He stepped up beside Stellar. Knowing her well, he didn’t try to dissuade her. Instead, his expression was firm. “I’ll support you.”Stellar felt a wave of emotion surge in her chest. She gave a solemn nod.Percy stood frozen in place, utterly stunned. They were all insane!Wasn’t Stephen her boyfriend? How could he just stand there and watch her risk imprisonment? He was supposed to be the one who cared about Stellar the most. Yet, at this critical moment, he had completely lost his voice.In the end, Stephen and Stellar personally headed to the control tower to direct the landing."Stay calm. This is no time to panic," Stellar’s voice came through the cockpit radio.Under her steady reassurance, the captain, who had been on edge, visibly relaxed.She began directing his every move with precision while Stephen worked on the ground, coordinating preparations for the emergency landing.Finally, when the moment was right, Stellar made a swift decision and commanded the forced depl
"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 unco
For some reason, perhaps because Stellar had never spoken to him that way before, Percy couldn’t get the image of her tear-filled eyes as she left out of his head. It irritated him.He downed several glasses of red wine, the burning sensation in his chest finally dulling the inexplicable frustration swirling inside him.Just then, Chris came over, holding his phone."Percy, wasn’t Stellar on this flight? It’s all over the news."Percy glanced at the screen, where a breaking news report was displayed:"…Flight AT580 experienced a major crisis today at noon when the pilot lost consciousness mid-flight. Thanks to the intervention of a mysterious passenger with professional expertise, the plane managed to land safely. The cause of the incident is still under investigation…"The others in the room crowded around as well.Seeing the report, they immediately started talking all at once, their voices filled with awe."That’s insane! With turbulence that strong and one wing practically gone, th
“Well, if it isn’t the Harlow family’s precious ‘heiress,’ Stellar Rivers.”A mocking laugh rang out as Yvonne, dripping in jewelry and arrogance, crossed her arms and blocked Stellar’s path.Behind Yvonne stood two bodyguards dressed in all black, their dark sunglasses adding an air of intimidation.Stellar didn’t want to engage. She stepped to the side to avoid her, but Yvonne grabbed her arm, yanking her back.“I wasn’t done talking. Who said you could walk away?”“I have nothing to say to you,” Stellar said, shaking off her grip. Since Yvonne had been reunited with the Harlow family, Stellar endured nothing but cruelty. To them, she was the villain who stole Yvonne’s life for eighteen years, a parasitic fraud who took what wasn’t hers.And Yvonne...What she did to Stellar had ruined her reputation, her innocence, and her entire life. Yet no one believed it was Yvonne’s doing.Everyone thought Stellar deserved it, calling it karma for taking Yvonne’s place.But who ever considered
At 8 p.m., the entrance to the Revere Hotel was lined with luxury cars.This level of business gala enforced a strict guest list, with numerous journalists stationed outside, snapping photos of the arrivals.Stellar stepped out of the car, a vision of bold elegance, a stark contrast to her usual understated style. Her fiery red gown clung perfectly to her curves, while her porcelain skin seemed to shimmer under the shifting lights, radiant as polished marble.A gemstone necklace and a red clutch completed the look—simple yet exuding an understated elegance that made it impossible to discern the brand but left an impression of quiet luxury.The moment she exited the car, she drew more than a few admiring glances.Stellar’s long lashes lowered slightly, her meticulously crafted, icy makeup concealing any trace of unease. However, she sighed softly.Claude had arranged the dress and jewelry for her tonight, but the choices were far too extravagant for her taste. This was already the simpl
What puzzled Percy was that Shane made no move to shake his hand. Instead, Shane simply stared at him with an odd expression.Percy hesitated in confusion before awkwardly pulling his hand back."Mr. Howe, is there an issue?" He just saw Stellar talking to Shane, and judging by their interaction, it looked like they’d reached some kind of agreement.Could it be… the deal hadn’t gone through?Before he could dwell further, Stellar spoke up.“Mr. Moore, I’m sorry, but I don’t have a contract for Moore Enterprises. I’m not here on behalf of your company.”Her words made Percy freeze. It took him a moment to process what she’d said, and when he did, he lowered his voice sharply.“You’d better think about where we are before causing a scene.”In a setting like this, his image was everything. He could dismiss her publicly if necessary, but she, as a woman, should know better than to stir trouble in front of an audience.In the past, Stellar, always keen on reading the room, would have imme
“Mr. Howe.” Percy stepped in front of him, blocking his path with an abruptness that bordered on rudeness, drawing the attention of those nearby.Shane smiled faintly, sizing him up. “Mr. Moore, is there something else you need?” Percy felt an unprecedented sense of humiliation. He, the esteemed president of Moore Enterprises, had never been in a position where he had to practically grovel for a partnership. But this project was critical to Moore Enterprises' performance next quarter. He couldn’t afford to let it go. Hiding his frustration behind a practiced smile, Percy said, “Stellar has never worked at Moore Enterprises. She didn’t even finish college. Whatever skills she has, she picked up from being around me. Mr. Howe, I strongly encourage you to reconsider this partnership.”Shane, a veteran in this industry, had always avoided working with Moore Enterprises, mainly because he disliked Percy as a person. The moment he heard Percy’s words, Shane’s lips curled slightly.“Are
Although Claude was always gentle and warm in front of Stellar, he was, after all, the current CEO of Riverside Corporation. His commanding presence was unmatched, and now, tinged with anger, it was downright intimidating. The sheer force of his aura made Percy’s heart skip a beat, but he stubbornly refused to back down as he stared at Stellar. “Sir, there’s clearly been a misunderstanding. Miss Rivers belongs to me.”He even considered saying that Stellar was no more than a pet he raised, convinced that no matter who this man was, no one would treasure something discarded as worthless. But before the words could leave his mouth, the man in front of him let out a cold laugh. “You? You’re not even worthy.” The single, cutting sentence shattered what little composure Percy had left. His face turned an ugly shade of red and purple. Stellar, who hadn’t eaten and already had a few drinks, felt her stomach twist even more at the thought of Percy and the cloying scent of perfume t
He stepped up beside Stellar. Knowing her well, he didn’t try to dissuade her. Instead, his expression was firm. “I’ll support you.”Stellar felt a wave of emotion surge in her chest. She gave a solemn nod.Percy stood frozen in place, utterly stunned. They were all insane!Wasn’t Stephen her boyfriend? How could he just stand there and watch her risk imprisonment? He was supposed to be the one who cared about Stellar the most. Yet, at this critical moment, he had completely lost his voice.In the end, Stephen and Stellar personally headed to the control tower to direct the landing."Stay calm. This is no time to panic," Stellar’s voice came through the cockpit radio.Under her steady reassurance, the captain, who had been on edge, visibly relaxed.She began directing his every move with precision while Stephen worked on the ground, coordinating preparations for the emergency landing.Finally, when the moment was right, Stellar made a swift decision and commanded the forced depl
Joy’s expression flickered for a moment before she finally spoke with composure. "My apologies. I made an error in judgment by assuming it was an engine failure from the start, which nearly led to an incorrect conclusion." She admitted her mistake openly and without hesitation. No one criticized her for it. In fact, their admiration for her only grew. Before long, the investigation report was submitted. But just as the tension had eased, another piece of shocking news arrived— "This is bad! The commercial airline under the research institute has another aircraft, AT1083, with the same issue. It took off not long ago! Unlike the A16, this isn’t a test flight—it’s already in service!"The air traffic control tower just reported that the plane has already flown over a thousand kilometers. “Its landing gear won’t deploy, and other systems are malfunctioning. It’s currently circling above the airport, and if this continues, it could face the same fate—another crash!"The highe
Percy thought Stellar had become arrogant and complacent ever since reclaiming her status as the Rivers family heiress. She was completely out of touch with reality. It was necessary to bring her back down to earth. This wasn’t a place for her to act recklessly. Even Joy felt a little embarrassed by his words. Sensing the growing tension, she stepped in to smooth things over. "Mr. Moore, I don’t think Miss Rivers meant any harm. She’s just a newcomer without much experience. There’s no need to be so harsh." "Ms. Shaw, you’re being too lenient with her. A professional investigation like this is not something an intern should be involved in." Percy genuinely believed he was doing Stellar a favor. If she knew what was best for her, she would step aside. Otherwise, she’d only make a fool of herself in front of seasoned professionals. Stellar almost laughed in disbelief. An outsider was standing here lecturing her about aerospace engineering? It was beyond absurd. S
Joy’s expression remained serious. "Got it. I’ll make the necessary arrangements right away." She then turned to the interns behind her. "From here on, Mr. Smith will guide you through the rest of the base." With that, she was about to leave. "Wait…" Stellar stepped forward urgently. "Ms. Shaw, please let us come along. We might be able to help." An accident during a test flight was a major issue. And as a future member of the engineering team, she had every reason to be involved. Joy furrowed her brows slightly before nodding. "Alright, you and three other interns, follow me." Stellar and the others quickly joined the group. The team went through an extensive investigation—analyzing the black box, running accident simulations, and reviewing flight data. But no clear issue surfaced. Frustration settled over the room. The A16 model was a brand-new aircraft, and no one had expected such a critical failure on its very first test flight. If they couldn’t pinpoint the r
A woman with sharp, cropped short hair strode into the room with long, confident steps. She stood around 5'9", dressed in a fitted gray business suit that accentuated her sleek and commanding presence. She looked effortlessly cool and composed. Two staff members followed closely behind her. "Hello, everyone. I’m Joy Shaw, an engineer and operations commander at SA Aerospace Base. I’ll be leading you through the facility today. Please state your names, verify your identities, and follow me." Joy got straight to the point, skipping unnecessary pleasantries or any hint of arrogance. Her crisp and efficient demeanor made a strong impression, earning instant respect from the group. Snapping out of their daze, everyone took turns introducing themselves. When it was Stellar’s turn, Joy paused for a brief moment, her smile growing a touch more genuine. "So, you’re the prodigy I’ve been hearing about. Stellar Rivers—your reputation precedes you. I’m looking forward to seeing wha
She briefly explained the situation to Stephen, and he immediately offered her a suggestion."What was his idea?"Among the group, only Victor was still in the dark. Stellar filled him in, and after hearing the explanation, Victor burst into laughter."I knew it! When it comes to strategy, no one outsmarts that kid! Let’s have a celebratory dinner later—I’ll invite him to join us."Stellar agreed and dialed Stephen’s number again, only for the call to go unanswered once more.A strange feeling settled in her chest.Was something going on with him?She mentioned it to Victor, who mulled over it for a moment before shrugging. "If he’s busy, let’s not worry about it. Come on, let’s go enjoy our victory dinner."The group headed to a nearby restaurant, indulging in a well-deserved feast.Just as the gathering was winding down, Victor stepped out to take a call.When he returned, his expression was solemn and heavy.The mood instantly shifted.Stellar and the others tensed. "Professor, did
"Mr. Rowan, I didn’t do it! This is all just Stellar’s baseless accusations—""One million dollars."Stellar suddenly threw out a precise number.Harold’s eyes widened.She smirked at him, her voice dripping with mockery. "One million in bribes—quite the investment, Professor Xander. But what I’m really curious about is, as a supposedly dedicated professor, where did you get that kind of money? “Embezzlement? Kickbacks? Were all those research projects you led actually your success? Or did you steal someone else’s work?"Her words were razor-sharp, striking directly at his most vulnerable spot."Shut up!"Harold’s face turned red with fury. Losing all composure, he lunged forward and raised a hand to slap her.But before he could, Victor stepped in, blocking the strike."Harold Xander! You shameless bastard—you think you can lay a hand on my student?" Victor had been in stunned silence moments before, but now his fury erupted. Without hesitation, he shoved Harold away and barked,
Everyone froze for a moment before it clicked.Of course.If Harold’s team couldn’t bribe the judges, then the only way to manipulate the outcome was through the final scoring process. Since the judges worked independently and had no knowledge of each other’s scores, there was plenty of room for tampering.“I’ll handle it.”As the heiress of the Rivers family, Stellar had her own connections. Without hesitation, she stepped out and made a call, instructing someone to investigate.An hour later, the results came in.The information wasn’t enough to outright expose Xander’s team for fraud, but it was enough to shake them up.Returning to the lounge, she shared the findings and the plan with her team.“Let’s do it!”Everyone agreed unanimously.“Won’t know if it works unless we try.”Half an hour laterHarold strode into Richard’s office, flanked by Alex and the rest of his team.Their faces beamed with pride, fully expecting this meeting to be about receiving their Outstanding Research
Half the day passed in a blur. During lunch break, Stellar checked her phone multiple times, but Stephen’s reply never came. "Stellar, any news?" At the cafeteria, Lilian leaned in curiously. "Did Stephen reply? What did he say? Is he going to help investigate?" Stellar set her phone down on the table, screen facing down, and tried to keep her expression calm. "He hasn’t replied." "Huh? How’s that possible? Aren’t you two a couple? I thought you were practically glued to each other all the time." Lilian blurted the words out, half-joking. But Stellar’s expression subtly shifted. "You’re overthinking it. He and I… aren’t in that kind of relationship." Her tone was light and indifferent. Yet, the moment the words left her lips, an inexplicable emptiness settled in her chest. Lilian, realizing she might have touched a nerve, awkwardly rubbed her nose and exchanged glances with Simon and Nathan, silently urging them to say something to ease the tension. "Actually, S