"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
At the same time, in the top-floor office of Brighton Group, a man stood before the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the bustling city traffic below. The sunlight poured over his sharp, chiseled features, casting a warm golden hue that softened his otherwise cold demeanor. He stood like a figure carved from marble—aloof, otherworldly, and indifferent as if surveying the world from above. Behind him, a table held the proposal and contract sent over by Riverside Corporation. Shane, unable to contain his excitement, was effusively praising their latest acquisition to Stephen Ward. “Stephen, that Miss Rivers is truly something else—stunning and incredibly capable. The technical support she’s provided is nothing short of brilliant. I’ve got a strong feeling this partnership will last. It looks like the Rivers family has struck gold with her. With her leading Riverside, that new company of theirs has limitless potential.” Shane wasn’t just an employee or subordinate; he
A sharp glint flickered in Janet’s eyes.So, her dear cousin actually had the power to make Stephen lose control like that? Impressive.But it didn’t matter.She would win him back.With that thought in mind, Janet tugged gently at Stephen’s sleeve, her voice soft and coaxing."Stephen, we should go. We don’t want to be late…"Stephen’s face remained dark, his jaw tight as he said nothing. Without another word, he turned and led Janet away.Stellar, still engaged in conversation with Keith, caught the movement from the corner of her eye. She lowered her gaze, masking the flicker of disappointment in her expression.Keith, however, had been watching her the entire time. It didn’t take much for him to notice the shift in her mood.He followed her gaze, just in time to catch Stephen’s retreating figure and the woman beside him.Keith’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of mischief flashing across them before he let out a slow, amused whistle."Well, well… isn’t that Stephen? Didn’t take
Suzy remained completely oblivious to the outrageous words that had just come out of her mouth."Good evening, Ms. Rivers…" the male escorts greeted her in perfect unison, bowing politely.Stellar’s lips twitched hard.She cleared her throat, her tone as gentle as possible."Suzy, I don’t think this is necessary…"But Suzy waved her off. "It is! They’ll give you all the emotional support you need. Just relax and let them take care of you.""Ms. Rivers, please let us keep you company.""Ms. Rivers, do you enjoy drinking? I can personally feed you a sip."The escorts enthusiastically tried to engage her, their voices warm and inviting.Just as Stellar was scrambling for a way out, Suzy suddenly stood up."Oh! I just spotted a prime specimen—I’m gonna go say hi. You take your time and have fun!"She shot Stellar a playful wink before disappearing into the crowd.Stellar barely had time to call after her before she was gone.With Suzy out of the picture, the men around her became even more
"What happened?" Stellar’s heart tightened as she quickly got in her car and rushed to SA Club, following the address Suzy had sent.When she finally arrived at the booth, she found Suzy hunched over a glass of liquor, drinking sullenly.The tension in her chest eased instantly.With a mix of relief and exasperation, she sat down beside her. "You scared me to death! I thought something serious had happened.""It is serious!"Suzy slammed her glass down, her face full of misery as she poured out her grievances."You have no idea! A few days ago, I went on a date with my boy toy, and guess what? My mom caught us! She thinks he’s just a gold digger and is now forcing me to go on blind dates!“Can you believe it? Me—a rising star at the peak of my career—being reduced to blind dates?! Tell me, isn’t that tragic?"Stellar couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking her head. "Your mom is just looking out for your future. She probably just wants you to find someone reliable.""Exactly! That’s what sh
Janet's expression was full of satisfaction. "Oh? Is that so?" Stellar’s tone was indifferent. "Well, it looks like you two really do have a close relationship." Her casual, uninterested response only made Janet bristle with frustration. "You…" Just as Janet was about to argue further, her eyes suddenly flickered toward the door. In an instant, her expression lit up. "Stephen!" Dropping her previous arrogance, she beamed and walked past Stellar, her whole demeanor shifting into one of sweet delight. Stellar turned, watching as Janet approached Stephen, looking almost bashful. "Starting today, I’m officially your junior. I hope you’ll take care of me from now on." Stephen gave a small nod, his response noticeably less cold than before. A strange tightness gripped Stellar’s chest. He didn’t reject her? So, they were really that close now? "What were you two talking about?" After offering a polite greeting, Stephen’s gaze landed on Stellar, his tone carrying a hi
She never knew that Stephen and Janet were close enough for her to call him so affectionately.But she also trusted Stephen’s character. He wouldn’t do something like this."Stellar, you’ve misunderstood Stephen. He just gave me an opportunity to make my path smoother, but in the end, I still have to rely on my own abilities to get in," Janet quickly denied, not foolish enough to let the misunderstanding continue."Oh, by the way, this engine development project is led by Stephen, right? Your team is participating in the research. He agreed to let me sit in and observe!" With a smug expression, she waved the project documents in front of Stellar, as if showing off.Stellar narrowed her eyes and stepped forward, her tone serious. "Are you saying he personally agreed to let you join?" "Of course!" Janet answered confidently.She knew how much the university valued this project. As long as she got involved, she would have the chance to create distance between Stellar and Stephen. W
Inside the lounge.Stellar helped Stephen sit down gently, cupping his face in her hands."Senior, you really didn’t have to stand up for me. How are you feeling? Let me apply some medicine first."Her palms were soft, carrying a faint, sweet scent.Stephen’s eyes widened, just as he was about to speak, Stellar stopped him. "Don't talk yet…"She leaned in, carefully examining his wound with a serious expression.Seeing her lips so close, Stephen’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his gaze darkening.But in the next second, Stellar let go of him. "Fortunately, it’s not too serious."After saying that, she stood up, asked Stephen a question, then went to retrieve the first-aid kit.A flicker of disappointment crossed Stephen’s heart.Moments later, Stellar returned to his side, took out a cotton swab, dipped it in antiseptic, and carefully applied the medicine to his wound."Hiss—" Stephen sucked in a breath, as if it stung a little."Now you know it hurts? Why bother fighting with someone like that
"You don't have to be so formal with me," Stephen said, his gaze warm and unwavering.But Stellar didn’t look up at him. Instead, she simply replied, polite as ever, "It’s just basic courtesy between friends."With that, she turned and walked into the lounge.Stephen felt a pang of disappointment but knew better than to rush things.Just then, Joy approached from the distance."Stephen, there are still some details about the aircraft incident I need to go over with you. Can we talk in the office?"Since it was work-related, Stephen gave a nod and followed her.Meanwhile, after a sleepless night, Percy spent hours going over every moment he had shared with Stellar.Finally, he had put together what he wanted to say—how he could convince her to help him.But when he searched the maintenance area, she was nowhere to be found.Just as confusion settled in, he turned back only to see Stellar stepping out of a room marked with Stephen Ward’s name.Her face was slightly flushed, steam still
With a sharp slam, Stephen set his glass down on the table, his gaze turning icy as he shot a look at Shane. "Is that funny to you?""Ahem..."Shane cleared his throat, realizing that pushing any further would only get him into trouble. He quickly straightened his expression."Alright, alright, let’s get serious. I know you’re frustrated, but listen, I've got to say, I think you’ve always liked Stellar. That little girl from the past? That was just an obsession, maybe even a sense of duty."Don't confuse the two, or you’ll regret it someday.""I know."Stephen’s voice was steady, sharper than Shane expected. "That’s not the problem. I just don’t know how to pursue her without being too abrupt. If I don’t act soon, I’m afraid she’ll slip further away from me."From the way Stellar treated him today, he could feel the distance growing between them, and that alone sent a wave of unease through him."Hah! So even the great Mr. Ward can struggle when chasing a girl," Shane teased, barely ho
Ethan had only gotten dragged into this because of her. Stellar curled her lips into a cold smile and spoke, her voice steady and sharp. "Since when did asking questions become something to be ashamed of? Or are you telling me you all know everything?" The moment she finished speaking, the ones who had mocked Ethan stiffened, caught off guard. They clearly hadn’t expected an intern to have the guts to challenge them so directly. "Being willing to ask, learn, and seek answers is a sign of humility and dedication. But instead of encouraging it as senior professionals, you ridicule it? What kind of logic is that? Or is this just how your team operates? Are questions not allowed?" A flush crept onto their faces. As seniors, they had planned to put the intern in his place. Yet instead, they had been publicly called out and humiliated by someone younger. Their pride took a heavy hit. One of the leaders, a man named Guy Wellson, scowled, his temper flaring. "Stellar, don’t