공유

Chapter 135

작가: Warm Cocoa
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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  • 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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 137

    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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 138

    "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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 139

    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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 140

    "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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 142

    Under the weight of countless eyes and a wave of applause, Stellar stepped onto the stage, her movements slightly stiff. In the audience, Percy finally snapped out of his daze. Seeing the slight nervousness in Stellar’s posture, a sneer tugged at his lips. "Hah, there’s no way she’ll do well. As if she could possibly measure up to Professor Song." To be honest, despite Stellar being hailed as a genius back in school, Percy had always thought that title was exaggerated. Back then, she was always so meek around him—where was the brilliance everyone spoke of? Two years had passed, and he still didn’t believe she was as capable as people claimed. On stage, Stellar took the microphone from Sean, his kind and encouraging gaze steady on her. Hundreds of scholars and professors watched her expectantly. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest, and her throat felt dry. She could even hear whispers from the crowd. "Why hasn’t she started yet?" "Did she freeze up?" She really wa

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 143

    Dawn approached again with a bright smile, this time with Percy trailing behind her, his expression unreadable. "I really want to apologize for earlier. Actually, I’ve always admired you, Miss Rivers. Your speech just now was incredible! I’d love to treat you to dinner as an apology. Would you be willing to join me?" Her eyes shimmered with cautious hope. "No need," Stellar replied flatly, unmoved. Dawn’s face faltered, a hint of disappointment flashing across it before she quickly turned to Percy for help. "Mr. Moore, you and Miss Rivers know each other well, don’t you? Could you help me invite her? We could all have dinner together—my treat." Percy hesitated for a brief moment, but quickly masked it with his usual indifferent demeanor. "You heard her, didn’t you, Stellar? Dawn is extending such a sincere invitation. Can’t you drop that high-and-mighty attitude of yours just this once?" Right on cue, Dawn put on a pitiful expression, as if she had been wronged. That

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  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 398

    Stellar found the whole thing baffling. She didn’t even know why the other party hated her so much.Still, after this incident, she realized she'd been far too nice to Joy.After retrieving the blueprint, she knocked on the team leader’s office door.Lucien wasn’t surprised to see her and even invited her to sit.But Stellar stood straight and got straight to the point. "Mr. Song, I want to report Joy."She stole my blueprint and, along with Christopher Sung, forcibly occupied Lab 1. They refused to let me in to use the equipment, which seriously disrupted my research. I hope you'll look into this."Lucien raised an eyebrow as he listened. The light in his blue eyes flickered, and he spoke lazily, "Oh? And why would you think I’d offend Mr. Shaw’s granddaughter and his favorite student just for you?""Because to me, this is a place for research. Everyone came here with a dream, hoping to contribute to the country. Who someone is doesn’t matter."Stellar's tone was calm and firm. "If y

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 397

    Joy was quietly reveling in her triumph.With the tide so clearly turned in her favor, Stellar’s team was seething with frustration.But Stellar simply let out a soft laugh, then spoke with calm poise. "I may not have signed my name on the blueprint, but unfortunately for you, Miss Joy, while I was drawing it, my fountain pen accidentally left a blot of ink on the back."She flipped the original blueprint over. Sure enough, there was a dark ink stain on the back.A flicker of panic flashed across Joy’s face, but she quickly recovered and snapped, "That blot came from my pen. You probably saw it earlier and decided to claim it as yours."That seemed plausible enough, and the crowd began to murmur in agreement.But Stellar let out a sharp chuckle. "Ah, I forgot to mention that this isn’t just any ink. The one I used has a distinct scent of lavender. You’re welcome to smell it yourselves."A few people stepped closer out of curiosity, leaned in, and took a sniff."It really does smell

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 396

    Did she have no idea just how powerful his background was?Or maybe she knew and still didn’t care.The thought only piqued Evan’s interest. He leaned in, smirking, and kept pushing. "And what makes you so sure I took your blueprint? Got any proof?"Stellar’s expression darkened.Just then, Joy walked over, arms full of documents. "Stellar, can you stop making a scene? You couldn’t come up with a proper design, so now you're blaming others? Aren’t you embarrassed?"Having been outshone by Stellar time and again, Joy had been quietly stewing in resentment. Now that the tables seemed to turn, she seized the chance to mock her, eager to see her humiliated in front of everyone.Sure enough, the commotion drew a small crowd from the institute, curious to watch the drama unfold.But those sneering and skeptical glances didn’t faze Stellar one bit.She turned to Joy with a cold stare.Then something on the back of the blueprint Joy was holding caught her eye. Her gaze sharpened instantl

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 395

    The very next second…“Pfft…”Someone couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.A ripple of muffled chuckles spread through the room.Stellar froze, bewildered, and turned to look at the projector screen, only to see an enormous turtle displayed across it.She stood there, stunned."Miss Rivers, if you're having trouble with the design, no one’s going to mock you," Joy seized the moment to attack. "But what’s with the turtle? Are you trying to be funny, or do you just not take the project seriously?"Stellar quickly snapped out of it and responded, "This isn’t my drawing."Joy arched a brow, sarcasm dripping from her tone. "Oh? Then what? Did I draw it?""Yeah, Miss Rivers, are we supposed to believe you’re playing some elaborate prank on all of us?""Is this what genius arrogance looks like?"Just when people had finally begun warming up to her, it all crumbled in an instant. Voices chimed in one after another, mocking and skeptical.Stellar’s expression darkened. She knew someone

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 394

    She denied it three times, but Stellar still looked suspicious. That man's voice on the phone sounded oddly familiar.But seeing she clearly didn’t want to talk about it, Stellar didn’t pry. She wasn’t the type to dig into other people’s business. "Alright then, I won’t ask about yours, so you better not ask about mine."Lilian quickly nodded. A mutual understanding was reached.That afternoon, they resumed work on the new project, which involved the latest aerospace technology design and development.After two solid hours of work, Stellar finally took a short break and headed to the break room with the team for some water.They had just stepped out when a figure entered from outside.Evan walked in, his expression dark, clearly in a foul mood.These days, he’d finally managed to be in the same research institute as Joy. He’d gone out of his way to shower her with kindness, offering her everything he thought was good. But she didn’t appreciate it at all.In fact, she told him to

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 393

    There was still no reply from the other side, so Stellar set her phone aside and headed to the bathroom to wash up. When she came back, she watched a movie for a while.Only then did she pick up her phone again and unlock the screen.But there was still no reply from Stephen.A faint sense of disappointment crept in. She turned off the light, lay down, and placed her phone on the nightstand, ready to sleep.Just then, the screen lit up.A flicker of joy surged in her chest. She quickly grabbed the phone and tapped to check it, only to find it was a spam advertisement.Stellar’s forehead twitched. She nearly swore out loud. "They keep sending me this junk. I'm filing a complaint tomorrow!"The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. But just then, another message popped up.“I just finished work. Still up?”“I just got back my phone. Sorry, I’ll keep it on me next time.”“Did you eat, rest, and take care of yourself properly?”Stephen’s message came like rain in a drought.I

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 392

    It took Stellar a moment before she finally spoke, disbelief lacing her voice. “Wait, doesn’t that mean she basically admitted to covering up crimes? Isn’t that illegal too?”“Exactly, but I guess she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. She kept insisting it was all Tori’s doing—that she and her son were innocent.”Suzy let out a snort. “I’ve never seen anyone exposing their own son’s crimes on camera and dragging themselves down with him. “No wonder Eddie turned out the way he did. With a mom like that cheering him on, it’s no surprise he grew up thinking he could do whatever he wanted. “The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.”Stellar felt a wave of complicated emotion. The woman she remembered to be gentle, kind, and full of warmth suddenly appeared like a total stranger.Had it all been an act?She let out a soft sigh.Suzy must have picked up on her silence, because her voice turned more soothing. “Stellar, don’t let this weigh on you. That mother and son duo were hid

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 391

    “I just came back to grab a file,” Claude said, his tone laced with suspicion. “I thought I heard you talking to someone just now?”“Nope!” Stellar answered quickly, not daring to admit the truth.Claude studied her for a moment, then his expression eased. “Stellar, I’m not against you dating, Just remember, men are mostly just entertainment. Don't get too serious. If it starts going south, cut your losses and move on. The Rivers family will always have your back.”Stellar twitched at the corner of her mouth and thought, “Uncle Claude, are you seriously telling me to be a heartbreaker?”“That doesn’t sound like a good idea,” she said hesitantly.“Why not? Your happiness is what matters most. If anyone makes you uncomfortable, kick them to the curb. Simple as that. “Of course, we’ll also keep an eye on things and make sure no one messes with you.”There was a sharp glint of calculation in Claude’s eyes.Stellar could only offer a wry smile.She hadn’t even started dating yet, and even

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 390

    Stephen let out a quiet sigh and turned, ready to leave.“Do you like Stellar?” A sweet voice chimed in beside him.Xavier turned in surprise, puzzled as he looked at the young woman. “You are…?”“I’m Stellar’s friend, Lilian Yates.”She was supposed to be in the gallery that day, but a last-minute delay with her project caused her to arrive just in time to catch the end of the scene.And what she saw in Xavier’s eyes that were filled with admiration, reluctance, and a trace of sorrow, she knew Xavier had feelings for Stellar.“I…” Xavier was caught off guard, unsure how to respond.Lilian cut him off with a grin. “You’re the legendary attorney she always talks about, right? Perfect. I was wondering if I can ask you for a favor?”“What kind of favor?” he asked, instinctively curious.She leaned in and whispered something in his ear, her voice barely audible. When she pulled back, she added softly, “But you have to promise to keep it between us.”Xavier paused, considered it, then nod

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