antoine had brought it on himself. Honestly, why was he even looking at him with that pitiful expression, as if Alexandre had already failed in his pursuit of Hera? That kind of energy could jinx him. Naturally, a little payback was necessary.

And just like that, their lively meal came to an end. Unfortunately, Alexandre never found the right opening to serve Hera; her other lovers had everything perfectly handled, leaving no room for him to step in.

Reluctantly, he left with Antoine to settle into their new environment. There was a lot to be done, a new branch to establish, and plenty of paperwork waiting for them. But, thankfully for Alexandre, the one actually doing all the work was Antoine, his newly appointed assistant. All Alexandre had to do was sign a few documents and pass his plans along. Antoine, meanwhile, was left to make everything happen.

If only Antoine had realized earlier that what he thought was a friendly partnership was, in fact, the fine print of a master-servant contract, he might have thought twice. Instead, touched by their friendship, he followed Alexandre here, only to be worked like an ox and a horse, while his so-called friend chased after love.

After the meal, everyone went their separate ways. Athena returned home to deliver the souvenirs she’d bought for her family and her uncle, and, of course, to meet up with Zen. She had been flirting with him every night lately, and Zen had been very responsive... mostly with his abs.

He sent her a daily collection of ab shots: gym abs, fresh-out-of-the-shower abs, lazy-in-bed abs, basically a full portfolio of his torso. It was as if he were on a mission to keep her distracted from every other handsome man on earth and focused solely on him.

And honestly? It was working.

Athena had been drooling over those photos without even trying to hide it. She flirted back openly, egging him on to send more. Each image was dutifully saved in a hidden folder on her phone, which she scrolled through every night before bed, her own little gallery of sweet dreams.

She didn’t even bother to think of herself as some old cow eating young grass. After all, while her body was technically nineteen, her mental age, if she included her past life, was pushing sixty. Zen, meanwhile, was in his twenties.

’But hey, age is just a number... especially when abs like that are involved.’

And so, Athena and Zen continued their flirty exchanges all day long, taking full advantage of their free time. Meanwhile, Liz returned home with her father beaming with pride.

He was thrilled that she’d made a connection with Andarta Aria, and in his excitement, he granted her greater authority in the company, more decision-making power, and additional shares. Little did he know that might be the best decision he’d ever make.

With Hera’s rising influence, their company was about to ride her coattails to greater success. Working closely with her would open countless doors and bring in substantial profits in the years to come.

As for Minerva, she returned home only to find out that her parents wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon; they were still off traveling the world like a honeymooning couple. Rather than sulking about it, she took her first step into a new venture: vlogging.

Having splurged on clothes, makeup, and accessories in Paris, she kicked things off with a "Get Ready With Me" video. She appeared on camera bare-faced, no makeup, no filters, revealing a pure and innocent beauty.

Of course, as the sister of a male lead known for his impeccable looks, Minerva couldn’t possibly be anything short of stunning herself. She was the second female lead, after all, a title that spoke volumes about her appearance.

In the past, her bold makeup choices had emphasized her sharper, more domineering side, unintentionally hiding her softer features. But now, with a more natural style, her sweet and youthful charm finally had a chance to shine.

And so, during her very first livestream, where she casually chatted with viewers while doing her makeup, Minerva gained her first thousand followers. Although the gifts she received were modest, her beauty and impressive makeup skills were enough to leave a lasting impression.

For the first time, people began to see more than just the pampered heiress of the Briley family or the so-called "useless princess" who always relied on her brother. Her once-tainted image was beginning to soften, little by little.

To her own surprise, Minerva found that the process of clearing her name felt... good. In the past, as the spoiled Briley heiress, she never cared what people said about her. Why would she? She could have anything she wanted with just a word to her brother. But now that she was building something of her own, carving out her own identity, she felt something new: freedom.

It was liberating.

It felt like she was seeing the world through a new lens, and that shift in perspective filled her with genuine happiness.

Seeing the positive comments pouring into her livestream, Minerva grew even more enthusiastic, chatting animatedly about even the most mundane things, her experiences in Paris, her favorite purchases, and random daily thoughts. But what truly caught her viewers’ attention was something far more dramatic.

Most of them were especially curious about the time she and Rafael got trapped in the forest, a moment that had gained attention when Hera unintentionally livestreamed parts of her frantic search for them after the race some time ago.

Though some viewers knew bits and pieces of the story, they didn’t have the full picture. And what better source than Minerva herself to spill the juicy details?

So, with a dramatic flair, Minerva began recounting what had happened and how it felt being in that terrifying situation. She described the sheer fear she felt, trapped in a cramped, pitch-black cell deep in the forest.

Rats had scurried beneath her feet, and the damp air clung to her skin. She wanted to cry but didn’t dare make a sound, terrified that the captors might hear and punish her.

The wait felt endless. Every second stretched like an hour until, finally, after what felt like a lifetime, her brother came to her rescue. The moment she saw him, all the fear she had bottled up nearly burst free, but she held it in, not wanting to break down just yet.

She even shared how terrified she’d been while being pursued through the forest on an off-road motorcycle in the dead of night, how the panic had built with every turn, until they eventually lost control and tumbled off. Her viewers were on the edge of their seats, listening intently as if they were tuned in to a live-action audiobook.