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Chapter 128
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 129
"She’s drunk." Stephen handed Stellar over to Mary without another word and turned to leave. Mary finally understood that Stephan had brought Stellar home out of kindness. She quickly called after him, gratitude in her voice. "Thank you, Mr. Ward." Stephen walked back to his own villa, but an unshakable frustration lingered in his chest, like a weight pressing down on him. He stepped onto the terrace, letting the cold night air wash over him, yet it did nothing to settle his mood. Feeling Irritated, he pulled out his phone and dialed Shane’s number. The call connected quickly. "Hey," Stephen’s voice was low. "Got time? Come have a drink with me." A beat of silence, then Shane’s exasperated voice came through. "Seriously, man? Have you already forgotten? I’m still in Ashfield recovering! How am I supposed to drink with you—through a screen?" Stephen said nothing. Shane, sensing something was off, narrowed his eyes. "Wait a second… Why do you sound so down? Don
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 130
Lilian, ever the optimist, hadn’t connected the dots yet.But Stellar’s stomach sank.Her brows furrowed instinctively.A name immediately came to mind.Still, she hoped she was wrong.That hope lasted until she stepped out of the research institute in the afternoon, only to spot Percy standing not far away.Opposite him was a nervous-looking freshman, clutching her hands together as she worked up the courage to speak."Percy… I’ve admired you for so long. You’re the reason I chose this university. I really like you. Can you give me a chance?"But Percy looked utterly impatient."Enough. I don’t even know you. What do you really like? The fact that I have money?" His voice was sharp and dismissive. "Let me tell you something—I already have someone I like. It’s Stellar Rivers. She’s a genius. Do you think you can compare to her? Get lost."The girl’s face crumpled, her eyes welling with tears.And then, she spotted Stellar stepping out of the building.Her expression twisted into one o
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 131
At that moment, Percy could no longer bear to stay.Burning with humiliation and rage, he spun on his heel and stormed off.He ran straight out of the campus, clutching the velvet ring box in his hand.Staring at the gleaming diamond inside, he felt a bitter contrast—the confidence and excitement he’d felt when he first brought it now seemed like a cruel joke.Stellar really didn’t hold back. She hadn’t spared him even a shred of dignity.Fury surged through him. With a sharp motion, he tossed the ring into a nearby trash can.Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he kicked the bin over, sending its contents spilling onto the ground before storming off.But halfway down the road, resentment gnawed at him.Frustration and regret gnawed at him, a lingering sense of unfinished business hanging over him.With a scowl, he turned on his heel and walked back.Just as he reached the school gates, his eyes landed on a young girl bending down to pick up his ring.Her side profile was sharp and delic
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 132
Percy finally learned that her name was Dawn Jones. It was a nice name, but her family was incredibly poor. She had picked up the ring to sell it for money to cover living expenses. That was something different from all the women he met before. Percy could see traces of Stellar’s past self in her. But unlike Stellar, who was resilient and unwavering, always giving selflessly to him without greed and never complaining about hard work, the other women who approached him were like Yvonne—vain and materialistic, always asking for designer bags or jewelry. However, Dawn was different. She openly admitted her poverty without shame. After all, she had no control over the circumstances of her birth. Her straightforward and genuine nature made Percy see her in a different light. When the car arrived outside the club, Percy and Dawn walked in together. "Mr. Moore, since you're here for drinks, remember to request me later. That way, your order will be counted under my service,
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 133
“What is it?” Stephen turned to look at her, but before she could answer, he added, “I have work to do. If it’s not important, let’s talk later.” He cut her off again.She swallowed back her frustration. “It’s nothing.” For the rest of the day, they crossed paths in the lab multiple times, but there was no real chance to talk. A vague restlessness lingered in Stellar’s mind. By the time classes ended, Stephen had already left early. Lilian and the others invited her to dinner, but she turned them down. Her mood was complicated as she returned to the villa only to run into Stephen again. This time, she didn’t hesitate. Stepping forward, she handed him a neatly wrapped gift box. “Senior, thanks for taking me home last night. I know you said I don’t have to keep thanking you, but you’ve helped me so many times. “This is just a small gift I made to show my appreciation. I won’t bother you anymore unless it’s something important.” Stellar had never been the kind of per
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 134
“It was a gift from a relative,” Stephen answered casually. Stellar thought it was quite the coincidence that both their families had ended up hiring the same design firm. Following him into the kitchen, she opened the fridge only to find it practically empty. It was obvious he rarely, if ever, cooked.Stephen looked a little awkward, as if considering calling the whole thing off. But Stellar didn’t see it as a problem. “No worries, I’ll grab some ingredients from home. Just wait here.” Before he could object, she was already heading out. When she told Mary she was cooking for Stephen, the older woman gave her a knowing look that made her feel inexplicably self-conscious. Afraid she might say something embarrassing, Stellar grabbed the ingredients and hurried back. Even though Stephen didn’t know how to cook, he didn’t just stand around. While she busied herself in the kitchen, he helped however he could—washing vegetables and chopping ingredients. His fingers, da
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 135
It was the sound of a racing heartbeat, loud and urgent, as if demanding to be heard. Stellar’s cheeks burned as she quickly pulled away from his arms. “S-Sorry…” Stephen’s hand was still resting on her waist. Only when she had steadied herself did he slowly let go. “It’s fine. Let’s go.” His expression remained unreadable, as if the moment hadn’t affected him in the slightest. Stellar didn’t dare look at him. Flustered, she hurried ahead and completely missed the way the tips of his ears had turned red, the contrast against his black stud earring making it all the more obvious. By the time she reached her house, she barely managed a quick goodbye before darting inside. Mary was already waiting by the door with an umbrella, ready to go out and fetch her. Seeing Stellar rush in, she quickly stepped forward. "Miss, did you get caught in the rain? Here, dry off properly."She handed her a clean towel, then suddenly frowned in concern. “Wait a minute, why is your face
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 136
Percy was just about to say something to salvage the situation when Dawn spoke first, her tone casual. “Last night was just a drunken mistake. We’re both adults. I’m not that old-fashioned. Don’t worry, I won’t cling to you.” Percy, who had been trying to figure out how to distance himself, was momentarily stunned. As Dawn sat up, his gaze landed on the crimson stain on the sheets. So last night… was her first time? Sensing his discomfort, Dawn spoke again, reassuringly. “Seriously, don’t overthink it. If anything, I should be thanking you for letting me crash here. “Otherwise, with the dorms locked, and me too stingy to book a hotel, I’d have ended up spending the night at a fast-food place.” She was completely unfazed, showing no trace of embarrassment. Something about her straightforwardness stirred something in Percy. Even if she insisted it didn’t matter, the fact remained—he had taken something from her. With that thought, he grabbed his wallet from the night
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 226
A sharp glint flickered in Janet’s eyes.So, her dear cousin actually had the power to make Stephen lose control like that? Impressive.But it didn’t matter.She would win him back.With that thought in mind, Janet tugged gently at Stephen’s sleeve, her voice soft and coaxing."Stephen, we should go. We don’t want to be late…"Stephen’s face remained dark, his jaw tight as he said nothing. Without another word, he turned and led Janet away.Stellar, still engaged in conversation with Keith, caught the movement from the corner of her eye. She lowered her gaze, masking the flicker of disappointment in her expression.Keith, however, had been watching her the entire time. It didn’t take much for him to notice the shift in her mood.He followed her gaze, just in time to catch Stephen’s retreating figure and the woman beside him.Keith’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of mischief flashing across them before he let out a slow, amused whistle."Well, well… isn’t that Stephen? Didn’t take
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Suzy remained completely oblivious to the outrageous words that had just come out of her mouth."Good evening, Ms. Rivers…" the male escorts greeted her in perfect unison, bowing politely.Stellar’s lips twitched hard.She cleared her throat, her tone as gentle as possible."Suzy, I don’t think this is necessary…"But Suzy waved her off. "It is! They’ll give you all the emotional support you need. Just relax and let them take care of you.""Ms. Rivers, please let us keep you company.""Ms. Rivers, do you enjoy drinking? I can personally feed you a sip."The escorts enthusiastically tried to engage her, their voices warm and inviting.Just as Stellar was scrambling for a way out, Suzy suddenly stood up."Oh! I just spotted a prime specimen—I’m gonna go say hi. You take your time and have fun!"She shot Stellar a playful wink before disappearing into the crowd.Stellar barely had time to call after her before she was gone.With Suzy out of the picture, the men around her became even more
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"What happened?" Stellar’s heart tightened as she quickly got in her car and rushed to SA Club, following the address Suzy had sent.When she finally arrived at the booth, she found Suzy hunched over a glass of liquor, drinking sullenly.The tension in her chest eased instantly.With a mix of relief and exasperation, she sat down beside her. "You scared me to death! I thought something serious had happened.""It is serious!"Suzy slammed her glass down, her face full of misery as she poured out her grievances."You have no idea! A few days ago, I went on a date with my boy toy, and guess what? My mom caught us! She thinks he’s just a gold digger and is now forcing me to go on blind dates!“Can you believe it? Me—a rising star at the peak of my career—being reduced to blind dates?! Tell me, isn’t that tragic?"Stellar couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking her head. "Your mom is just looking out for your future. She probably just wants you to find someone reliable.""Exactly! That’s what sh
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Janet's expression was full of satisfaction. "Oh? Is that so?" Stellar’s tone was indifferent. "Well, it looks like you two really do have a close relationship." Her casual, uninterested response only made Janet bristle with frustration. "You…" Just as Janet was about to argue further, her eyes suddenly flickered toward the door. In an instant, her expression lit up. "Stephen!" Dropping her previous arrogance, she beamed and walked past Stellar, her whole demeanor shifting into one of sweet delight. Stellar turned, watching as Janet approached Stephen, looking almost bashful. "Starting today, I’m officially your junior. I hope you’ll take care of me from now on." Stephen gave a small nod, his response noticeably less cold than before. A strange tightness gripped Stellar’s chest. He didn’t reject her? So, they were really that close now? "What were you two talking about?" After offering a polite greeting, Stephen’s gaze landed on Stellar, his tone carrying a hi
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She never knew that Stephen and Janet were close enough for her to call him so affectionately.But she also trusted Stephen’s character. He wouldn’t do something like this."Stellar, you’ve misunderstood Stephen. He just gave me an opportunity to make my path smoother, but in the end, I still have to rely on my own abilities to get in," Janet quickly denied, not foolish enough to let the misunderstanding continue."Oh, by the way, this engine development project is led by Stephen, right? Your team is participating in the research. He agreed to let me sit in and observe!" With a smug expression, she waved the project documents in front of Stellar, as if showing off.Stellar narrowed her eyes and stepped forward, her tone serious. "Are you saying he personally agreed to let you join?" "Of course!" Janet answered confidently.She knew how much the university valued this project. As long as she got involved, she would have the chance to create distance between Stellar and Stephen. W
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Inside the lounge.Stellar helped Stephen sit down gently, cupping his face in her hands."Senior, you really didn’t have to stand up for me. How are you feeling? Let me apply some medicine first."Her palms were soft, carrying a faint, sweet scent.Stephen’s eyes widened, just as he was about to speak, Stellar stopped him. "Don't talk yet…"She leaned in, carefully examining his wound with a serious expression.Seeing her lips so close, Stephen’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his gaze darkening.But in the next second, Stellar let go of him. "Fortunately, it’s not too serious."After saying that, she stood up, asked Stephen a question, then went to retrieve the first-aid kit.A flicker of disappointment crossed Stephen’s heart.Moments later, Stellar returned to his side, took out a cotton swab, dipped it in antiseptic, and carefully applied the medicine to his wound."Hiss—" Stephen sucked in a breath, as if it stung a little."Now you know it hurts? Why bother fighting with someone like that
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"You don't have to be so formal with me," Stephen said, his gaze warm and unwavering.But Stellar didn’t look up at him. Instead, she simply replied, polite as ever, "It’s just basic courtesy between friends."With that, she turned and walked into the lounge.Stephen felt a pang of disappointment but knew better than to rush things.Just then, Joy approached from the distance."Stephen, there are still some details about the aircraft incident I need to go over with you. Can we talk in the office?"Since it was work-related, Stephen gave a nod and followed her.Meanwhile, after a sleepless night, Percy spent hours going over every moment he had shared with Stellar.Finally, he had put together what he wanted to say—how he could convince her to help him.But when he searched the maintenance area, she was nowhere to be found.Just as confusion settled in, he turned back only to see Stellar stepping out of a room marked with Stephen Ward’s name.Her face was slightly flushed, steam still
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With a sharp slam, Stephen set his glass down on the table, his gaze turning icy as he shot a look at Shane. "Is that funny to you?""Ahem..."Shane cleared his throat, realizing that pushing any further would only get him into trouble. He quickly straightened his expression."Alright, alright, let’s get serious. I know you’re frustrated, but listen, I've got to say, I think you’ve always liked Stellar. That little girl from the past? That was just an obsession, maybe even a sense of duty."Don't confuse the two, or you’ll regret it someday.""I know."Stephen’s voice was steady, sharper than Shane expected. "That’s not the problem. I just don’t know how to pursue her without being too abrupt. If I don’t act soon, I’m afraid she’ll slip further away from me."From the way Stellar treated him today, he could feel the distance growing between them, and that alone sent a wave of unease through him."Hah! So even the great Mr. Ward can struggle when chasing a girl," Shane teased, barely ho
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 218
Ethan had only gotten dragged into this because of her. Stellar curled her lips into a cold smile and spoke, her voice steady and sharp. "Since when did asking questions become something to be ashamed of? Or are you telling me you all know everything?" The moment she finished speaking, the ones who had mocked Ethan stiffened, caught off guard. They clearly hadn’t expected an intern to have the guts to challenge them so directly. "Being willing to ask, learn, and seek answers is a sign of humility and dedication. But instead of encouraging it as senior professionals, you ridicule it? What kind of logic is that? Or is this just how your team operates? Are questions not allowed?" A flush crept onto their faces. As seniors, they had planned to put the intern in his place. Yet instead, they had been publicly called out and humiliated by someone younger. Their pride took a heavy hit. One of the leaders, a man named Guy Wellson, scowled, his temper flaring. "Stellar, don’t
