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Chapter 327

Penulis: Warm Cocoa
“Stellar, my sweet granddaughter!”

“Let me have a look at you—you’ve lost weight.”

Martha gently pinched her cheek with a heartache.

“No, I haven’t,” Stellar said with a playful pout, linking arms with them on both sides.

“Grandpa, Grandma, why didn’t you tell me you were coming? If you missed me, you could’ve called. I would’ve gone to see you!”

Laurence looked at her seriously. “We just wanted to see how you’re doing, and if anyone’s been bullying you. If they have, Grandpa’s here to back you up!”

Though he was already in his seventies, the commanding presence he carried hadn’t faded with age.

Stellar felt a wave of warmth rush through her.

Her eyes curved with a smile. “Who would dare bully me? Besides, I’ve got Uncle Claude and the others around!”

“That’s true,” Laurence nodded, finally relaxing a little.

The three of them chatted as they walked out of the airport, the atmosphere warm and cheerful.

Seeing that it was still early, Stellar suggested taking them o
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  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 328

    Now look how things turned out!She was actually starting to feel embarrassed on Percy’s behalf.And as for herself—what kind of bad luck had she run into to get saddled with a crazy family like Dawn’s?No, she had to find a way to turn things around.With that thought in mind, Fancy led them into a boutique. "I need to use the restroom. You go ahead and look around."Using the restroom as an excuse, she finally got a break from Dolly and Dawn. After tidying up her appearance, she headed toward the elderly couple from the Rivers family.Just as Stellar left, Fancy approached the couple with a bright smile. "Sir, ma'am, is this your first time at this store? I come here quite often. Are you shopping for jewelry? I’d be happy to help if you’d like."She put on the poised and experienced air of someone who had long mingled in the socialite circles, her tone warm and friendly, hoping to leave a good impression.The elderly couple had simply been waiting for Stellar to return from the rest

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 329

    Because of the unexpected situation, it still affected the old couple’s mood.In the end, they didn’t stay out long before driving back.Throughout the ride, the couple kept glancing at her, their eyes filled with worry.Stellar noticed it and gave a carefree smile. "Grandpa, Grandma, I know what you're worried about. But it’s all in the past. The Moores have paid the price, and I’ve already let it go. You should be happy for me instead."Seeing that her expression truly carried no trace of gloom, they finally felt at ease."Stellar’s right. Actually, we came to see you for another reason too."Stellar was puzzled. "What is it?""We saw that news about you online recently," Laurence said, his tone slightly heavy.Stellar’s heart skipped a beat. Were they referring to that rumor about her juggling several relationships?Even though the truth had been clarified later, if her grandparents started asking about her love life and expected her to make a choice...The first face that flashed

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 330

    He forced his way into the seat, and a silent tension instantly flared between the two men."What’s going on with them?" Stellar blinked, lowering her voice as she asked Suzy beside her.The brothers had always bickered and refused to back down to each other, but it was never this hostile.Suzy shrugged nonchalantly, completely unbothered. "Who knows."Stellar was speechless.She could clearly tell something had happened between the three of them but wisely chose not to ask.Soon, they arrived at the reserved restaurant and took their seats, chatting about recent happenings over the meal.During dinner, Julian served dishes and poured drinks for both Stellar and Suzy with casual ease and smooth movements.Stellar was a little surprised by how thoughtful he was.Edwin, however, looked increasingly grim. "Julian, it’s not like they don’t have hands. What’s with all the extra effort?"Julian raised an eyebrow and replied word by word, "Because. I. Want. To.""Thanks, Mr. Julian. How did y

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 331

    Seated in the center of the private lounge’s plush sofa was none other than Edwin—the very man Suzy had broken things off with not long ago. On either side of him sat two women, both striking in their own way, leaning in close with flirty smiles as they fawned over him. "Mr. Rivers, you really can hold your liquor," one of them giggled, raising her glass. "I’ve never met a CEO as handsome as you," the other added, inching even closer.Edwin didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the attention. Suzy frowned in disgust and turned to leave but Axel blocked her path. "What’s wrong, Suzy? Come on in! Don’t keep my friends waiting." He gave her shoulder a firm push, leading her into the room and right up to Edwin. From the moment she stepped in, Edwin’s gaze locked onto her. His eyes briefly darkened as they landed on Axel’s hand resting on her shoulder. Axel, oblivious to the tension, grinned and turned to Edwin. "Mr. Rivers, let me introduce you, this is my friend Suzy Walsh

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 332

    Axel stood frozen, his face drained of all color. "Mr. Warren, Mr. Rivers, I was wrong. I swear, I know I messed up. Please, just give me another chance..." He pleaded desperately, falling over himself in apology. Edwin snapped his fingers, and the bodyguards at the door came in, beat Axel up, and threw him out.…After that unpleasant scene, Suzy’s mood hit rock bottom. Any desire to keep partying vanished, and she grabbed a cab back to her place. The whole ride home, she couldn’t stop replaying the image of Edwin with those two women hanging all over him. Sure, they were the ones throwing themselves at him—but come on, one of them was practically in his lap, and he hadn’t exactly pushed her away. She’d actually been debating whether he still had feelings for her. She even kind of liked him. Looking back now, all that second-guessing felt laughable. Once she got home, she showered and stepped out in her robe only to hear the doorbell ring. Suzy paused. It was alread

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 333

    Suzy hadn’t expected to walk in on this scene when she came looking for Suzy. Her steps slowed, eyes flicking between the two of them with a mix of surprise and suspicion."What are you two doing in Suzy’s place?"Both froze at once.Edwin instinctively let go, taking two steps back to compose himself.Julian straightened his collar. "Uh... I’ll go get changed.”With that, he turned and headed back inside.Edwin’s gaze darkened as he watched Julian walk upstairs like he belonged there. His hand clenched at his side, veins bulging under his skin."Uncle Edwin..."Stellar had seen enough to understand exactly what was going on.She bent down, picked up the bouquet of roses from the floor, and raised an eyebrow at him. "Didn’t you used to swear that you’re going to be a lifelong bachelor, not the kind to ever settle down for anyone? So, what’s this supposed to be, then?"Edwin’s expression stiffened.That comment hit like a boomerang, coming back to smack him square in the face. For o

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 334

    "Miss, you probably don’t know this yet. Over the past six months, Mr. Ward has been sending gifts to the house every now and then. “I don’t know how he figured out what the Mr. and Mrs. Rivers like, but everything he sent matched their tastes perfectly..."At first, of course, the old couple turned him down coldly.But Stephen didn’t give up. He sent Laurence a rare first-edition hardcover from his favorite classic author. For Martha, he tracked down a limited-edition vinyl from a beloved jazz singer she’d always wanted in her collection.In the end, they couldn’t resist and accepted the gifts."I only found out because the housekeeper mentioned it when I visited," Mary said with a smile.Stellar felt a wave of emotion she couldn’t quite name.In the background, quietly and persistently, Stephen was doing everything he could to make amends, trying to win over her grandparents. His methods might’ve been a little sly, but it was all for her.Her cheeks flushed slightly at the though

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 335

    Stephen got up and followed after her. "Let me help too."The two of them entered the kitchen one after the other.Mary was cooking, while Stellar helped wash the vegetables before handing them to Stephen to cut.As Stephen reached out to take them, his fingertips accidentally brushed against her pinky. It felt like a jolt of electricity ran through her limbs, leaving her whole body tingling.Stellar quickly pulled her hand back in a panic, her ears turning red.Stephen couldn't help but smile.The air between them felt sweet and charged with tension.Outside the kitchen, Laurence and Martha had seen everything through the doorway. Their expressions grew increasingly serious."What do you think will happen if the two of them end up together?" Martha asked softly."No," Laurence replied flatly.Although the broken engagement was long behind them and Stephen had done more than enough to prove himself, earning back much of their goodwill, Laurence still shook his head."I still don't ag

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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

  • 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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 371

    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,

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 370

    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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 369

    "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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 368

    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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 367

    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

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 366

    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

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