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Chapter 133
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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
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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
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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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How could someone be this shameless? Had she forgotten everything that happened? Stellar stepped back, avoiding her outstretched hand, her expression indifferent. "Mrs. Moore, I don’t believe I have anything to do with your family anymore. What do you want?" Margaret’s smile stiffened for a brief moment. She already heard that Percy had failed to win Stellar back, which frustrated her to no end. She cursed the girl countless times in private for being ungrateful. But given Stellar’s current status, she had no choice but to lower herself and personally come to appease her. "Oh, sweetheart, don’t say such hurtful things to me! I know how deep your bond with Percy was. “We were all deceived by that wretched Yvonne—she was the one who slandered you, poisoning our minds. We were foolish to believe her lies and treat you the way we did... “But now, the truth is out. Everyone knows she was the real culprit, and you were just an innocent victim. “We regret it deeply—especiall
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"Oh, by the way, how’s the handover with Brighton Group going?""It’s going well. Their boss is easy to work with," Stellar answered honestly."Their boss?"Claude raised an eyebrow in surprise."I remember hearing that their CEO is quite the enigma. He rarely makes public appearances—it’s always his acting director, Shane Howe, handling things. “You actually met him? Rumor has it he’s sharp-eyed, incredibly selective, and hard to please. And you think he’s easy to work with?"Stellar blinked.Was Stephen just going easy on her because she was his junior?She wasn’t sure how to explain it to her uncle before he nodded to himself and carried on."Well, makes sense. Our Stellar is so capable and outstanding—who wouldn’t treat you with kindness?"As far as he was concerned, the whole world should acknowledge his niece’s brilliance.Even Stellar felt embarrassed hearing him boast so openly."Alright, Uncle Claude, stop hyping me up like a market vendor. I’m heading upstairs. We’ll talk la
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Mary was momentarily stunned by the barrage of questions before finally processing them. "Oh, you must be talking about Mr. Ward from next door. He’s Miss Stellar’s senior at school. “She mentioned they’re attending an academic symposium together this afternoon at two." Hearing that it wasn’t a date, and that the guy was just a fellow student, Claude felt slightly more at ease. But then he caught onto something. "His last name is Ward…?" He clicked his tongue in distaste. What bad luck. Of all people, the guy had to share a last name with that insufferable Ward family. That same family had recently called off an engagement with them. Hah. It was their loss. Stellar was exceptional—one day, they’d regret it. Just as he was about to complain further, his phone rang with a call from a business associate. Letting the matter go, he grabbed a quick bite before heading out. …Meanwhile. Stellar and Stephen arrived at the symposium precisely at two o’clock. The venu
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"Hello, Miss Rivers. Hello, Mr. Ward." The girl greeted them with a bright smile. "I’m Dawn Jones, a junior at your university. Are you two attending the symposium together?" Stellar was caught off guard. There was something oddly familiar about Dawn’s face, but she couldn’t quite place it. Still, since the girl had greeted them politely, she naturally responded in kind. "Yes, we are. Are you participating as well?" "I wasn’t originally supposed to, but I got in as a volunteer for the event. That’s the only reason I’m here," Dawn said cheerfully before tilting her head. "By the way, are you two wearing matching outfits? You look great together." Her tone was casual, neither too loud nor too soft, but just enough for Percy to overhear from nearby. Stellar blinked, then instinctively glanced down. Only then did she realize that she and Stephen were both wearing deep emerald green. They hadn’t planned it at all, yet somehow, they ended up looking perfectly coordinated
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 141
Stellar was utterly speechless. "When exactly did I bully anyone? If your eyes are failing you, go see an ophthalmologist. If your brain isn't working, a psychiatrist might help!" She fired back without hesitation. Dawn suddenly seemed to realize the situation had escalated and hurried to explain. "Mr. Moore, it’s not what you think. I made the mistake. It has nothing to do with Miss Rivers. You’ve misunderstood." But the more she tried to smooth things over, the more Percy felt the need to defend her. "Dawn, you don’t have to cover for her. I saw everything with my own eyes—her throwing her weight around while you kept begging for forgiveness.“A cold-hearted woman like that doesn’t deserve your apology." That was when it clicked for Stellar. These two clearly knew each other from before. Now, she really couldn’t be bothered to argue. Her patience was wearing thin. "Percy, what does any of this have to do with you? In what capacity are you questioning me right now
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 282
Hearing Zayden’s offer, Stellar couldn’t deny that she was tempted."Alright, I’d love to give it a shot!"A satisfied smile spread across Zayden’s face.He reveled in the feeling of having her within his grasp, unwilling to let go."I’ll personally take you there tomorrow.""Then…" Stellar was about to say she needed to head back and prepare.But the moment Zayden sensed she was about to part ways with him, he quickly spoke up."Senior, I didn’t just come here to see you today. There’s someone I want to take you to meet.""Who?""Our old mentor. He’s in town for a while. Would you come with me to visit him?" His gaze was sincere, almost pleading.Stellar hadn’t expected him to be so respectful toward their teacher.Back when they were younger, she assumed Zayden hated their mentor and their fellow classmates—practically everyone except her.Maybe she had misunderstood him.With a warm smile, she nodded."Of course! I haven’t seen him in so long. Let’s stop by a shop and pick up some g
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Stellar had never seen such shamelessness.Not only had Joy stolen her work, but now she was twisting the situation to make herself the victim.Backing down wasn’t an option—not for her."Fine. If that’s the case, I’m out of the final stage of this project!" she declared without hesitation.The room fell into stunned silence.Many were taken aback by her decisiveness, unable to hide their shock.Joy was the first to recover."Miss Rivers, do you really think the team can’t function without you?" she sneered. "This isn’t some playground where you can throw a tantrum. If you quit now, your work will be discarded, and your internship might not even be approved. Are you sure you want to be this reckless?"She spoke as if she were lecturing a child—one who was acting spoiled and irrational.But Stellar merely let out a cold laugh, standing her ground."Yes. If this place can’t even uphold fairness, I see no reason to stay."With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.Joy’s gaze dark
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Deep down, she refused to be seen as a delicate flower—someone incapable of standing on her own without a man's protection.But that wasn’t something she could easily explain to anyone.Yet, as if reading her mind, Stephen’s reply came through:"I know you don’t like being treated this way. I’ll talk to your uncles for you."Stellar was taken aback.She assumed that since Stephen was pursuing her, he would seize this opportunity to spend more time with her.Instead, he was turning it down.Stellar: “Why would you…?”Stephen: “I won’t force you into something you don’t want. But whenever you need me, I’ll always be there.”His words struck a chord in her heart.A slow smile spread across her lips.This time, she didn’t bother with polite refusals or empty words.“Okay.”That night, she fell asleep with an inexplicable sense of warmth.The next morning, upon arriving at the base, Stellar received an official notification.Her proposal had been approved.It should have been good news.Aft
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Stellar hadn’t expected that.Stephen suddenly turned to her, his gaze deep and unwavering, his voice low and serious."What if I said I was?"Her heart skipped a beat.A rush of emotions flooded her all at once—nervousness, panic, uncertainty, and warmth."I…"She pressed her lips together, her mind scrambling for words.Maybe it was the intensity of his gaze, or maybe it was something else entirely, but she found herself speaking, her voice steady."You misunderstood. He’s my junior—someone I look out for, like a younger brother. That’s all."The moment the words left her lips, Stephen’s dark eyes lit up.They were brighter than the moon hanging in the night sky.In an instant, all the tension, unease, and frustration he felt earlier vanished.His voice was rich and unwavering."That’s all I needed to hear."So, it wasn’t just him.Stellar’s heart pounded against her ribs.She quickly averted her gaze, trying to compose herself. But the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her.
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Margaret sat drenched, her body still trembling from the lingering effects of the electric shock.But this was only the beginning.Every single torture device in this prison—every cruel mechanism—was designed based on her own suggestions.She planned to personally oversee Stellar’s suffering.Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, it was now all coming back to her.She tried to scream for help, but no one outside would answer her.What awaited her was the next round of punishment."What goes around, comes around."Outside, Stellar watched coldly before turning away.Without sparing another glance, she walked off with Stephen and Zayden.As they left the compound, Stellar glanced at Stephen, curiosity flashing in her eyes."By the way, how did you figure out this was a trap?"Stephen explained calmly, "I’ve studied mechanical traps before. The way this place was structured, along with the control panel on the wall, made it pretty obvious."Stellar’s eyes sparkled with admiration. "Wow, that’s i
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"You don’t have to thank me. Saving Stellar was simply the right thing to do," Stephen said smoothly. Now that things had reached this point, there was no way he would back down. Instead, he subtly staked his own claim. "Stellar is very important to me. If anything, I should be the one thanking you for stepping in." A flicker of hostility flashed through Zayden’s eyes, and though he still wore a smile, there was something eerily cold about it. "My senior is also the most important person to me," he stated, enunciating every word with deliberate emphasis. Stephen, unbothered, simply responded with a casual, almost teasing tone. "Is that so? Strange, I don’t recall Stellar ever mentioning you before." Zayden’s expression darkened instantly. Sensing the growing tension, Stellar finally stepped in. "Alright, enough of this. You two can stop arguing now." Turning to Stephen, she asked, "How did you even know I was in trouble?" "Your uncle called me," he answered. St
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The moment Zayden appeared, Percy’s eyes lit up like he had just seen his savior.Using every ounce of strength left in his battered body, he crawled forward, grasping onto Zayden’s pant leg in desperation."Zayden, help me! Stellar offended you, so I brought her here to teach her a lesson for you, but she turned around and beat me like this! Please, you have to save me!"Zayden’s jaw clenched, the vein on his temple twitching violently."You idiot. Who gave you the right to lay a hand on her?! Are you looking for death?"With that, he delivered a vicious kick, sending Percy flying across the room.Percy felt his insides shift as he crashed to the ground, gasping in pain.What the hell?! Wasn’t Stellar the one who had pissed off Zayden? Then why… why was he protecting her?Before he could process it, Stephen had already stepped toward Stellar, scanning her from head to toe."Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.Stellar raised a brow, flashing a bright, teasing smile.
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The bodyguards immediately understood and shut the basement door behind them.With everyone gone, the only ones left in the dark, enclosed space were Stellar and Percy."Stellar, are you really sure about this?" Percy asked again, wanting confirmation.She gave him a sweet, innocent smile. "Of course. Now, can you untie me?"Percy hesitated for a moment."You’re not scared I’ll hurt you, are you?" Stellar tilted her head, her voice soft, almost teasing. "Don’t forget, I can barely move right now. And if you keep me tied up like this, how am I supposed to hold you?"She even pouted a little, as if sulking.Percy’s heart nearly leaped out of his chest.It made sense. She was completely powerless right now. There was no way she could fight back—wasn’t she already at his mercy?Feeling reassured, he finally moved forward and loosened the knots.As the ropes fell away, Stellar stretched her stiff wrists, rubbing the soreness out before curling her fingers into a slow, deliberate fist."S
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He needed to know everything about her—to have complete control over her life—so he could bring Stellar back to his side. But not long after he sent the message, his phone rang. "Mr. Zayden, there’s something I need to report," his subordinate said cautiously. "You’ve had us keeping an eye on the side branch, and today, our men discovered that Percy kidnapped a woman. She looks strikingly similar to the one in the photo you just sent me…" His voice trailed off, hesitant. "What did you just say?!" Zayden slammed his foot on the gas, his eyes dark with lethal intent. "That bastard actually dared—where did he take her?" The subordinate quickly rattled off an address. "They were heading in that direction, but we haven’t pinpointed their exact location yet." "Find it!" Zayden barked, yanking the steering wheel to make a sharp U-turn before speeding toward the location at breakneck speed. …At the same time, multiple forces were searching for Stellar. Meanwhile, she had
