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Chapter 12
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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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 19
Jasper quickly turned his attention to Stellar, bowing his head in apology. "I’m sorry, Stellar. This was my mistake."Stellar shook her head, offering no further comment, and quietly left the office with Victor and Claude.Once outside, Stellar’s vision blurred momentarily, and she turned toward Victor with a deep bow. "Professor, thank you so much for standing up for me today."Other than her family, no one had ever defended her so fiercely before.Victor snorted, crossing his arms. "Always causing me trouble." Though his words were gruff, the faint warmth in his tone betrayed his true feelings. Stellar recognized his sharp tongue but soft heart, and a comforting warmth spread through her chest.As for Claude, a glance between them was enough to communicate volumes. "Uncle Claude, I promise your investment will pay off.”The ordeal had stretched the afternoon far into the day. After Victor left, Claude offered to drive Stellar back. However, as they stepped out of the building, t
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 20
When Stellar returned home, Claude suddenly informed her, "Stellar, I’m entrusting the Riverside and Brighton project to you. I’ll be leaving for a while to handle some matters. Make sure to take care of yourself while I’m away."Stellar immediately understood. The Rivers family’s foundation was rooted in Southport, and with Claude managing countless responsibilities, he couldn’t stay here indefinitely. She nodded with understanding. "Uncle, don’t worry. Focus on your work. I’ll take good care of myself and ensure the project is completed successfully."Her thoughtfulness only made Claude more concerned. After a moment’s hesitation, he pulled out a sleek black card from his pocket and firmly placed it in her hand. "Take this card. It’s got a little money on it. Use it as you need, and don’t even think about refusing. If you try, I’ll just convert it all into gifts and send them your way."He left no room for argument. Stellar couldn’t help but laugh, ultimately accepting the card.
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 374
Over the years, you changed your identity and deliberately cut ties with them to avoid being found out, living a glamorous life on your own. “If the truth gets out and everyone finds out about your background and what kind of person you really are, do you think you'll still have a place in this circle? “When that happens, my grandfather will be the first to kick you out of the family!”With those biting words, Christopher’s expression darkened, and he was left speechless.“So I suggest you know your place. Do as you’re told and stay out of things that don’t concern you. Otherwise…” Joy’s tone was sharp, thick with threat.Under pressure, Christopher finally kept quiet. Even though he was deeply unhappy with how Joy handled things, he had no choice but to turn around and leave silently.Just as he walked out, a slow round of applause came from the doorway.Joy looked up and saw a laid-back man strolling in.“Joy, you’re really getting good at this. Taming Christopher like that is like
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 373
After a round of brief introductions, everyone quickly dove into the project work.With hardly anyone dragging their feet, progress was smooth. For Stellar, things moved along efficiently. After completing the initial stage of her research, she quickly identified a direction for the next phase and decided to use a critical piece of lab equipment for the upcoming experiment.She headed to the relevant department to file a request.“Sorry, Miss Rivers, that high-grade instrument has already been reserved. We only have one available,” the staff member informed her.It didn’t come as a complete surprise.After all, it was a top-tier device, rare even on the international level. It was the world-class equipment and elite talent that drew her to this institute in the first place.“No worries,” she replied. “I’ll go check in with the lab and see if I can borrow it for a bit.”With that, she made her way to the lab and knocked on the door.“Well, well, look who it is. Isn’t this the one and
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 372
"If you dare bother us again, I’ll take you to court, and have you thrown in jail."Her words made the man freeze. He looked ready to fall to his knees. "Yes, yes—thank you, Miss Rivers! Thank you! We promise, we won’t cause any more trouble."In the end, the IOU was signed, and Cheryl, reluctantly parting with her precious savings, handed over twenty thousand dollars. Her son matched it with another twenty thousand, and only then did the family leave, utterly humiliated.Once the door shut behind them, Martha turned to her granddaughter with a heartbroken look."Stellar, I’m so sorry. This was all my fault. I never should’ve invited them over. You spent months working on that data, and now it’s gone... You let them off lightly, didn’t you? For my sake?"But Stellar just grinned, mischief twinkling in her eyes. "Grandma, you’re giving me too much credit. That file? It’s all in my head."As she spoke, she sat down, opened her laptop, and her fingers flew over the keyboard. Less than f
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 371
As soon as Stellar finished speaking, Cheryl’s legs gave out beneath her, and with a loud thud, she dropped to her knees.Only then did the weight of the situation truly hit her.She scrambled forward on hands and knees until she reached Stellar, clutching desperately at her sleeve, tears streaming down her face. "Miss Rivers, I was wrong. I swear I know I was wrong! My grandson didn’t mean to do it, he really didn’t. Please, have mercy. Don’t hold this against us!"I’m old, and there’s no way we can afford four million! I’m begging you, for the sake of my friendship with your grandmother, please let us off just this once!"Stellar’s eyes were icy, unmoved.She was about to turn to her grandmother for guidance when Martha stormed over and slapped Cheryl’s hands away."Don’t you dare touch my granddaughter with your filthy hands! How laughable. You finally realize how serious the matter is when you need to pay the four million dollars? “My granddaughter worked for months on that data,
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 370
The little brat joined right in with his grandmother, hurling insults. "You filthy woman! Seductress! You’re a liar! Dream on!"Stellar didn’t waste another word. She pulled out her phone and spoke calmly into it. "Hello, is this the police? I’d like to report a case of intentional property damage. Please send officers over immediately."With that, she hung up.Cheryl’s eyes bulged, her face flushing red with rage. "You’ve lost your mind! Calling the cops over something like this? You’re insane. We’re leaving!"She grabbed her grandson’s hand and turned to storm off only to be blocked at the door by several bodyguards."No one’s going anywhere," Stellar said coldly. "Not until the police arrive, assess the damage, and calculate the compensation. Then you can leave."A shiver ran down Cheryl’s spine.The chubby boy burst into loud sobs. "Grandma! I’m scared!"Cheryl, flustered but trying to keep her composure, cooed, "Don’t be scared, baby. They’re keeping us here against our will. Jus
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"Who let him into my room?!"Stellar's voice was cold and sharp, carrying a force that made the air around her feel heavy. Even Cheryl flinched instinctively."What happened?" Martha quickly stepped in, alarmed.Only then did Cheryl snap back to herself and immediately launched into complaint. "Martha, you really need to teach your granddaughter some manners. Arguing with a child? Honestly, she’s completely out of line—no patience, no grace whatsoever..."Before she could finish, Stellar cut in, her voice like ice. "Grandma, her grandson went into my room, tore up my bed and desk, broke several pieces of my makeup, and worst of all, he corrupted an important document on my laptop.""What?" Martha’s face darkened at once. "Cheryl, how could you let this happen?"Realizing her grandson was indeed at fault, Cheryl forced a shameless smile. "Oh, come on, it’s just some makeup. He’s just a kid. He didn’t mean it. It’s not like he knew what he was doing. Can't you just let it go, for old t
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So, she teased him on purpose. "Then maybe you should consider joining us at Starlight.""Are you trying to poach me?""Yep. Will you let me?"Stephen seemed to think it over for a moment, then shook his head. "Better not."Stellar knew switching bases wasn't something anyone would do on a whim—she’d only been joking. Still, hearing his firm refusal made her feel a tiny twinge of disappointment."Aren’t you going to ask why?""Hmm?" She looked up, puzzled. "Why?""Because…" Stephen looked down at her, eyes warm with amusement. "As far as I know, Starlight doesn’t allow workplace relationships. And that’s something I just can’t give up."Stellar’s heart gave a hard thump. In that moment, she finally understood what it meant to feel butterflies.This man had a way of tugging at her heartstrings with just a simple line."Ahem..." She couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips and quickly turned her head. "Well then, I guess it really is out of the question."They let the subject pass
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Earlier, Martha had let Cheryl's endless bragging slide without a word.But this time, her expression turned cold in an instant."My granddaughter doesn’t need to do chores. She’s the pride of our family—born to be loved and cherished. Whatever she wants, we can give her. No one has the right to order her around."Cheryl was taken aback, stunned into silence for a moment before snapping back, "What man would want a wife who can’t even handle basic housework? I’m saying this for her own good! Aren’t you worried she won’t be able to get married?""Then she won’t," Martha replied without hesitation."If she stays with us for the rest of her life, so be it. We’re more than capable of taking care of her."Cheryl fumed, feeling like her good intentions had been thrown back in her face."Grandma, I want a drink! And snacks!"The chubby boy came running back, flushed and sweaty after tearing through the house.Cheryl dropped the argument instantly, her focus back on her grandson."Alright, alri
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Martha and Stellar shared a helpless glance before finally giving in with a quiet nod.They drove Cheryl over to the preschool together.All the way there, Cheryl kept bragging nonstop. "This preschool? It’s the top bilingual academy in the area. All the language teachers are brought in from overseas! Tuition alone runs around four or six grand a year. “My son really values his kid’s education, so he’s giving him the absolute best. It’s like pouring money down the drain, but thankfully, he makes enough to support the family. “He even bought a house here and paid four hundred thousand dollars without blinking."The more she talked, the prouder she sounded, completely unaware that the car she was riding in was worth far more than that.Stellar’s ears were practically going numb from the constant boasting. But out of respect for her elder, she held her tongue and didn’t interrupt.When Cheryl finally ran out of things to say and noticed the lack of praise from her audience, she turn
