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
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
"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
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
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
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
No wonder Rivers Corporation reached out to him, offering to give up an additional five percent of the profits on their new project just to convince him to withdraw his investment from the Harlow family.They even made it clear that the withdrawal was specifically because of the Harlow family’s heiress. Moreover, they promised compensation with an even better project.At first, Zachary thought the Rivers Corporation was simply throwing its weight around. But seeing the pair in front of him and listening to Percy’s tone, he found those rumors he’d heard didn’t seem baseless anymore.His next words carried a distinct hint of mockery."What exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Grayson?" Percy asked, frowning slightly, sensing that the remark was not without intent.Zachary didn’t bother mincing words, his expression laced with disdain."I’ve heard, Mr. Moore, that for years, your company’s success has relied heavily on Miss Stellar Rivers’ talent and expertise to secure contracts. But now tha
"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
No wonder Rivers Corporation reached out to him, offering to give up an additional five percent of the profits on their new project just to convince him to withdraw his investment from the Harlow family.They even made it clear that the withdrawal was specifically because of the Harlow family’s heiress. Moreover, they promised compensation with an even better project.At first, Zachary thought the Rivers Corporation was simply throwing its weight around. But seeing the pair in front of him and listening to Percy’s tone, he found those rumors he’d heard didn’t seem baseless anymore.His next words carried a distinct hint of mockery."What exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Grayson?" Percy asked, frowning slightly, sensing that the remark was not without intent.Zachary didn’t bother mincing words, his expression laced with disdain."I’ve heard, Mr. Moore, that for years, your company’s success has relied heavily on Miss Stellar Rivers’ talent and expertise to secure contracts. But now tha
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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