Chapter 316 Turning The Tide
Hera caught a fleeting, smug smirk in Alice’s eyes before it vanished as if it had never been there. She realized that this conflict would drag on if she continued to exchange subtle barbs with Alice. Having been in the entertainment industry longer than Hera and drawing from her experiences in her past life, Alice was well-versed in handling such situations.
Hera knew she needed to up her game if she didn’t want to fall into Alice’s tricks and wordplay. She put on an innocent smile and said, "Well, yeah. Now that you mention it, contrary to the malicious slanders on the internet, they are indeed like my knights in shining armor who protect and respect me. But unfortunately, they are so busy with their own lives and businesses that we rarely have a chance to get together and bond like normal friends."
Inside, Hera felt satisfaction as she watched Alice’s eyes sparkle with delight, confirming that Alice believed Hera wasn’t that close to the male leads. Little did Alice know, Hera had set a trap with her words, ready to turn the tables when the time was right.
Which meant Alice still had a chance to get closer to Rafael and Xavier. If she got lucky, she could even integrate herself into their group of friends, which would greatly boost her career. Her plan was clear: use her advantages, undermine Hera, drag her image through the mud, and ultimately replace her.
But that wasn’t Hera’s aim. She knew this strategy was a double-edged sword that could backfire if she miscalculated. Yet, the higher the risk, the more rewarding the outcome. Dangerous as it was, it could be an instant kill solution if executed perfectly.
She could already see the gears turning in Alice’s head as she plotted to get closer to the male leads. Hera knew it was only a matter of time before Alice made her move to get to the male leads and it was something inevitable. By giving Alice a key to the front door and a clear path, Hera could avoid any unexpected ambushes from the back. This way, she could anticipate Alice’s actions and prepare a counterattack, staying one step ahead.
Truthfully, Hera had only just thought of this scheme. Alice seemed so eager to undermine her, but why? Was it solely because of the incident that tarnished her reputation and popularity during the Variety Show? Of course not. While that may have been the catalyst for Alice’s hatred, it wasn’t enough to make her relentlessly go after Hera, even wanting her expelled from the university. There had to be something deeper driving Alice’s animosity.
What Alice really wanted was to send Hera as far away as possible, ruining her career, reputation, and future to eliminate any chance of her getting closer to Rafael and Xavier. Once Hera was out of the picture, Alice would be free to console them and ensure she became the sole woman who could get close to them.
As much as Hera wanted to give Alice the benefit of the doubt and believe she might still fight her openly and fairly, Alice had already let her down many times. Alice’s spotless record and the fact that she managed to avoid any connection to her friends’ actions against Hera only proved how meticulous and adept she was at manipulation and covering her tracks.