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Chapter 165
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 166
Janet felt utterly humiliated. It felt like they were implying she was desperately chasing after something Stellar had thrown away—and worse, she still couldn’t have it."That’s enough," Laurence finally spoke, his sharp gaze sweeping over the mother and daughter. He waved a hand dismissively. "It’s getting late. You should head home—we’re calling it a night." Layla quickly composed herself, her expression smoothing into something polite. "Of course, Uncle Laurence, Aunt Martha. We’ll take our leave now," she said, before pulling Janet away with her. …Once they were gone, no one in the Rivers family immediately went to bed. Instead, they all gathered in the living room, circling around Stellar. "Stellar, I have to say, that young man from the Sinclair family seems quite promising," Martha spoke first, a clear note of approval in her voice. "Handsome, witty, and most importantly, he seems to care for you. He could be a good match." "Agreed," Julian chimed in. "That ki
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 167
But looking at Stephen’s behavior today, he didn’t seem like a man who had a girlfriend.Could it be… that she had misunderstood something?A sudden heat crept up Stellar’s face. She quickly shook off the chaotic thoughts running through her mind.Rolling over, she wrapped herself tightly in the blanket like a cocoon and forced her eyes shut, willing herself into sleep.…Two Days LaterThe short break was over, and it was time for Stellar to return to school for her studies.The Rivers family, of course, was reluctant to see her go."Stellar, here, take this diamond bracelet," Martha said as she gently slid the piece onto Stellar’s wrist, her eyes warm with affection."This was something I had once set aside for your mother. Now, I’m passing it down to you. It represents our family being whole again. No matter what, always take care of yourself, alright?""Grandma…"A lump formed in Stellar’s throat. She reached out and hugged Martha, her voice soft with reassurance."Don’t worry. A
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 168
Stephen's expression stiffened.If it were Keith, he could have easily brushed him off, matching sarcasm for sarcasm without a second thought.But Claude? That was different.As Stellar’s eldest uncle, he was someone Stephen would inevitably have to win over. Right now, Claude looked about as displeased with him as humanly possible.And it was entirely Stephen’s own doing.Keith, watching Stephen, who was usually so sharp and eloquent, suddenly rendered speechless, couldn’t contain his amusement. He let out a chuckle, full of blatant schadenfreude.Stephen’s gaze snapped to him like an arrow.But Keith wasn’t the least bit intimidated. If anything, his grin widened."Mr. Ward, I have to agree with Mr. Rivers. You should really be more mindful of your actions. Wouldn’t want to send the wrong message, now would we?"Stephen was speechless.His expression darkened.Stellar, seeing him take such a hit for once, felt a strange pang of sympathy.Just as she was about to speak up and smooth
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 169
“I don’t need a ride anyway!” Janet muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed. But her frustration didn’t last long. Her gaze quickly shifted to Stephen, and with a flushed face, she stepped forward, her voice sickly sweet. “Mr. Ward, could you give me a lift instead?” Stephen was even more blunt than Stellar. “No.” With that, he turned around and got into the car, slamming the door shut with a resounding thud. Janet stood frozen in place, her face a mix of embarrassment and humiliation. Seeing her daughter rejected so coldly, Layla had no choice but to turn to Keith. However, before she could even speak, Keith scoffed, cutting her off. “What, has the Cole family fallen so low? No personal chauffeur? Or are you saying you can’t even afford a cab?” Without waiting for a response, he got into the car and shut the door, not sparing them a second glance. Layla was speechless. Three cars, and two of them had empty seats, but not a single person was willing to take Janet
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 170
“Miss, remember I mentioned I went home for a bit? Well, my husband asked me to bring you this gift. He hopes you’ll like it.” Stellar was surprised as she reached out to take it. When she opened the box, she found an intricately carved, beautifully detailed keepsake—made of polished stone, with an antique, heirloom-like quality.“This must be expensive!” “It’s nothing, just a little trinket,” Mary said casually. However, Stellar was touched. “Mary, please thank your husband for me. I’ll make sure to visit and thank him in person next time.” Regardless of its value, a gift was a gesture of kindness. Being treated with such sincerity was rare, and she appreciated it deeply. “Oh, Miss, you’re too polite.” The two chatted and laughed as Mary helped her unwrap the rest of her gifts and tidied up the bed. Before long, it was getting late, and Stellar turned in early for the night. …The next morning, when she went to school, she brought local specialties from Southport for
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 171
Janet was so furious she nearly ground her teeth to dust. But with all the students watching, she had to maintain her composure. Forcing a laugh, she said, “Haha, that’s just how my cousin is—she’s a bit proud. I hope you don’t take it the wrong way.” Joanna, being a fellow classmate, decided to help smooth things over. “Alright, alright, Janet, weren’t you planning to treat everyone to a meal? Let’s go!” Janet quickly nodded and eagerly led the group to a nearby upscale restaurant. As they settled in, the atmosphere lightened, and the girls started chatting excitedly about relationships, fashion, and jewelry. “I had no idea you all liked this brand too! The new collection of earrings is absolutely stunning. Too bad they’re limited edition. I couldn’t get my hands on a single pair.” “I know, right? I was online the moment they dropped and even had a few friends trying to help me grab a pair. Still, we all came up empty-handed.” “Ugh, I’ve seen more of this designer’s w
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 172
Simon was more focused on the team’s overall achievement. “And the prize money isn’t bad either.”Nathan, whose family wasn’t well-off, was the most practical of them all. “The real challenge is figuring out what kind of project will stand out in such a competitive field,” Lilian said, frowning slightly at the thought. Stellar considered it for a moment before an idea began to form. “Since it’s an aerospace model competition, we can start by focusing on the design—using artistic techniques to enhance the model’s sense of motion…” She continued laying out several constructive ideas, and by the time she finished, the others were nodding enthusiastically, their eyes full of admiration. “As expected from Stellar! I think I already have some ideas now,” Lilian said, grinning. “Stellar’s basically our think tank at this point. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind handing over the team leader title to her,” Simon joked. Stellar gave him a helpless look. “Simon, cut it out.” “But we’re
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 173
No one had expected the aloof, ever-solitary Stephen, the senior who never joined group activities, to suddenly offer to treat them to dinner.Lilian and the others were momentarily stunned, feeling almost flattered by the invitation.“That’s too generous of you. We really can’t let you go to such trouble,” Stellar tried to decline politely.But Stephen remained composed. “We all share the same professor, and I’m your senior. It’s only natural.”With that, she really had no way to refuse.“Well, since our senior insists, we’d be rude not to accept,” Simon said as the team leader, agreeing on behalf of everyone.Meanwhile, Lilian’s gaze flitted between Stephen and Stellar, a knowing glint flashing in her eyes.On the way to the restaurant, Lilian and Stellar sat together.Leaning in close, Lilian whispered, “Stellar, did you and Stephen have a fight?”Stellar sighed internally.It wasn’t exactly a fight—it was just that after learning about their arranged engagement, she couldn’t help b
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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
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“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
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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
