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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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