Share

Chapter 21

Author: Warm Cocoa
After breakfast, Stellar noticed Mary was still busying around, so she stepped forward to help. She moved the antique pieces, paintings, and coffee table, placing fresh flowers into vases. The living room’s ambiance instantly became more elegant and refined.

Mary watched her efforts with satisfaction, silently appreciating Stellar’s graceful movements. When Stellar wasn’t looking, Mary took out her phone, recorded a short video, and sent it to a private account.

Hundreds of miles away.

In Southport, at the Rivers estate.

Laurence Rivers and Martha Whitmore were looking at the video sent to their phone. The girl in the footage stood tall and poised, her features delicate and radiant, outshining even the fresh flowers around her.

“Look at her! Doesn’t she look just like our daughter? Her eyes, her nose… our precious granddaughter is such a beauty!” Martha clutched the phone, her eyes brimming with tears.

Laurence leaned against the headboard, gripping the edge of the blanket as his eye
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 22

    Chris had originally visited campus today to check on an old professor who once helped his family. However, as he was leaving, he caught sight of Stellar rinsing a mop near the faculty housing.A smirk tugged at his lips.So, this was what she’d been reduced to—cleaning floors at the school after breaking things off with Percy.He found it absurdly entertaining.Without hesitation, he snapped a photo and sent it straight to Percy with a message:"Caught your ex working as a cleaner at the faculty apartments. Hasn’t she begged her way back to you yet?"Meanwhile, Percy, still fuming from their last encounter, was sitting with some friends, attempting to drown his frustration with drinks.The message notification made him pause. He opened it, and at the sight of the photo, a cold laugh escaped him."Serves her right," he chuckled coldly.So, it had all been a performance. Her defiant attitude at the restaurant, agreeing to attend his engagement, and the bravado were all a show.Watchin

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 23

    Percy’s expression darkened, but the thought of her still having cleaning tasks to finish brought him a measure of satisfaction.He assumed that seeing his car would make Stellar obediently come over.To his surprise, she didn’t even glance his way, choosing instead to walk off in another direction.Percy frowned and quickly stepped forward to block her path.“Stellar, what’s this about? Still pretending?”To him, her display of feigned strength was utterly ridiculous.Stellar found his words laughable.“Mr. Moore, it seems you’ve forgotten. You still haven’t issued the apology statement from last time, have you?”Her single remark left Percy’s face alternating between red and pale. However, remembering that her life after leaving him wasn’t going particularly well, he felt a bit smug.He smirked. “What’s this? Still putting on an act? Reduced to working as a cleaner here, and you’re still pretending? Let me tell you, if you apologize for all the foolish things you’ve done, I might ju

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 24

    After finishing her meal, Stellar intended to leave and didn’t bother acknowledging Percy. She walked straight out of the campus gates. With an upcoming commitment to attend a few project meetings with Shane next week, Stellar knew her wardrobe needed an upgrade.Though her closet was filled with dresses and gowns handpicked by Claude, she found his taste a bit too plain for her liking. For important occasions, it was better to pick out outfits herself. Besides, Claude’s black card came with a minimum spending limit. If she didn’t spend enough, he’d take it upon himself to send over more clothes, so she’d much rather choose things she genuinely liked. Since the area was close to the city center, Stellar decided to stop by for some shopping. She stepped into an understated luxury boutique and soon spotted a gown displayed in a glass case. Unlike the other items in the store, this one stood out—elegant and clearly expensive. Noticing her gaze lingering, a sales associate eagerl

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 25

    Percy snapped out of his daze at Yvonne's words. His mind wandered to how Stellar had been cleaning just hours ago and to the stinging slap she had landed on his face. His brows furrowed slightly, and in an attempt to assert control, he slid an arm around Yvonne’s waist and strode forward.“Stellar, what are you doing in a place like this? Do you really think your cleaner's salary can cover anything here? Or is this someone else's money—a handout from some guy you managed to fool?"Hearing his voice, Stellar turned. Her gaze swept over the pair, lingering briefly on their entwined bodies. A flicker of disgust crossed her eyes, but there wasn’t a hint of care or jealousy.Without a word, she turned and walked toward another section of the boutique, ignoring them entirely.The dismissal darkened Percy’s expression further. He had expected her to show some kind of reaction—anger, sadness, anything—at seeing him openly flaunting another woman. But to his disappointment, there was none.S

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 26

    "Percy, you’re the best," Yvonne said, lifting her chin proudly. She shot a smug, challenging look in Stellar’s direction.Stellar watched the two of them put on their little performance and couldn’t help finding it amusing. Truly, birds of a feather flock together.Percy, noticing Stellar’s faintly amused expression and her complete indifference, felt his pride take another hit. His face darkened as he turned to glare at the sales associate.“Well? What are you waiting for? Didn’t you hear me?”The sales associate quickly explained, “I’m sorry, sir, but that designer piece is one of a kind. As for the others, they’re limited editions and completely sold out. If you’d like, we can place an order and have them shipped in. You’d just need to make payment now and pick them up later.”“How much are they?” “The gown is handcrafted with embroidered details. It costs six hundred thousand dollars. The custom suit cost four hundred thousand dollars. This piece here…”Percy’s eyes widened, an

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 27

    After all, she needed him now, so Percy didn’t bother with pleasantries. Without looking back, he got into the car.Yvonne, still fuming over his earlier attitude, swallowed her anger for the sake of the project and followed him.On the drive back, her attention was drawn to a small angel figurine on the dashboard. The figurine held a little charm bag, its design cheerful and whimsical.But could this possibly belong to Percy? The thought made the answer obvious.Yvonne’s disdain was immediate.“Why would you keep such a cheap-looking figurine in your car?"You should have something like a gold-plated angel figurine or a rare vintage collectible—something that reflects sophistication and status."Percy glanced at the figurine and froze slightly.If he remembered correctly, Stellar had gone out of her way to get it for him from a church. She earnestly told him to keep it in the car to ensure his safety.For a moment, his mind wandered, recalling Stellar’s bright, joyful expression at t

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 28

    Unbeknownst to her, across the street from her villa, Stephen had just returned home, enjoying his usual solitary routine. After spending some time in his study, he took a shower and waited for dinner to be delivered. During the lull, he stepped out onto his upstairs terrace for some fresh air. That was when he noticed the lights in the kitchen across the way and a petite, busy figure moving inside. Was that… Stellar? Recalling her behavior at school and now seeing her living in a villa, he couldn’t help but frown. What was she doing here? Wasn’t she the one who reportedly threw away her education for a man? And now that they’d supposedly broken up, was this villa his parting gift? Or had they never really ended things? Stephen’s displeasure deepened as he mulled it over. However, watching the two figures through the window, even from dozens of meters away, he could sense the warmth of their atmosphere. For the first time, the solitude he’d always enjoyed felt a little col

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 29

    Shane’s admiration for Stellar deepened as he looked at her. “Miss Rivers, you’ve truly exceeded my expectations.” Not only was she beautiful, but she also possessed intelligence, talent, and an unshakable composure when dealing with seasoned veterans. It had been a long time since he’d encountered someone as intriguing as her. “Since you gave me this opportunity, Mr. Howe, I couldn’t let you down.” “There’s actually another client we need to visit,” Shane said, his tone thoughtful. “If we can secure a partnership with their company, this project could reach a whole new level. But that client is a tough one. I was ready to give up, but now, with you on board, I think it might just be possible.” Shane’s gaze lingered on her, his eyes filled with admiration. He was genuinely intrigued by her but confessing that outright might scare her off. Unaware of his thoughts, Stellar simply felt a bit embarrassed at his praise. “Mr. Howe, who is it? I can give it a try.”After all, th

Latest chapter

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 380

    Stellar couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of her. “You know, that’s not how you looked when you were out charming guys. Back then, you were fearless. But when you were in front of your idol, you acted like some lovestruck teenager.”If she didn’t know for a fact Suzy had only dated guys all these years, she might’ve thought her best friend had a thing for women.Suzy gave a helpless smile. “Actually, when I was little, I was really withdrawn. I didn’t talk much, hated going out. “My parents were so worried they thought I might be on the spectrum and even took me to the hospital. “Turned out there was nothing wrong with me, but they still didn’t know how to help.“So I stayed home all the time, just watching TV and DVDs. One day, I saw a film where an actress played several completely different roles in one movie...”That was the moment her world lit up. She wanted that kind of life too—vivid and ever-changing, like the characters on screen who seemed to live a hundred different

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 379

    Everyone turned to stare at Tori, whose face had gone completely pale.This time, Stellar didn’t even need to speak. Suzy stepped up, unleashing her full acting skills. Her eyes reddened, her expression full of hurt."Miss Palmer, what did I ever do to you? Ever since you debuted, you’ve been competing with me for roles. "You even had your brother pretend to be the author behind my best friend’s work—when 'Star Luna' was Stellar’s pen name all along!"Her voice trembled as a tear slipped down her cheek.In that moment, she looked like a fragile girl completely blindsided—so vulnerable it tugged at everyone’s heartstrings."Oh my god, Miss Walsh is really the victim here! I heard her former agent even betrayed her and went to work for Tori!""She’s known to be kind and well-liked in the industry. How could anyone treat her like this?""I knew that guy Eddie was a fraud! Some people online actually believed him. It’s obvious now! ‘Star Luna’ is clearly Miss Rivers—only a woman could wr

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 378

    With Stellar’s skills, she was more than capable of defending herself.But since she was only there to accompany Suzy to meet her idol, she didn’t want to stir up any trouble for her.Just as the situation began spiraling out of control, Julianne, who was in the middle of signing autographs for fans, noticed the commotion and stepped through the crowd."What’s going on here?" The fans lit up with excitement at the sight of her. "Juli, someone tried to cut the line!""It was those two women…"Someone quickly pointed in the direction of Stellar and Suzy.Suzy swallowed hard, her nerves taking over. At that moment, her voice felt stuck in her throat. She didn’t have her usual fire, and no words of defense came to mind.Thankfully, Stellar stayed calm. "This is just a misunderstanding..."But before she could properly explain, Julianne’s face lit up with excitement. "Wait, aren’t you the renowned artist ‘Sole Light’? And also a legend in the aerospace field?"She had recognized Stellar,

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 377

    Just then, the woman turned around, revealing only her eyes, and Stellar immediately recognized her.It was that same actress, Tori, who had bullied Suzy before."What are the odds," Suzy muttered, clearly irritated.Tori also looked startled the moment she saw them.The memory of finding out that Stellar was Zayden’s senior still made her furious.She originally planned to use Zayden to deal with Stellar.But in the end, not only did the plan fail, Zayden even broke up with her because of it.No matter how much she begged, it was useless.He even gave her a harsh warning.Just thinking about the cold look in Zayden’s eyes and the pressure he gave off sent chills down her spine.Even though she was seething inside, all she could do now was quietly back off and give her seat back to Stellar and Suzy.Seeing that she knew her place, Suzy didn’t bother to engage with her.But watching Stellar and Suzy chatting and laughing up front, relaxed and carefree, filled Tori with resentment.There

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 376

    "Leave her to me," a deep voice sounded above her."Got it, Senior," Lilian said with a mischievous grin before slipping away.Stellar nestled into his chest, her cheeks flushed, eyes shut tight. She looked thoroughly drunk.Stephen looked down and caught a glimpse of her calm, obedient face, and a softness bloomed in his gaze, warm enough to melt.He reached out and gently tapped her nose, his voice laced with affection. “Drinking this much without me around? Weren’t you worried someone might steal you away, you little tipsy kitten?”The tips of her ears turned red. Her lashes fluttered, and her cheeks puffed up slightly in protest.Stephen chuckled under his breath. She looked so irresistibly cute he couldn’t help but pinch one of those round cheeks.It felt so soft like marshmallow, and he suddenly got the urge to take a bite.His eyes darkened, gaze fixed on the defenseless woman in his arms. After a moment, he murmured, "Stellar… I want to kiss you."Her cheeks turned even redd

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 375

    "Go ahead," Lucien said, giving her his full attention.“I'm a bit understaffed on this research project. I was thinking of bringing in my old team. We've collaborated for a long time, and they’d be a big help. Mind if I do that?”She then gave him a rundown of the research details.Lucien nodded with a smile. "Of course. Honestly, you don’t need to explain so much. I trust your judgment."Her heart stirred a little. She couldn’t quite figure out why he had such unquestioning faith in her.But since her goal was achieved, she didn’t press the matter."Alright, I’ll notify them soon."She gave a polite nod and quickly left the room.Lucien watched her back with keen interest, a thoughtful glint flickering in his eyes.…After work, Stellar shared the news in their team group chat, making sure to get everyone’s agreement first.She hadn’t expected a reply to come through in less than thirty seconds.Lilian was the first: “Of course I’m in! Stellar, you’re the best—thinking of us the mome

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 374

    Over the years, you changed your identity and deliberately cut ties with them to avoid being found out, living a glamorous life on your own. “If the truth gets out and everyone finds out about your background and what kind of person you really are, do you think you'll still have a place in this circle? “When that happens, my grandfather will be the first to kick you out of the family!”With those biting words, Christopher’s expression darkened, and he was left speechless.“So I suggest you know your place. Do as you’re told and stay out of things that don’t concern you. Otherwise…” Joy’s tone was sharp, thick with threat.Under pressure, Christopher finally kept quiet. Even though he was deeply unhappy with how Joy handled things, he had no choice but to turn around and leave silently.Just as he walked out, a slow round of applause came from the doorway.Joy looked up and saw a laid-back man strolling in.“Joy, you’re really getting good at this. Taming Christopher like that is like

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 373

    After a round of brief introductions, everyone quickly dove into the project work.With hardly anyone dragging their feet, progress was smooth. For Stellar, things moved along efficiently. After completing the initial stage of her research, she quickly identified a direction for the next phase and decided to use a critical piece of lab equipment for the upcoming experiment.She headed to the relevant department to file a request.“Sorry, Miss Rivers, that high-grade instrument has already been reserved. We only have one available,” the staff member informed her.It didn’t come as a complete surprise.After all, it was a top-tier device, rare even on the international level. It was the world-class equipment and elite talent that drew her to this institute in the first place.“No worries,” she replied. “I’ll go check in with the lab and see if I can borrow it for a bit.”With that, she made her way to the lab and knocked on the door.“Well, well, look who it is. Isn’t this the one and

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 372

    "If you dare bother us again, I’ll take you to court, and have you thrown in jail."Her words made the man freeze. He looked ready to fall to his knees. "Yes, yes—thank you, Miss Rivers! Thank you! We promise, we won’t cause any more trouble."In the end, the IOU was signed, and Cheryl, reluctantly parting with her precious savings, handed over twenty thousand dollars. Her son matched it with another twenty thousand, and only then did the family leave, utterly humiliated.Once the door shut behind them, Martha turned to her granddaughter with a heartbroken look."Stellar, I’m so sorry. This was all my fault. I never should’ve invited them over. You spent months working on that data, and now it’s gone... You let them off lightly, didn’t you? For my sake?"But Stellar just grinned, mischief twinkling in her eyes. "Grandma, you’re giving me too much credit. That file? It’s all in my head."As she spoke, she sat down, opened her laptop, and her fingers flew over the keyboard. Less than f

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status