"So that’s why it did sound insincere when she said all that earlier.""She didn’t even know her own cousin’s real identity, yet she had the nerve to judge others?""If I had a scheming relative like that, I’d cut ties immediately."Murmurs of ridicule, disdain, and outright contempt filled the room.At that moment, Janet had never felt more humiliated. Barely holding herself together, she mumbled something about needing the restroom and bolted from the scene.But as she turned a corner near the restroom, she unexpectedly overheard a hushed conversation."Stephen, you’ve been searching for her for years. Are you really going to give up now?""It’s not giving up… I just have this feeling that the girl I’ve been looking for is actually Stellar…""But didn’t you say the details didn’t match?""They don’t, but after all these years, I still remember that she used to wear a red string around her neck, with a pendant that…"The voice belonged to Stephen.Janet’s footsteps faltered.What gir
"Then for Miss Thompson to take a liking to you, does that count as an act of charity for your intelligence?" "You…" Gavin was momentarily choked by the remark. However, Serena couldn't hold back her laughter. The atmosphere instantly became more relaxed. "Since everyone finally has some free time, why don't we play a game?" someone in the crowd suggested. "Great idea! Isn't Mafia pretty popular lately? Let's play a couple of rounds!"Everyone agreed enthusiastically, and Stellar naturally had no reason to refuse.She sat down with Stephen as the game began, with the "moderator" handing out role cards.Unexpectedly, in the first round, both Stellar and Stephen happened to draw the Mafia cards.They exchanged a quick glance.Soon, the first phase began, where everyone introduced their roles."I'm just a civilian—""Civilian and above.""..."Then the open discussion started.Throughout the conversation, Stellar and Stephen worked together seamlessly, subtly using their words t
Stephen's gaze flickered slightly, but he remained calm. "Did I?" Stellar narrowed her eyes, her tone unwavering. "Yes. I caught it. When you lie, your eyes shift slightly to the right." Stephen raised an eyebrow, his expression meaningful. "You've been watching me pretty closely." Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly tried to justify herself. "That was just during the game. I observed everyone, not just you." Stephen didn’t expose her lie. In reality, throughout the entire evening, his gaze had never once strayed from her. If anyone here wasn’t exactly innocent, it was both of them. Especially now, with her sitting right next to him, an unfamiliar yet oddly familiar feeling crept into his heart. It was the same feeling he’d had back then—for the girl who saved him all those years ago. But if they weren’t the same person… Did that mean he was being unfaithful? That he fell for someone else? Or had he unknowingly fallen for two people at the same time? Stellar
After all, in the past few years, due to the nature of his research projects, he hadn’t achieved any major breakthroughs and had been deliberately suppressed by certain individuals.Stellar gave Victor a firm promise.However, Victor simply patted everyone on the shoulder, his expression surprisingly kind."I'm already at an age where prestige doesn’t matter much to me. You don’t need to feel pressured—just go with the flow and perform to the best of your ability. I believe your project is just as good as any other team’s."His words acted like a shot of confidence, boosting everyone's spirits.After a two-hour train ride, Stellar and her team successfully arrived in Westport."There are so many participants this time. The hotels must be fully booked. I couldn't even make a reservation online," Simon said, his habit of taking charge making him particularly worried.Stellar simply smiled."Don't worry, I’ve got connections."She led them straight to Regent Hotel, the largest and most lu
She pressed her lips together, feeling a bit guilty as she spoke.After all, her uncle only told her that she could stay at the hotel whenever she wanted; he hadn’t mentioned anything about extra privileges.This was the first time she had ever thrown her weight around, and honestly, it made her a little nervous.But to her surprise, the receptionist didn’t even hesitate. "Understood, Miss Rivers."The moment those words fell, everyone around them was left stunned.However, Percy and Dawn looked like they had just swallowed a lemon."Stellar, you wouldn’t dare! Who do you think you are…""And why wouldn’t I?" Stellar scoffed. She had been far too lenient with him before, which was probably why he kept showing up to ruin her mood.Now that she had the right to do this, why not use it?"You…!" Percy, fuming, took a step forward.Before he could get any closer, the receptionist picked up the intercom and calmly instructed, "Send four security guards to the lobby. We have two unruly guest
Percy looked around the motel room, his expression filled with disdain at the outdated decor.The sheets on the bed were visibly worn, and the entire place carried a faint musty smell.Every instinct in him screamed to walk right back out.But before he could, Dawn grabbed his arm."It’s okay, Percy. The fact that you even found a place for us is already more than enough. “I’ll tidy things up a bit. It’s already dark outside, and you’ve had a long day. There’s no need to keep looking."She walked over to the window and pushed it open, letting in some fresh air.Then, without hesitation, she flipped the sheets over to the cleaner side.As she worked, she spoke casually, as if trying to put him at ease."I’ve stayed in places way worse than this before. You get used to it after a while…"She said it lightly, but something about it made Percy feel a twinge of guilt.For once, he softened. "This is my fault. I asked you to come with me, thinking it would make things easier for you, and no
Stephen explained, "I’m here as a guest behind the scenes, not as a competitor.""I see." Stellar nodded in understanding, falling into a brief silence.A few seconds later, it was Stephen who spoke again. "Want to take a walk? If you have any questions about the competition, you can ask me."Stellar blinked, then teased with a smile, "Are you offering me a private tutoring session?"To her surprise, Stephen nodded seriously."That’s right. Will you take it?"Stellar’s lips curled into a playful grin. "Of course! A rare opportunity like this? I’d be a fool to pass it up."They laughed and walked out together.As they chatted, Stephen actually provided some insightful advice."In competitions like this, the judges focus on the technical aspects of your project—whether it demonstrates innovation, pushes boundaries, or surprises them in some way. That’s what earns the highest scores..."Stellar listened intently, absorbing his words.Before she realized it, they had already stepped outsi
Alex smirked arrogantly, his tone deliberately provocative. He was clearly trying to stir up trouble.But Simon remained unfazed. Instead, he shot back without hesitation, "If even someone like you can be a team leader, then why wouldn’t Stellar? She’s an actual genius, unlike some people who just talk big."Stellar raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.Simon was usually the easygoing and diplomatic type—she hadn’t expected him to have such a sharp tongue.Lilian chimed in as well, arms crossed, "Exactly. Some people have zero talent, but as long as they suck up to the right people, they still manage to throw their weight around like they own the place. Pathetic, isn’t it?"It seemed that after hanging around Stellar for so long, both of them had picked up the skill of throwing shade."You—!"Alex clenched his jaw, fuming, but before he could lash out, one of his teammates grabbed his arm and whispered something in his ear.His expression shifted almost instantly, regaining his smug
Five minutes later, Stellar arrived at the Howe Grand Hotel, where Suzy was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing her approach, Suzy grinned and hooked her arm through Stellar’s. “You’re finally here! You have to help me win that consecrated rosary bracelet today. It belonged to my all-time favorite triple-award-winning actress. “They say she was completely unknown before, but after wearing that bracelet, her career skyrocketed—she kept landing roles and winning awards non-stop. “I want to be just as successful as she was.” Stellar couldn't help but laugh. “I didn’t know you were this superstitious.” “You don’t get it. This isn’t superstition—it’s just how the entertainment industry works. “Some people struggle for over a decade without making a name for themselves, while others become overnight sensations after just one drama. “I’ve seen it happen so many times. Sometimes, you really have to believe in luck.” Suzy spoke with conviction, and Stellar had to admit there w
Ten minutes later, Stellar changed into her workout attire and stepped out. She had deliberately chosen a long-sleeved top today, covering her from neck to waist without revealing anything. Yet, it only accentuated her slender figure and graceful curves. Her hair was pulled into a simple ponytail with a headband, making her look light and energetic like a fresh-faced college freshman. Even Stephen couldn't take his eyes off her. Let alone the other men around, some of whom were already itching to approach her. That was until Stephen took two steps forward, casually positioning himself in front of her. His icy gaze swept over the crowd, sharp and piercing like an ice dagger. The chilling pressure surrounding him made people instinctively shrink back. Even so, a brave girl couldn't help but step forward. Gathering her courage, she asked, "Uh, hey, handsome, can we exchange numbers?" Stephen turned his gaze toward Stellar instead, his expression softening. Without hesit
Stellar tapped on her phone screen, typing and deleting, over and over. She had been staring at the chat window for ages, struggling to figure out how to start the conversation.Before she could make up her mind, a message popped up from Stephen.“What’s wrong?”She froze.A second message followed immediately.“You’ve been typing for a while. Were you trying to say something?”Her face heated up in embarrassment.She was caught red-handed.Well, since she’d already been exposed, she decided to get straight to the point.“Sorry, Senior. Please don’t take what Mary said to heart. She didn’t mean any harm.”After sending the message, she bit her lip, feeling a bit nervous. What if he was actually offended?But within seconds, his reply came through.“I know. Since she suggested I should train more, how about you join me at the gym and give me a few pointers?”She blinked in surprise.“How did you know I work out?”“I saw you practicing with Mrs. Warren on the terrace before.”Stellar w
Stellar gave a brief rundown of the events, making sure to emphasize how Stephen had inspired her during the competition. His guidance helped her stay calm under pressure and successfully reconstruct the model on-site. Mary’s emotions shifted as she listened, her expression softening ever so slightly. While she still had her reservations about Stephen, she couldn't deny that Stellar was the most impressive one of all.After all, it was her own talent that had secured the victory. "But it wasn’t just that," Stellar continued. "Earlier at school, when our project hit a dead end, it was Senior who let us use his lab and helped us through it. “Then, he took me to an exclusive symposium, giving me the opportunity to showcase my work. “And when my ex wouldn’t stop harassing me, it was Senior who stepped in and got rid of him…" There was more. When the media tried to smear her, he was the first to stand up for her. At Percy and Yvonne’s engagement party, it was Stephen who pres
She also knew that it was Stephen himself who had proposed breaking off the engagement. Before leaving, Claude repeatedly warned her to keep an eye on him—under no circumstances was she to let him set foot inside, much less treat him with any kindness. At the thought of this, Mary rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. "Oh my, Miss, you brought a guest? A little heads-up would’ve been nice—I didn’t even have time to prepare properly. “After all, our humble home hardly seems worthy of hosting someone as esteemed as Mr. Ward." Stephen’s lips twitched. He was sharp enough to catch the clear disdain laced in her words. Stellar felt a little awkward and was just about to smooth things over when Stephen stepped forward on his own. With an easy composure, he handed her a finely wrapped gift box. "Mrs. Warren, no need to treat me like a guest. I’m just a friend of Stellar’s. Since this is my first visit, I wanted to bring a small token for you and her. I hope you’ll accept it."
As they left the café, Lilian was still fuming on Stellar’s behalf. "What is wrong with the Moore family? The son’s a cheating scumbag, knocking someone up before even getting married. “And his awful mother—how dare she said you’re infertile and unmarriageable? Please! Anyone who marries into that family is the real unlucky one!" She ranted with such righteous indignation that her cheeks flushed red, making her look both feisty and adorable. Stellar’s heart warmed at her friend’s unwavering support. Feeling amused, she reassured her, "Alright, it’s over now. The Moore family has nothing to do with me anymore." Hearing that, Lilian breathed a sigh of relief for her. "Good riddance. A wonderful woman like you should never step into an ill-fated home. Your future is only going to get better from here." Stellar smiled and nodded. She couldn’t agree more. Thank God she had escaped that nightmare. Never again would she allow herself to be trapped in a relationship like th
Had she heard their entire conversation just now? Margaret’s expression darkened. "Well, well. The esteemed Miss Rivers, eavesdropping on someone else’s private matters. Don’t you find that disgraceful?" "If you wanted privacy, you should’ve had this conversation at home. This is a café—anyone can walk in. “You were speaking so loudly, I thought you were hoping people would overhear." Stellar retorted without hesitation, not bothering to be polite. Margaret choked on her anger. "Since you heard everything, then that saves me the trouble," she sneered before yanking Dawn Jones closer, her voice dripping with condescension. "This woman has barely been with Percy for long, yet she’s already carrying his child. “And you? You’ve been with him for years and haven’t even gotten pregnant. I’d say you’re infertile at such a young age. “You might as well start looking for a divorced man with kids, since that’s all you’ll be able to marry in the future!" Stellar’s eyelid twitched
Lilian dragged Stellar through the crowd, her excitement evident. She had complete confidence in their victory.After all, their performance was leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.But for some reason, Stellar couldn’t shake the feeling that things weren’t so simple.Alex and his team had seemed overly confident. And considering that Harold’s team had consistently secured top rankings in past competitions, could there really be nothing shady going on behind the scenes?She knew Harold well enough to know he didn’t deserve his reputation.Still, since they were here to relax, she pushed those thoughts aside for now. The group had a great time exploring the university before finally heading back to their lodgings.The next day, they were set to return to their school. Stellar specifically asked Stephen if he would be going back with them, but to her surprise, he said he was staying behind for a few more days. She had no idea what he was up to.So, she returned to campus with
As they walked backstage, Lilian looked at Stellar with admiration written all over her face. "Stellar, you are my angel! If it weren’t for you turning the tide, we would have completely embarrassed our professor." However, Stellar didn’t take all the credit. "This was a team effort. Without your support, I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off alone." "This whole situation is definitely not a coincidence." Simon had a sharp eye for details. "Our model was sabotaged—someone deliberately tampered with it. And I already have a suspect in mind." Stellar was well aware that there was an eighty percent chance that Alex’s team was behind it. But for the sake of their school’s reputation, they couldn’t expose them here. She would settle this matter when they got back. Before they could confront anyone, however, Alex and his team stormed over, brimming with hostility. "Stellar Rivers! You planned this, didn’t you? You deliberately held back just to shock the audience and g