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Chapter 268
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 269
Tori came with Zayden tonight.A calculating gleam flashed in her eyes as she scanned the crowd, searching for him.It took a while, but she finally spotted his familiar, laid-back figure."Zayden…"Instantly, she plastered on a pitiful expression, rushing forward to cling to his arm. Her voice was soft, laced with grievance. "You're finally here. Someone bullied me! You have to stand up for me."Zayden’s lips curved into a faint, almost mocking smirk as he glanced down at her."Someone actually managed to bully you?""You think I'm untouchable?" she pouted. "If it weren’t for you looking out for me, I wouldn’t last a day in this industry. And now, even some nobody thinks she can walk all over me. You have to put her in her place for me."She whined as she reached out, dramatically pointing in Stellar’s direction.Zayden followed her gesture, his gaze landing on a tall, poised figure walking away.His eyes widened.Without a word, he shoved Tori off and strode forward, moving with su
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Stellar lifted her head coldly, glancing at her through the mirror before quickly looking away, treating her as if she didn’t exist. Her indifference instantly ignited Tori’s anger. She strode forward, ready to confront her, but just as she was about to speak, her gaze landed on the red string wrapped around Stellar’s wrist. The design was simple, nothing particularly special about it. However, Tori immediately thought of Zayden’s earlier outburst. As her eyes flickered with calculation, an idea surfaced in her mind. A smile suddenly curled on her lips, her arrogance from before vanishing as she spoke in a friendly tone, "Miss Rivers, I was wrong about what happened earlier. I’ve actually been wanting to find a chance to apologize. “How about we go out for a drink and put everything behind us?" Stellar found her sudden change of attitude nauseating. "If you think we can just make peace, you must still be dreaming," she replied, voice laced with sarcasm. Surprisingly, T
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Hearing the distance in her voice, a trace of hurt flickered in Zayden’s eyes. "Senior, do you not recognize me? When we were kids, we used to draw together. You were the only one who didn’t look down on me. “You once told me I was different from the others, that I was special, and that you would always protect me. Have you forgotten everything?”There was a hint of grievance in his voice as he spoke. Anyone familiar with Zayden would have found this scene utterly unsettling. Was this really the same ruthless, merciless man they knew? The one feared like the devil himself? Stellar was stunned, her mind momentarily blank. Then, a long-buried memory began to surface. Her eyes slowly widened. "You’re… Zay?" How could Zayden possibly be Zay? But the past came rushing back, unfolding like an old, forgotten painting. As a child, she loved to draw. Back then, both her adoptive mother and uncle doted on her and had enrolled her in a prestigious art class. It was there th
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As the two of them walked outside, they failed to notice the man who brushed past them. Percy had received an invitation tonight and was just about to enter the banquet hall when he overheard Tori and her agent’s conversation. He never would have expected Stellar to actually offend Zayden. She really had no fear of anything. Did she even realize that Zayden was a ruthless, merciless figure who wouldn’t hesitate to kill? Now that things had reached this point, he figured he was probably the only one who could protect her. That thought left him feeling somewhat pleased with himself. Stepping into the hall, his gaze quickly landed on Stellar, sitting alone in the lounge area, as if waiting for someone. A glint flickered in his eyes. Picking up a glass of wine, he walked toward her. "Stellar, I was wrong about earlier today…" Gone was the arrogance from before. Percy’s posture was sincere as he explained, "I never intended to humiliate you or force you to bow down to
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The moment Stellar saw who it was, her eyes widened slightly. She was caught off guard but not entirely surprised."Percy, it looks like you’ve finally lost your mind." He had actually resorted to kidnapping. This was already crossing into criminal territory. However, Percy wasn’t the least bit angered by her cold demeanor. Instead, he smirked, looking smug. "Stellar, don’t blame me. You forced my hand." He was too soft before. He bent over backward for a woman, gave everything he could, only to be met with nothing but scorn, humiliation, and rejection. Some women just needed to be taught a lesson. If kindness didn’t work on her, then she had no one to blame but herself for making him take a harder approach. Besides—"Do you really think I brought you here to hurt you? Stellar, everything I’m doing is for your own protection." His words sounded almost righteous. And in his mind, he truly believed them. She had offended Zayden. There was no way that would end well
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He needed to know everything about her—to have complete control over her life—so he could bring Stellar back to his side. But not long after he sent the message, his phone rang. "Mr. Zayden, there’s something I need to report," his subordinate said cautiously. "You’ve had us keeping an eye on the side branch, and today, our men discovered that Percy kidnapped a woman. She looks strikingly similar to the one in the photo you just sent me…" His voice trailed off, hesitant. "What did you just say?!" Zayden slammed his foot on the gas, his eyes dark with lethal intent. "That bastard actually dared—where did he take her?" The subordinate quickly rattled off an address. "They were heading in that direction, but we haven’t pinpointed their exact location yet." "Find it!" Zayden barked, yanking the steering wheel to make a sharp U-turn before speeding toward the location at breakneck speed. …At the same time, multiple forces were searching for Stellar. Meanwhile, she had
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The bodyguards immediately understood and shut the basement door behind them.With everyone gone, the only ones left in the dark, enclosed space were Stellar and Percy."Stellar, are you really sure about this?" Percy asked again, wanting confirmation.She gave him a sweet, innocent smile. "Of course. Now, can you untie me?"Percy hesitated for a moment."You’re not scared I’ll hurt you, are you?" Stellar tilted her head, her voice soft, almost teasing. "Don’t forget, I can barely move right now. And if you keep me tied up like this, how am I supposed to hold you?"She even pouted a little, as if sulking.Percy’s heart nearly leaped out of his chest.It made sense. She was completely powerless right now. There was no way she could fight back—wasn’t she already at his mercy?Feeling reassured, he finally moved forward and loosened the knots.As the ropes fell away, Stellar stretched her stiff wrists, rubbing the soreness out before curling her fingers into a slow, deliberate fist."S
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The moment Zayden appeared, Percy’s eyes lit up like he had just seen his savior.Using every ounce of strength left in his battered body, he crawled forward, grasping onto Zayden’s pant leg in desperation."Zayden, help me! Stellar offended you, so I brought her here to teach her a lesson for you, but she turned around and beat me like this! Please, you have to save me!"Zayden’s jaw clenched, the vein on his temple twitching violently."You idiot. Who gave you the right to lay a hand on her?! Are you looking for death?"With that, he delivered a vicious kick, sending Percy flying across the room.Percy felt his insides shift as he crashed to the ground, gasping in pain.What the hell?! Wasn’t Stellar the one who had pissed off Zayden? Then why… why was he protecting her?Before he could process it, Stephen had already stepped toward Stellar, scanning her from head to toe."Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.Stellar raised a brow, flashing a bright, teasing smile.
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 350
Stephen stepped into the room, his expression as composed as ever, completely free of flattery or pretense."See, Grandma? Even he says so," Stellar chimed in playfully. "He wouldn’t lie to you, would he?""Really?" Martha asked, raising a curious brow."Absolutely," Stephen replied, holding up a professional-looking camera that he'd clearly brought with intent. "In fact, I was hoping to take a photo—something to remember this by, if you don’t mind.""I’ll join her!" Stellar grinned, slipping behind her grandmother and wrapping her arms around her neck, resting her head on her shoulder.Martha couldn’t help but smile, the joy on her face soft and genuine.Stephen captured the moment—warmth, love, and laughter frozen perfectly in frame.He wasn’t the smooth-talking type, nor was he known for charming people easily. He usually kept his distance with that cool, reserved demeanor.But somehow, in the span of just one afternoon, he’d managed to win Martha over completely. She looked at h
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“I’m here to see a friend and didn’t expect to run into you two,” Stephen said as he strode over, greeting Martha with a polite nod. Then he turned to Stellar, curiosity in his eyes. “I overheard something about wanting to try on costumes?”“That was the plan,” she replied.“Well, that’s perfect. A friend of mine owns a costume shop just around the corner. Why don’t I take you there?”Stellar’s eyes lit up as she looked at her grandmother. “Sounds like fate, Grandma. The costumes are right there. Why don’t you come with me? I’d love to see you dressed up too!”Martha hesitated, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. “Alright then.”Stephen quickly sent a message to his friend. “All set. Let’s go.”The three of them stepped into the shop, and it felt like walking into a vibrant world of drama and color.Gowns adorned with intricate embroidery swayed gently on their racks, chiffon sleeves fluttering like mist. Gold and silver threads wove through rich velvet and satin, forming elega
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 348
"You’re really turning down this kind of exposure? I get it that you’re holding out for payment, right? Fine. If you do the scene properly, I’ll give you one thousand."Anthony said it like he was doing her a favor. In his mind, anyone else would’ve been falling over themselves with gratitude.But Stellar had already run out of patience."You could offer me one million, and I still wouldn’t do it."Her words landed like a slap across his face.His expression darkened instantly. In all his years in the industry, he had never encountered a woman so ungrateful.Most women groveled for roles, buttered him up with flattery, and even agreed to unspoken terms just to get into his productions.But this woman? She looked at him like he was beneath her. Who did she think she was?Rage surged through him, stripping away whatever civility he had left."You think you’re somebody? Just because you’ve got a pretty face, you think you can play hard to get? Look at you, like some cheap little tease
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 347
The summit concluded smoothly.“Stellar, that was incredible! Even Dean Shaw was so impressed he offered you that opportunity. You absolutely can’t miss it!”“And when did you even publish that paper? None of us had a clue!”Back at the base, everyone buzzed with excitement, firing off questions one after another.Stellar pressed her lips together, then cast a slightly sheepish glance at Stephen beside her. “Honestly, it was thanks to him. He helped me find the fastest way to get it published.”“Ohh…” The group immediately exchanged knowing looks, teasing smiles spreading across their faces.They didn’t press further—just gave her the kind of look that said that they understood.“Stellar, I’ve got something else to handle, but we’ll definitely throw you a celebration soon!”“Same here! Got a bit of work piling up. You two take your time.”One by one, her colleagues slipped away.Before she could even say anything to stop them, Stephen chuckled softly beside her. “Your coworkers
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Joy leaned in, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “Who is it?”Dean smiled and spoke slowly, “He used to be one of our senior engineers at the base—young, brilliant, and incredibly promising. His name is Stephen Ward.”Joy’s eyes widened in realization. “It’s him?”The crowd erupted with murmurs of admiration.“Ah, of course—it’s Mr. Ward. No wonder!”“I’m not even surprised. Men do tend to have the edge when it comes to technical work.”But just then, a calm voice rang out from behind them, slicing clean through the chatter.“It’s not me.”The entire room fell silent.Everyone turned to watch as Stephen walked through the crowd and stopped beside Stellar. His tone was steady as he looked toward Dean.“I’m not the author of that paper.”Dean blinked in surprise. “But… didn’t you call me before and ask to have it approved for publication? If it’s not yours, then whose is it?”“I only helped submit it,” Stephen said, his gaze landing on Stellar with clear admiration. “The true author is s
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But as the doubtful stares around the room gathered on her, Stellar slowly curved her lips into a calm smile and said offhandedly, “Miss Shaw. Do you really believe this is a flaw?”“Isn’t it?” Joy narrowed her eyes, eager to see how she’d try to spin her way out.“That issue might’ve been considered a flaw in the past,” Stellar replied casually. “But not anymore. Not with what I’ve developed.”Joy let out a sharp laugh. “Oh please, now you’re just making things up to save yourself from getting humiliated. If you’re really that capable, why don’t you show us the solution?”The crowd seemed to agree—skepticism flashed across several faces, a few even looking at Stellar with thinly veiled contempt.But the next moment, she calmly reached into her bag and pulled out a folder, opening it with practiced ease. Her voice was steady.“I’ve already broken through this technical barrier. With the data in this set, the issue resolves itself. That’s why I said it’s not a problem at all.”All tho
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“Miss Rivers, I’ve heard so much about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet. Your proposal was recently featured in a national journal. I had the privilege of reading it. It was truly impressive…”It was clear that they were here for her reputation.Some looked at her with admiration, while others came with questions, subtly probing as if trying to see whether the stories about her brilliance were true or just hype.Thankfully, Stellar was well-prepared. She responded with ease, and the overall atmosphere remained warm and respectful until a sharp female voice suddenly cut through the hum of conversation.“Miss Rivers, I admire you as well. When you left SA and chose the more prestigious Starlight base, I was genuinely disappointed. It’s a shame we never got to be colleagues. That was my loss.”Joy stepped out from the crowd, all smiles.On the surface, it sounded like a compliment. But her words suggested Stellar had turned her back on SA in pursuit of fame, casting her decision in
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After finding out she’d be attending the summit the next day, Stellar threw herself even deeper into her research.But she remained stuck on a key point and couldn’t crack it.While her colleagues gradually clocked out for the day, she stayed behind in the lab. After sending a quick message home to let her family know she was safe, she returned to her work.She kept at it until nearly midnight with no breakthrough. Just as she was starting to feel completely lost, her phone rang.She glanced at the screen and saw the call was from Stephen.She picked up his call in surprise.His deep, velvety voice came through the line. "Are you still at the base?"Stellar guessed he must’ve heard from her grandparents, so she didn’t hide it. "Yeah, I’m burning the midnight oil on a major project.""Then I’ll just borrow a few minutes. Can you come downstairs?"Caught off guard, she quickly made her way down and pushed open the main door.There, by the curb, stood Stephen—tall and steady like a
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Now Stellar had gotten a taste of just how overbearing Stephen’s mother could be. If Grace was that tough on her own son, there was no way she’d dare face her in person.Seeing her resistance, Stephen’s expression dimmed slightly, but he didn’t push her. "Alright, I’ll take you home."He had enough patience to slowly win over the girl he liked.This time, Stellar didn’t turn him down.After getting home and taking a shower, she still felt a lingering sense of unease.Thankfully, the meeting didn’t happen. Who knows how awkward it could’ve been!Pushing those thoughts aside, she returned to the base the next day to continue working on her project.Because of her efforts, several investors had been brought in, and Stellar’s position at the base rose quickly.That morning, Rendell called her into his office to inform her of a new assignment."Stellar, there’s an important aerospace summit coming up. You’ve been working on that new project recently, right? Perfect timing. You’ll represe
