Chapter 1

"Percy, you know what? Your little girlfriend is something else. We just got word from Sienna Industries—they approved the contract!"

"Girlfriend? Don’t be mistaken. When has Percy ever acknowledged her as his girlfriend? Besides, do you really think one woman could handle so many tough negotiations... Ha! Percy, your tactic was truly brilliant!"

The meaning behind the words was clear.

Outside the door, Stellar Rivers froze, her raised hand stiffening mid-air.

She was clutching a folder tightly in her arms. It was a crucial document that would determine whether Moore Enterprises could go public.

Sienna Industries, knowing full well that there would be thunderstorms tomorrow, had deliberately demanded the contract be signed in person that day. Left with no choice, Stellar pulled every string she could, taking an alternative flight to deliver the papers.

Even so, the return flight had encountered severe turbulence during the storm. The cockpit was breached, and the pilot had fallen unconscious.

Stellar, risking her own life, managed to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

She hadn’t revealed any personal information, instead requesting complete confidentiality about her identity. The moment the plane landed, she rushed to ensure the contract was intact.

No matter what, she had to deliver it safely to Percy Moore.

When she learned from the secretary that Percy was at the club, she hurried to the private suite. But just as she arrived at the door, she overheard those words.

What came next made her humiliation even worse.

After a brief pause, Percy scoffed and said, "I’ve never touched her."

One sentence, and it was as if he couldn’t distance himself from her fast enough, afraid she might tarnish his reputation. It was also an indirect admission that she wasn’t his girlfriend.

Laughter erupted from inside the room.

"By the way, Percy, what’s going on with your engagement to the Harlow family? I heard Yvonne Harlow is back in town!"

The conversation continued inside.

Outside, Stellar froze in place.

Yvonne was the true heiress of the Harlow family. The woman Percy was truly engaged to.

Back then, when Stellar was exposed as a fake heiress, the truth came to light—she had been switched at birth in the hospital. An investigation revealed that her biological parents were likely countryside folks. They were never found, and all anyone knew was their last name: Rivers.

After the incident that ruined her, she was thrown out in disgrace. The only person who took her in was Percy, the man she had been engaged to for years. He was also her boyfriend of three years.

Because of that, Stellar gave him her unwavering loyalty.

Even though, all these years, he never once mentioned marriage.

She thought it was just a matter of timing. But now, she understood. He had never intended to marry her.

The woman he wanted to marry had always been the true Harlow heiress, Yvonne.

Even though he knew exactly what Yvonne had done to Stellar all those years ago.

Before Stellar could think further, the voices inside the room gave her all the answers she needed.

"Of course, Percy isn’t going to marry her. After all, Miss Harlow is the real heiress of the Harlow family. As for a fake like Stellar? He was just playing with her. If it weren’t for the fact that she’s capable enough to handle things for Percy..."

Stellar’s head buzzed as their words trailed off. Whatever else they said was drowned out by the ringing in her ears.

Her legs wobbled, and she barely managed to steady herself against the doorframe.

It took her a long moment to force herself to calm down.

"A woman like her, catching even a glimpse of high society and enjoying its privileges for so many years, should be grateful for the luck of a lifetime!"

"If she dares to keep clinging..."

The mocking voices inside continued, but Stellar suddenly shoved the door open with a sharp bang.

The commotion startled everyone, and as they turned toward her, their expressions froze.

"S-Stellar, you… you’re here..."

"Why are you here?"

Before Stellar could respond, Percy frowned and coldly cut her off.

Stellar pressed her lips together. The room was filled with Percy’s close-knit group of childhood friends. Though they always appeared friendly, she knew all too well that none of them truly respected her.

And now, she didn’t care.

Even so, the scene stung—she hadn’t even had time to change out of her wrinkled clothes after stepping off the plane. The gash on her arm from the near-crash hadn’t been treated, and the pain still throbbed.

Yet Percy didn’t seem to notice any of it.

His only reaction was the annoyance of being interrupted.

Coupled with the cruel words she overheard just moments ago, it felt like a knife had been driven straight through her heart.

For a brief moment, her composure wavered, but then she suddenly laughed.

So, he was afraid she would cling to him, was he?

She blinked quickly, forcing away the tears that threatened to spill.

"Mr. Moore, this is the contract with Sienna Industries. I brought it here for you."

Her feigned indifference only seemed to amuse Percy’s friends even more.

They nearly forgot—this was just who Stellar was. No matter how cruel Percy was to her, she always ignored it, choosing instead to coddle him, indulge him, and do everything she could for him.

One of his friends, Chris Carter, smirked and said mockingly, "Ha! Percy, you’ve really got a way with women. To train up such an obedient dog. Oh, I mean “doll”. What’s your secret? Care to share it with us?"

Chris’ words, as blunt as they were, drew raucous laughter from the group. He was the same one who earlier claimed that Stellar’s life of privilege was sheer luck.

Only one of them, Xavier Reed, remained silent, his brows furrowed in disapproval.

The roaring laughter thundered in Stellar’s ears, but she shut it out completely. When she looked at Percy, the last shred of affection in her eyes disappeared.

“This is the last thing I’ll do for you. Percy, let’s break up.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was firm, resounding with finality.

The room fell silent. For a moment, no one spoke.

Then, laughter erupted again, louder and more mocking than before.

Stellar didn’t pay them any attention. She turned and walked out of the private suite without looking back.

Watching her retreating figure, Chris seemed to sense something unusual. Feeling awkward, he quickly asked, “Percy, she’s really gone. Aren’t you going to explain things to her?”

“What’s there to explain?”

Another one of Percy’s friends cut him off, speaking with absolute certainty.

“Don’t forget how she begged her way into Percy’s life back then. A fake heiress who stole eighteen years of someone else’s life, a stray dog everyone despises—how could she possibly survive without him? Mark my words, she’ll come crawling back, crying and begging for his forgiveness before the day is over!”

Percy swirled the red wine in his glass, his fingers casually tilting the stem. His gaze drifted back from the door where Stellar had disappeared, his lips curving into the faintest hint of a smirk.

No one knew better than him how much Stellar depended on him.

A woman with no home, no family—how could she possibly have the courage to leave him?

It was just harmless banter, a way to show off in front of his friends. What could she possibly be upset about?

“Don’t worry about her. Let’s drink.”

The others laughed and moved on, turning their attention back to their drinks and idle chatter.

Meanwhile, outside the club, Stellar hailed a cab and headed straight back to Azure Heights.

Once home, she took a long shower, cleaned and bandaged the wound on her arm, and began packing her belongings with swift precision.

Since she had decided to leave, she had no intention of lingering.

When Stellar’s true identity was exposed, the Harlow family blamed her for their biological daughter’s years of suffering. Yvonne had ended up in an orphanage, enduring a harsh life, and Stellar became the scapegoat.

They didn’t just disown her and forbid her from ever using the Harlow name again, they also demanded she repay every penny they’d ever spent on her.

Everything Yvonne had done to Stellar back then remained a nightmare she couldn’t shake.

At the time, Stellar became a pariah, despised by everyone. Former friends and family turned their backs on her without hesitation.

It was Percy who found her on the streets and brought her home.

In her darkest moment, when she’d lost all hope, she clung to that man like a lifeline, pouring everything she had into him.

But now...

The contract she had risked her life to retrieve would be the final repayment of the debt she owed him for saving her back then.

From now on, they were even.

As she finished packing, Stellar’s hand trembled slightly when she came across something buried deep at the bottom of a drawer.

A few trophies, shining reminders of her once-brilliant past.

She had been a prodigy, a genius admired by all.

Back then, for Percy, she resolutely turned down Professor Stone, the mentor who believed in her potential. He even offered her a full scholarship to continue her studies, promising that her background didn’t matter.

She broke his heart when she rejected his offer.

Now, she knew she was wrong.

After a moment of hesitation, Stellar decisively packed the trophies into her suitcase. She zipped it up, grabbed her bags, and walked out of the villa without looking back.