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Chapter 10

ผู้เขียน: Warm Cocoa
Stellar’s eyes flickered subtly.

She had expected this outcome.

But with business opportunities knocking on her door, there was no reason to turn them away. She offered a graceful smile.

“No problem, but I have some matters to handle right now. Let’s discuss this later.”

Nicholas didn’t press further, nodding with satisfaction before cheerfully walking away. As he left, he threw a parting remark at Percy.

“Mr. Moore, since the contract has expired, we’ll have to see if there’s another chance to collaborate in the future.”

The implication was clear: there would be no renewal.

Percy was so furious he could barely contain himself.

He hadn’t anticipated that Stellar truly had the capability to pull this off—humiliating him at Brighton Group and even stealing away one of Moore Enterprises’ key partners.

Staying any longer would only worsen the embarrassment, so he reluctantly signaled to his team.

“We’re leaving.”

But before he could take another step, Shane chuckled lightly.

“Mr. Moore, do you think this is a marketplace? You’re supposed to be a man of status, yet your words hold no integrity. Is this how Moore Enterprises typically operates?”

In business, reputation and trust were everything.

Percy knew he had been rash today, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to back down.

Clenching his fists tightly, the veins on his forehead bulged with suppressed rage.

He waited, hoping Stellar would step in to defuse the situation, but she remained silent.

Fine.

Whatever.

Turning sharply, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her briefly before shifting to Shane.

“My personal matters with her will be dealt with behind closed doors. There’s no need for your concern, Mr. Howe.”

With that, he strode out of the room. His back was straight, but the murmured whispers from the onlookers stung deeply, leaving his pride in tatters.

Stellar didn’t stop him, nor did she push for a resolution.

Instead, she sincerely apologized to Shane and the others for the disruption.

“I’m truly sorry for causing trouble for everyone.”

Shane could tell that Stellar wasn’t as unshaken as she appeared. Percy’s actions had undoubtedly left their mark on her, even if she tried not to show it.

Last night, Shane had indeed asked someone to investigate her background.

While learning about her past connection with Percy initially disappointed him for a brief moment, it was quickly overshadowed by his admiration for her talent.

And after spending time working with her, he trusted what he saw with his own eyes.

If Percy failed to appreciate her, that was his loss—a blindness of his own making.

Without addressing the matter further, Shane simply said, “Then let me say it again—Miss Rivers, it’s a pleasure working with you.”

Stellar paused, surprised for a moment, then smiled brightly.

As expected of Brighton Group’s director—his poise and demeanor were truly impeccable.

Percy sped back to his villa, his car tearing through the streets as if mirroring his foul mood.

His dark expression was so menacing that the household staff didn’t dare to breathe loudly.

The moment he stepped into the living room, he was greeted by the sight of Yvonne leisurely sipping coffee, her casual demeanor further irritating him.

“Who let you in?”

Yvonne’s face faltered briefly before she quickly rose, her voice soft and coquettish.

“Percy, I was just worried about you. How did things go? Did that woman, Stellar, finally confess?”

If she hadn’t brought it up, Percy might have let it slide. But her question instantly brought the day’s humiliation flooding back, and in a flash of anger, he hurled the coffee cup to the floor.

“Get out.”

Yvonne’s temper flared at his outburst.

The two families were bound by an engagement. While the Harlow family wasn’t as powerful as the Moore family, Yvonne was still the Harlow family’s heiress. What gave Percy the right to treat her this way?

“Percy, what is the meaning of this? I’m only trying to look out for you. Why are you taking your anger out on me?”

But Percy’s mind was already consumed with blame. If it weren’t for Yvonne’s constant whispers and reminders, he wouldn’t have suspected Stellar of stealing company secrets in the first place.

Unable to restrain himself, he suddenly grabbed Yvonne by the neck.

“We’re not married yet. My business is none of your concern. Get out.”

Terrified, Yvonne eventually stormed off, her face red with fury.

Once inside her car, she slammed her fists against the steering wheel in frustration.

Damn that Stellar!

After driving Yvonne away, Percy yanked his tie loose and collapsed onto the sofa, frustration radiating off him.

For reasons he couldn’t explain, fragmented memories began flashing through his mind.

It was true. Several of the company’s previous deals had relied on Stellar’s efforts. There were times when her guidance was critical to the technical department, pushing Moore Enterprises to the forefront of the industry and ensuring a steady flow of orders.

When had he started taking her for granted, disregarding her completely?

A wave of despair washed over him.

Finally, he grabbed his phone and dialed Stellar’s number.

Forget it. If she would just come back, he could forgive everything.

“The number you have dialed is no longer in service...”

His jaw clenched as he angrily threw the phone onto the sofa.

She had blocked him.

After sitting in silence for a moment, he picked up the phone again and opened his messaging app. For the first time, he sent her a message.

“Stop playing games. Come back, and we’ll forget all of this. If you don’t, don’t ever think about coming back again.”

He pressed send.

The red exclamation mark that followed his message sent Percy’s emotions spiraling out of control.

Like an enraged lion, he barked at one of the house staff to hand over their phone. He tried calling Stella again.

“Hello, who is this?”

Her voice was crisp and melodious, clearly in high spirits.

“Stellar, you—”

“Beep, beep.”

The disconnected tone blared in his ear. She hung up the moment she heard his voice.

He tried calling again, only to find the number blocked once more.

The repeated rejection felt like a series of stinging slaps across his face. Enraged, he hurled the phone into a nearby planter, shattering it into countless pieces.

The house staff looked on in terror. It was his brand-new phone.

With no outlet for his fury, Percy ended up drinking himself into a stupor at a bar.

When Xavier arrived, he found Percy attempting to open a bottle of high-proof liquor. Xavier hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to stop him.

“Enough. Don’t drink anymore.”

But Percy shoved him aside, falling back onto the sofa in the process. His black shirt was missing two buttons, his tie hung askew, and his jacket was crumpled beyond recognition. The once-proud image of a polished gentleman was nowhere to be seen.

“Percy, you still care about Stellar, don’t you?”

Before he could finish, Percy waved him off with a dismissive gesture, cutting him off.

“Xavier, I didn’t call you here to lecture me. You’re a lawyer and my friend. Stellar cost me the deal with Brighton Group, and she still refuses to admit she stole Moore Enterprises’ proposal. I want you to sue her and drag her through the courts until she’s on her knees begging for forgiveness.”

Xavier hadn’t grown up in Percy’s social circle. While Percy’s friends were all wealthy heirs, Xavier came from an ordinary family. They were classmates in high school, and later, Xavier studied law.

After graduating, they crossed paths by chance, and Percy started relying on him for legal matters. Over time, Percy’s friends also sought Xavier’s help, and he became a regular in their circle.

Yet deep down, Percy always felt that Xavier was different from the rest of them. There was an innate pride in the way Xavier spoke to him as if he stood above it all.

Seeing that Percy showed no signs of reflection, Xavier’s gaze turned cold.

“Percy, the truth is, you’ve been spoiled by Stellar. For years, she’s been the one running around, fixing everything for you, while you stayed in your comfort zone, doing whatever you pleased. But you never learned to value her.”

Percy wasn’t listening. Just as he was about to lose his temper, his phone rang on the table.

A smug smile spread across his face.

“It must be Stellar, begging me to come home. That woman can’t survive without me.”

Xavier handed him the phone, shattering Percy’s delusion.

“It’s your father.”

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  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 11

    William Moore’s scolding hit Percy like a bucket of cold water, sobering him up almost instantly.“You know how much the Harlow family treasures Yvonne. They wouldn’t even dream of scolding her. And you had the nerve to tell her to leave? Tomorrow, you’re taking a gift to apologize and make things right. “The business scene in Riverdale is volatile right now, and there are competitors trying to seize market share. The Moore family needs the Harlow family’s support. Do you understand me?”Percy didn’t particularly care about the idea of a business alliance through marriage, but with the collaboration with Brighton Group now out of reach, cutting ties with the Harlow family wasn’t an option either.“Fine,” he muttered after a long silence, hanging up the phone and sinking back into the sofa, his expression blank as he sat there in silence.Xavier cast him a glance, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smirk.“I’ve got other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. As for help

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 12

    Yvonne stood there, dressed like a peacock in full display, her outfit dripping with gold and jewels, flaunting her wealth and superiority. Her voice carried an air of unrestrained arrogance.“Well, well, if it isn’t Stellar Rivers, the illustrious representative of Riverside Corporation who just signed a deal with Brighton Group. What’s this? Picking up trash outside a school now?”She smirked, lifting her foot to step on one of Stellar’s scattered books.Ha! So, what if Percy didn’t like her? He was still going to obediently get engaged to her.Every time Yvonne complained to her parents about her frustrations, they coddled her endlessly. Not only did they pressure her uncle to invest an extra two million dollars into her latest film, but they also arranged a dinner meeting with the Moore family tonight at an upscale restaurant to finalize the engagement date.Stellar’s gaze turned cold as she looked up at Yvonne.“Move.”“And if I don’t? What can you do about it?” Yvonne sneered, to

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 13

    Stellar didn’t want to talk about it, and Claude didn’t press her further, though anger surged within him. “It seems someone needs to be taught a lesson,” Claude thought.The drive was quiet, with neither of them saying much. When they finally arrived at the restaurant, Claude broke the silence. “Alright, enough with the gloomy face. Eat first. You’ll need a full stomach to think things through.” Stellar could tell Claude had noticed her troubled mood but chose to give her space. His subtle way of showing respect made her feel comforted. After parking the car, Claude led her inside to the private room he had reserved in advance. The restaurant’s decor was luxurious, with an elegant ambiance. From the main hall, the soft notes of a piano melody flowed in, soothing and uplifting, as though washing away her worries. Stellar gradually felt her emotions settle. Soon, dish after dish began arriving at their table. Although each portion was small, the sheer number of dishes was

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 14

    When Claude returned with a dark expression, Stellar immediately set her utensils down. “Uncle Claude, you don’t look too happy. Did something happen during that call?” Seeing her concerned face and recalling Yvonne’s venomous behavior, Claude felt a sharp pang of heartache. Not wanting to ruin Stellar’s mood, he brushed it off casually. “It’s nothing, just ran into a barking dog.” Stellar paused, then offered her own calm reassurance. “Well, if it’s just an animal, there’s no need for us to stoop to their level.” Claude burst into hearty laughter, his mood instantly lifted. Picking up his utensils, he placed more food on Stellar’s plate. “Here, eat more, Stellar. You’re far too thin. You need to take better care of yourself. As long as I’m here, I’ll make sure you’re well-fed and never mistreated.” A warm feeling blossomed in Stellar’s chest. It felt wonderful to be cared for like this.…After the meal, Claude went to fetch the car, leaving Stellar waiting outside.

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 15

    Stellar paused for a moment, guessing that Claude likely saw what had transpired earlier. Yet, out of respect for her, he chose not to intervene or ask questions. Her heart warmed at the thought, and a genuine smile spread across her face. “I will. Thank you, Uncle Claude. Drive safe.” She waved him off as he left before heading back into the villa. …Later that evening. After a relaxing hot shower, Stellar stepped out of her room, only to receive an unexpected phone call—from none other than Percy’s mother, Margaret Farrell. “Stellar! It’s so good to hear your voice!” Margaret’s tone was syrupy sweet, just as it always had been. “About what happened at the restaurant today, I wasn’t ignoring you on purpose. You know how much I’ve always cared for you, don’t you?” Her words sounded warm and familiar, but Stellar had long since seen through the façade. She didn’t respond, keeping silent on the line. Margaret, sensing the lack of engagement, grew impatient. “Are you hol

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 16

    To stand up for Yvonne, Jonathan was willing to go to such lengths.Did he truly despise her that much? Enough to crush her dreams entirely?Jonathan faltered for a moment under Stellar’s piercing gaze. Something about her eyes made him feel a flicker of unease, even guilt, but he quickly averted his gaze.Yvonne, eager to prevent any softening of his resolve, wasted no time fanning the flames.“But sister, haven’t you already secured the favor of multiple men? Mr. Howe, and that wealthy, dashing gentleman who picked you up the other day? Why bother stirring up trouble here on campus?”Jonathan’s head snapped up and the brief moment of hesitation wiped clean from his face.“Stellar,” he scolded, his voice brimming with anger. “When did you become so shameless? After leaving the Harlow family, you’ve been jumping from one man to another. It’s disgraceful!”The memory of her unapologetic attitude the day before resurfaced, fueling his frustration. She showed no remorse for her actions an

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 17

    When it came to sharp-tongued remarks, Victor was unmatched, leaving no room for pleasantries. Yvonne’s face turned crimson as she was rendered speechless by his blunt dismissal, and even Jonathan was momentarily stunned into silence.However, Victor paid them no further attention and turned to Jasper. “Jasper, weren’t you just saying you wanted to meet the investor who would invest one hundred million dollars into my project? Well, here he is!” His expression was indignant as he patted Claude on the shoulder. “And if a mere two million dollars can bar Stellar from returning to this school, then surely one hundred million dollars can ensure people like this…” His disdainful gaze flicked to Yvonne, and he enunciated slowly, “…are banned from ever setting foot on this campus again.”For a moment, the entire room fell into stunned silence. All eyes turned to Claude, their disbelief evident. A man this young and polished had casually invested one hundred million dollars? Who was he?How

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 18

    Clearing his throat, Jasper tried to mediate, his voice filled with an attempt to diffuse the tension. “Let’s all calm down. This is just a misunderstanding.”Before he could steer the conversation away, Claude, who had remained silent for a while, spoke again. His tone carried a commanding authority that brooked no argument. “The one hundred million dollars I’ve invested now comes with an additional condition—there will be no collaboration with this Miss Harlow or her family. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize the project’s success.”The implication was clear: she was bad luck.Yvonne nearly exploded with rage. She opened her mouth to retort, but the cold glint in Claude’s eyes made her bite her tongue. Instead, she turned to Jonathan, her voice dripping with grievance. “Uncle.”Jonathan snapped back to attention, ready to defend her, but before he could say anything, Claude’s gaze swept over him dismissively, his tone laced with indifference. “Ah, I almost forgot. The Harlow family, wa

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  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 258

    The reporters finally took notice of Suzy."Hugh Mann? Who’s that? Never heard of him."Some younger journalists had no idea who he was."Isn’t he that nearly-retired veteran? He hasn’t written anything in ten years. And wasn’t there some major scandal before he disappeared? I can’t believe he’s still in the industry!""It’s probably nothing special. No way it can compare to a project backed by Star Luna!"No one believed in Suzy. Instead, they showered Tori and Star Luna with endless praise.This was exactly what Tori wanted.Using her own fame, she trampled Suzy down, ensuring she’d never have a chance to rise again.The smug satisfaction on Tori’s face was infuriating.Suzy clenched her fists in frustration and tugged at Stellar, ready to leave.But Stellar held onto her arm, her gaze turning icy. Instead of walking away, she stepped forward, right in front of Tori, prepared to expose her in front of the reporters.Before she could speak, a loud and powerful female voice cut throu

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 257

    Stellar ignored them and accompanied Suzy to the audition with Hugh . She waited quietly outside.About half an hour later, the door to the audition room swung open.Suzy walked out, her face glowing with excitement. She rushed forward and hugged Stellar tightly. "This is amazing, Stellar! I got the role!""Really? That’s fantastic!" Stellar beamed with joy.The two of them quickly left, one after the other.Inside the room, someone suddenly stood up, about to rush out."What’s wrong, Mr. Fisher?" Hugh asked, confused."I think I just saw Star Luna," David Fisher said, his voice tinged with excitement."You mean that Star Luna? The author who disappeared two years ago?"David was the editor who once worked closely with Star Luna. Years ago, he spent years negotiating to sign her, and they became close friends.He invited her here today to help with a project, and they even had a discussion of her unfinished novel, lamenting that they had lost contact with her and regretting that the

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 256

    Suzy entered the entertainment industry with the sole purpose of honing her acting skills and improving herself, so she naturally refused to compromise.Yet, that woman had betrayed her and even acted so self-righteous about it.Suzy was utterly disheartened."Ms. Helen, you can’t say that. Ms. Suzy hasn't had it easy all these years. Look, even her auditions have ended in repeated failures."Tori watched Suzy’s setback with a surge of satisfaction, though she still put on a pretentious act. "Ms. Helen, don’t you have a few roles available?"She then listed a few role names before feigning sincerity. "Ms. Suzy, since you can’t seem to land any good roles, why don’t I recommend you for these?"Suzy stared at her expressionlessly.The roles Tori mentioned were all minor extras, the kind that barely lasted a few episodes before being written out.It seemed like an act of kindness, but in reality, it was pure humiliation."Who says Suzy can’t land a good role?" Stellar finally had enough a

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 255

    Stellar frowned. The voice was unfamiliar, but it was clearly directed at Suzy. "It’s none of your business." Suzy’s voice was cold as she dismissed the comment, then stepped aside to pick up her phone. "Stellar, what’s wrong?" "Where are you? Are you in trouble?" Stellar asked, concern evident in her tone. "I’m at the set for an audition. It’s nothing, don’t worry…" Suzy tried to brush it off. "Send me the address." "Stellar…" Stellar’s voice hardened. "If you really see me as your best friend, send me the address." Suzy had always stood up for her whenever she needed it. There was no way she would turn a blind eye now. Left with no choice, Suzy hung up and sent her location. Fifteen minutes later, Stellar pulled up to the film set. She arrived just in time to see Suzy walking out of the studio, looking visibly dejected. "What happened, Suzy?" Stellar rushed over. Suzy gave a small, bitter smile. "Remember the script I told you about yesterday? After thinking

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 254

    The next day, Stellar handed the revised script to Julian."Uncle Julian, you can send it to the editor for review. If they feel anything is off or don’t like some of the changes, just let me know."Julian was amazed by her efficiency. He went through the new script from start to finish, growing more and more impressed as he read.If the original script had been at 70% completion in his eyes, this version was now a solid 100%.And it wasn’t just because he was biased toward his niece—viewing it purely from a director’s perspective, the changes she had made would undoubtedly become some of the film’s defining moments on the big screen.Wasting no time, he sent the revised script to his old friend.While waiting for a response, Julian showered her with praise."Stellar, you’re an absolute genius."He always knew his niece was talented, but this completely changed how he saw her.Just as he was about to compliment her further, his phone rang.It was his friend, Hugh Mann.Julian put the

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 253

    Edwin had clearly absorbed the entire conversation and wasted no time in dismissing Suzy with a long-winded argument. Stellar frowned. She had never wanted to get involved in whatever had happened between him and Suzy. But for him to badmouth her while she wasn’t even here to defend herself? That was too much. Turning to Edwin, her gaze turned cold. His confidence wavered under her stare, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. “Did I say anything wrong?” Stellar let out a sharp laugh. “Uncle Edwin, you’re just being biased. You don’t know Suzy at all. You’ve never watched any of her performances, have no idea what she’s capable of, and yet you’re so sure she’s not good enough?“Let me show you exactly what she can do.” Without another word, she pulled up a clip of Suzy’s acting and cast it onto the big screen. Julian leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he studied the performance with a director’s keen eye. However, Edwin sat frozen. The Suzy he knew had

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 252

    “In this industry, the abundance of poorly written scripts is precisely why so many productions turn out to be subpar. I find it quite unfortunate."Stellar understood. "I know. You truly love acting, which is why you chose this path."Given Suzy's family background, she could have taken a much easier route.The two best friends chatted for a long time before Stellar finally dropped her off safely at home.On her way back, Stellar checked her phone and noticed Julian had sent her a few messages half an hour ago.“Stellar, I'm planning to direct a new film, and the theme is related to aeronautics. Since you're knowledgeable in this field, could you help me take a look?”Attached were the script and character profiles.Raising an eyebrow in surprise, Stellar clicked on the files and began reading them carefully.She lost track of time until the car came to a stop at the villa entrance."Miss, we're home."Snapping out of her thoughts, Stellar quickly got out of the car and went inside.A

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 251

    Stephen quickly left the spot and returned to the private room.Just then, a junior student enthusiastically approached Stellar with a drink in hand."Stellar, I’d like to toast to you as well! You’re my idol. I followed in your footsteps to get where I am today!"Faced with such sincerity, Stellar found it hard to refuse.She picked up her glass, just about to take a sip when a hand reached over and effortlessly took it from her."She’s had a bit too much to drink tonight. I’ll take this for her."With that, Stephen stepped in front of her, raised the glass to his lips, and downed the drink in one go.The entire room fell into stunned silence.Stellar, momentarily dazed, suddenly realized that it was her glass.The spot he drank from was exactly where she had just taken a sip…The thought of their earlier kiss flashed through her mind, and a wave of heat surged to her head, making her feel like she was about to combust.As the crowd looked on with gossipy curiosity, Stephen calmly set

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 250

    Stephen lowered his head slightly, his voice carrying an unusual trace of nervousness. "So… Stellar, will you accept my confession?" Stellar snapped out of her thoughts, her mind flashing back to that unexpected kiss. Her cheeks burned instantly. Lowering her head, she fidgeted, lost in thought. After a long pause, she finally looked up, meeting his gaze. Her voice was soft but steady. "Senior, I’m sorry about before. But… I don’t think this is the right time for us." Stephen stiffened. His expression dimmed, disappointment and sorrow flickering in his eyes. But before he could dwell on it, Stellar continued, "That said… I’m willing to give it a try and see where it leads." A spark of hope ignited in Stephen’s gaze. Astonishment, disbelief, and pure joy flickered across his face all at once. "I won’t lie to you," Stellar admitted. "In my last relationship, I saw Percy as my salvation. He was there when I hit rock bottom, so I blindly clung to him. “I thought he wa

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