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Chapter 311
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 312
“I thought you wouldn’t come… because of Stephen,” Keith said, his voice still carrying a trace of wounded pride.“He’s him, and you’re you. No one makes decisions for me,” Stellar replied calmly. “Besides, we’re friends, aren’t we?”That single word “friends” shouldn’t have meant so much, but somehow it did. His heart warmed. “How’s your mom, by the way?” she added, remembering suddenly.Keith's expression softened. “She’s doing better now—just a stomach bug, nothing serious.”She cared about his family. Did that mean she cared about him, even just a little?The thought made his smile widen unconsciously.In the distance, hidden behind a patch of bushes, a paparazzo crouched with his lens trained on them. The golden-orange sunset cast the pair in silhouette, their figures outlined in a warm glow. The resulting photo looked strikingly intimate.“Damn,” the photographer muttered. “Who knew these two looked this good together?”After chatting a little longer, Stellar and Keith said t
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It was a classical oil painting.Deep blue waves surged across the canvas like restless beasts, their white crests crashing with untamed force. Beneath the surface, shadows hinted at something colossal stirring in the depths, ready to break free.The composition was masterful, bursting with tension—a clear reflection of the artist’s turbulent inner world.Stellar stood there, momentarily lost in the piece.She didn’t notice when Susan quietly walked up beside her. Catching the look on Stellar’s face, Susan’s eyes flashed with a glint of calculation."Miss Rivers, your tea," Susan said sweetly, her voice breaking through Stellar’s trance.Stellar blinked and turned to her. "Oh, thanks, but I’m fine.""You should have a sip. Otherwise, the professor might think I’ve been a poor host," Susan replied politely, lifting the cup and offering it with a smile.Not wanting to appear rude, Stellar reached out to accept it. Just as her fingers touched the porcelain, Susan ‘accidentally’ nudged
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Back then, after being cast out of her home and later trafficked, everything had hit her all at once. The pain, fear, and shame drained her completely. She’d lost the strength to reach out again, and even if she had wanted to, she didn’t feel she had the right to face her mentor.“That wasn’t your fault.”Zayden’s voice came from the side, full of quiet regret. “If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I should’ve found you sooner. I should’ve been there for you. You shouldn’t have had to face everything alone.”“I don’t blame anyone,” Howard said with a gentle smile, warmth softening his gaze. “As long as you’re both safe and well, that’s all I care about.”A few steps away, Susan stood off to the side like an outsider.Watching the warmth between the three of them, she bit her lip hard, unable to hide the jealousy in her eyes. Still, she forced herself forward and sat down, inserting herself into the conversation with a forced smile.“I had no idea you were so young, Senior. No wonder I d
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"Ahem..." It was Howard who finally broke the silence, clearing his throat. "Susan, your senior was just being honest. Don’t take it too personally."Stellar almost burst out laughing at Howard’s remark. He clearly wasn’t even trying to spare Susan’s feelings.Howard seemed to realize that too and quickly added, "If you run into any issues with your painting, come straight to me. Stellar still has pieces to prepare and really can’t spare the time."Susan flushed scarlet, her face darkening by the second."Professor, I have something to take care of, so I’ll get going now."With that, she didn’t stay a second longer and left in a hurry.Watching her retreating figure, Stellar asked curiously, "Professor, when did you take her on as a student?""About six months ago. To be honest, she doesn't have much talent for painting, but she once saved my wife’s life by accident. Taking her in was my way of repaying that debt."Howard didn’t hide anything from her.Now it all made sense—no wonde
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A flicker of something dark and venomous flashed through Zayden’s eyes, like a snake coiling in the shadows.“Didn’t you call me Stephen just yesterday?” Stephen’s low chuckle crackled through the receiver.The sound sent a shiver down Stellar’s spine, making her ears tingle. Her cheeks flushed—though she wasn’t sure if it was the wine or something else entirely.She pretended not to hear it and changed the subject. “What’s up?”Stephen didn’t press her. “You weren’t home, so I thought I’d check in. Want me to come pick you up?”Only then did Stellar remember her current situation. She glanced at Zayden. “No need. I’m on my way back. I’ll be home soon.”She hadn’t said much, but Stephen picked up on it immediately. “You’re not alone, are you? Who is it—Keith or Zayden?”Stellar’s eyelid twitched.Before she could answer, Zayden cut in, voice laced with provocation. “Mr. Ward, you don’t need to worry. I’m taking care of her.”Stephen’s tone turned ice-cold. “Zayden Moore, has no one e
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 317
The next morning, on Monday, Stellar was originally planning to head to the Starlight Aerospace Base.But just before leaving, she received a call from Lilian. The moment she answered, Lilian’s frantic voice came through.“Stellar, have you seen the news? Something huge just broke!”Puzzled, Stellar opened her news app, only to see tags like #AerospaceEngineerCaughtDatingMultipleMen trending at the top.Her heart skipped a beat. She clicked into it and was immediately met with candid photos of herself with Stephen, Keith, and Zayde.The images were overlaid with a pink filter, making them look dreamy and suggestive.The caption described her as a so-called genius engineer—young, pretty, and calculating—playing three brilliant young men at once. It accused her of having a chaotic personal life that seriously disrupted the professional environment at the base.In short, it was filled with degrading and humiliating language aimed at tearing her down.The comment section was swarming wit
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Stellar looked at the self-righteous faces in front of her and let out a cold, mocking laugh.Her icy gaze locked onto Joy."Joy, you were the one who begged me to come back to the base after I left. Now that you’ve gotten what you wanted, you’re ready to toss me aside like trash?"My technical work has been flawless, but you’re using my personal life as an excuse? You’re so hypocritical it makes me sick."I want nothing more to do with this place. You don’t deserve me."With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of the base.The moment she stepped outside, the reporters swarmed toward her."Miss Rivers, have you been kicked out of SA Base?" "Are you staying silent because you’re guilty?" "So, the rumors were true, then?"Stellar stared straight into the nearest camera, calm and unshaken. "What rumors? You mean those blurry, stalker-shot photos with not a shred of intimacy? That’s your proof I’m dating three men at once?"So now, a man and woman can’t even be in the same fra
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Joy stepped forward with a polite, insincere smile. “Technically, I know it’s not my place to interfere, but as an outsider watching from the sidelines, I feel obligated to speak up. “You’re in charge of the Starlight Base, and I hope you’ll think carefully. Bringing someone like her in will only invite endless trouble for your team.”She was just short of pointing a finger in Stellar’s face.The engineers behind her quickly chimed in.“She’s right! Are you really willing to accept just anyone into your base? If her presence ends up dragging all your engineers down with her, don’t say we didn’t warn you.”Their tone was laced with smug satisfaction, unable to hide how much they were enjoying the spectacle.Rendell’s expression didn’t waver. “We don’t need outsiders worrying about how we run our base. If you’ve got that much free time, maybe put it toward improving your own skills.”Joy hadn’t expected him to throw the jab back at her. Instead of gratitude, he gave her a slap in the
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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
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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
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"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
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As soon as Stellar finished speaking, Cheryl’s legs gave out beneath her, and with a loud thud, she dropped to her knees.Only then did the weight of the situation truly hit her.She scrambled forward on hands and knees until she reached Stellar, clutching desperately at her sleeve, tears streaming down her face. "Miss Rivers, I was wrong. I swear I know I was wrong! My grandson didn’t mean to do it, he really didn’t. Please, have mercy. Don’t hold this against us!"I’m old, and there’s no way we can afford four million! I’m begging you, for the sake of my friendship with your grandmother, please let us off just this once!"Stellar’s eyes were icy, unmoved.She was about to turn to her grandmother for guidance when Martha stormed over and slapped Cheryl’s hands away."Don’t you dare touch my granddaughter with your filthy hands! How laughable. You finally realize how serious the matter is when you need to pay the four million dollars? “My granddaughter worked for months on that data,
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The little brat joined right in with his grandmother, hurling insults. "You filthy woman! Seductress! You’re a liar! Dream on!"Stellar didn’t waste another word. She pulled out her phone and spoke calmly into it. "Hello, is this the police? I’d like to report a case of intentional property damage. Please send officers over immediately."With that, she hung up.Cheryl’s eyes bulged, her face flushing red with rage. "You’ve lost your mind! Calling the cops over something like this? You’re insane. We’re leaving!"She grabbed her grandson’s hand and turned to storm off only to be blocked at the door by several bodyguards."No one’s going anywhere," Stellar said coldly. "Not until the police arrive, assess the damage, and calculate the compensation. Then you can leave."A shiver ran down Cheryl’s spine.The chubby boy burst into loud sobs. "Grandma! I’m scared!"Cheryl, flustered but trying to keep her composure, cooed, "Don’t be scared, baby. They’re keeping us here against our will. Jus
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"Who let him into my room?!"Stellar's voice was cold and sharp, carrying a force that made the air around her feel heavy. Even Cheryl flinched instinctively."What happened?" Martha quickly stepped in, alarmed.Only then did Cheryl snap back to herself and immediately launched into complaint. "Martha, you really need to teach your granddaughter some manners. Arguing with a child? Honestly, she’s completely out of line—no patience, no grace whatsoever..."Before she could finish, Stellar cut in, her voice like ice. "Grandma, her grandson went into my room, tore up my bed and desk, broke several pieces of my makeup, and worst of all, he corrupted an important document on my laptop.""What?" Martha’s face darkened at once. "Cheryl, how could you let this happen?"Realizing her grandson was indeed at fault, Cheryl forced a shameless smile. "Oh, come on, it’s just some makeup. He’s just a kid. He didn’t mean it. It’s not like he knew what he was doing. Can't you just let it go, for old t
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So, she teased him on purpose. "Then maybe you should consider joining us at Starlight.""Are you trying to poach me?""Yep. Will you let me?"Stephen seemed to think it over for a moment, then shook his head. "Better not."Stellar knew switching bases wasn't something anyone would do on a whim—she’d only been joking. Still, hearing his firm refusal made her feel a tiny twinge of disappointment."Aren’t you going to ask why?""Hmm?" She looked up, puzzled. "Why?""Because…" Stephen looked down at her, eyes warm with amusement. "As far as I know, Starlight doesn’t allow workplace relationships. And that’s something I just can’t give up."Stellar’s heart gave a hard thump. In that moment, she finally understood what it meant to feel butterflies.This man had a way of tugging at her heartstrings with just a simple line."Ahem..." She couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips and quickly turned her head. "Well then, I guess it really is out of the question."They let the subject pass
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Earlier, Martha had let Cheryl's endless bragging slide without a word.But this time, her expression turned cold in an instant."My granddaughter doesn’t need to do chores. She’s the pride of our family—born to be loved and cherished. Whatever she wants, we can give her. No one has the right to order her around."Cheryl was taken aback, stunned into silence for a moment before snapping back, "What man would want a wife who can’t even handle basic housework? I’m saying this for her own good! Aren’t you worried she won’t be able to get married?""Then she won’t," Martha replied without hesitation."If she stays with us for the rest of her life, so be it. We’re more than capable of taking care of her."Cheryl fumed, feeling like her good intentions had been thrown back in her face."Grandma, I want a drink! And snacks!"The chubby boy came running back, flushed and sweaty after tearing through the house.Cheryl dropped the argument instantly, her focus back on her grandson."Alright, alri
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Martha and Stellar shared a helpless glance before finally giving in with a quiet nod.They drove Cheryl over to the preschool together.All the way there, Cheryl kept bragging nonstop. "This preschool? It’s the top bilingual academy in the area. All the language teachers are brought in from overseas! Tuition alone runs around four or six grand a year. “My son really values his kid’s education, so he’s giving him the absolute best. It’s like pouring money down the drain, but thankfully, he makes enough to support the family. “He even bought a house here and paid four hundred thousand dollars without blinking."The more she talked, the prouder she sounded, completely unaware that the car she was riding in was worth far more than that.Stellar’s ears were practically going numb from the constant boasting. But out of respect for her elder, she held her tongue and didn’t interrupt.When Cheryl finally ran out of things to say and noticed the lack of praise from her audience, she turn
