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
Stealing confidential information was a cardinal sin in their industry. If the accusation stuck, Stellar would face legal consequences, potentially even prison time. Brighton Group would also risk being implicated. At the banquet that night, Shane hadn’t believed Percy’s claims. But now, with Percy barging into Brighton Group with apparent preparation, Shane couldn’t dismiss the possibility entirely. Turning his attention to the proposal, Shane flipped through the pages. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes before he looked at Stellar. “What does Miss Rivers want to do?” Before Stellar could respond, Percy cut in, his voice laced with smugness and indifference, as though he was savoring the moment she would plead for forgiveness. “Do you even have a choice? I’ve given you countless chances, but you insisted over and over that you weren’t representing Moore Enterprises. Stellar, without Moore Enterprises backing you, do you really think you’re qualified to negotiate with Brighto
Stellar’s eyes flickered subtly.She had expected this outcome.But with business opportunities knocking on her door, there was no reason to turn them away. She offered a graceful smile.“No problem, but I have some matters to handle right now. Let’s discuss this later.”Nicholas didn’t press further, nodding with satisfaction before cheerfully walking away. As he left, he threw a parting remark at Percy.“Mr. Moore, since the contract has expired, we’ll have to see if there’s another chance to collaborate in the future.”The implication was clear: there would be no renewal.Percy was so furious he could barely contain himself.He hadn’t anticipated that Stellar truly had the capability to pull this off—humiliating him at Brighton Group and even stealing away one of Moore Enterprises’ key partners.Staying any longer would only worsen the embarrassment, so he reluctantly signaled to his team.“We’re leaving.”But before he could take another step, Shane chuckled lightly.“Mr. Moore, do
William Moore’s scolding hit Percy like a bucket of cold water, sobering him up almost instantly.“You know how much the Harlow family treasures Yvonne. They wouldn’t even dream of scolding her. And you had the nerve to tell her to leave? Tomorrow, you’re taking a gift to apologize and make things right. “The business scene in Riverdale is volatile right now, and there are competitors trying to seize market share. The Moore family needs the Harlow family’s support. Do you understand me?”Percy didn’t particularly care about the idea of a business alliance through marriage, but with the collaboration with Brighton Group now out of reach, cutting ties with the Harlow family wasn’t an option either.“Fine,” he muttered after a long silence, hanging up the phone and sinking back into the sofa, his expression blank as he sat there in silence.Xavier cast him a glance, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smirk.“I’ve got other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. As for help
Five minutes later, Stellar arrived at the Howe Grand Hotel, where Suzy was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing her approach, Suzy grinned and hooked her arm through Stellar’s. “You’re finally here! You have to help me win that consecrated rosary bracelet today. It belonged to my all-time favorite triple-award-winning actress. “They say she was completely unknown before, but after wearing that bracelet, her career skyrocketed—she kept landing roles and winning awards non-stop. “I want to be just as successful as she was.” Stellar couldn't help but laugh. “I didn’t know you were this superstitious.” “You don’t get it. This isn’t superstition—it’s just how the entertainment industry works. “Some people struggle for over a decade without making a name for themselves, while others become overnight sensations after just one drama. “I’ve seen it happen so many times. Sometimes, you really have to believe in luck.” Suzy spoke with conviction, and Stellar had to admit there w
Ten minutes later, Stellar changed into her workout attire and stepped out. She had deliberately chosen a long-sleeved top today, covering her from neck to waist without revealing anything. Yet, it only accentuated her slender figure and graceful curves. Her hair was pulled into a simple ponytail with a headband, making her look light and energetic like a fresh-faced college freshman. Even Stephen couldn't take his eyes off her. Let alone the other men around, some of whom were already itching to approach her. That was until Stephen took two steps forward, casually positioning himself in front of her. His icy gaze swept over the crowd, sharp and piercing like an ice dagger. The chilling pressure surrounding him made people instinctively shrink back. Even so, a brave girl couldn't help but step forward. Gathering her courage, she asked, "Uh, hey, handsome, can we exchange numbers?" Stephen turned his gaze toward Stellar instead, his expression softening. Without hesit
Stellar tapped on her phone screen, typing and deleting, over and over. She had been staring at the chat window for ages, struggling to figure out how to start the conversation.Before she could make up her mind, a message popped up from Stephen.“What’s wrong?”She froze.A second message followed immediately.“You’ve been typing for a while. Were you trying to say something?”Her face heated up in embarrassment.She was caught red-handed.Well, since she’d already been exposed, she decided to get straight to the point.“Sorry, Senior. Please don’t take what Mary said to heart. She didn’t mean any harm.”After sending the message, she bit her lip, feeling a bit nervous. What if he was actually offended?But within seconds, his reply came through.“I know. Since she suggested I should train more, how about you join me at the gym and give me a few pointers?”She blinked in surprise.“How did you know I work out?”“I saw you practicing with Mrs. Warren on the terrace before.”Stellar w
Stellar gave a brief rundown of the events, making sure to emphasize how Stephen had inspired her during the competition. His guidance helped her stay calm under pressure and successfully reconstruct the model on-site. Mary’s emotions shifted as she listened, her expression softening ever so slightly. While she still had her reservations about Stephen, she couldn't deny that Stellar was the most impressive one of all.After all, it was her own talent that had secured the victory. "But it wasn’t just that," Stellar continued. "Earlier at school, when our project hit a dead end, it was Senior who let us use his lab and helped us through it. “Then, he took me to an exclusive symposium, giving me the opportunity to showcase my work. “And when my ex wouldn’t stop harassing me, it was Senior who stepped in and got rid of him…" There was more. When the media tried to smear her, he was the first to stand up for her. At Percy and Yvonne’s engagement party, it was Stephen who pres
She also knew that it was Stephen himself who had proposed breaking off the engagement. Before leaving, Claude repeatedly warned her to keep an eye on him—under no circumstances was she to let him set foot inside, much less treat him with any kindness. At the thought of this, Mary rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. "Oh my, Miss, you brought a guest? A little heads-up would’ve been nice—I didn’t even have time to prepare properly. “After all, our humble home hardly seems worthy of hosting someone as esteemed as Mr. Ward." Stephen’s lips twitched. He was sharp enough to catch the clear disdain laced in her words. Stellar felt a little awkward and was just about to smooth things over when Stephen stepped forward on his own. With an easy composure, he handed her a finely wrapped gift box. "Mrs. Warren, no need to treat me like a guest. I’m just a friend of Stellar’s. Since this is my first visit, I wanted to bring a small token for you and her. I hope you’ll accept it."
As they left the café, Lilian was still fuming on Stellar’s behalf. "What is wrong with the Moore family? The son’s a cheating scumbag, knocking someone up before even getting married. “And his awful mother—how dare she said you’re infertile and unmarriageable? Please! Anyone who marries into that family is the real unlucky one!" She ranted with such righteous indignation that her cheeks flushed red, making her look both feisty and adorable. Stellar’s heart warmed at her friend’s unwavering support. Feeling amused, she reassured her, "Alright, it’s over now. The Moore family has nothing to do with me anymore." Hearing that, Lilian breathed a sigh of relief for her. "Good riddance. A wonderful woman like you should never step into an ill-fated home. Your future is only going to get better from here." Stellar smiled and nodded. She couldn’t agree more. Thank God she had escaped that nightmare. Never again would she allow herself to be trapped in a relationship like th
Had she heard their entire conversation just now? Margaret’s expression darkened. "Well, well. The esteemed Miss Rivers, eavesdropping on someone else’s private matters. Don’t you find that disgraceful?" "If you wanted privacy, you should’ve had this conversation at home. This is a café—anyone can walk in. “You were speaking so loudly, I thought you were hoping people would overhear." Stellar retorted without hesitation, not bothering to be polite. Margaret choked on her anger. "Since you heard everything, then that saves me the trouble," she sneered before yanking Dawn Jones closer, her voice dripping with condescension. "This woman has barely been with Percy for long, yet she’s already carrying his child. “And you? You’ve been with him for years and haven’t even gotten pregnant. I’d say you’re infertile at such a young age. “You might as well start looking for a divorced man with kids, since that’s all you’ll be able to marry in the future!" Stellar’s eyelid twitched
Lilian dragged Stellar through the crowd, her excitement evident. She had complete confidence in their victory.After all, their performance was leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.But for some reason, Stellar couldn’t shake the feeling that things weren’t so simple.Alex and his team had seemed overly confident. And considering that Harold’s team had consistently secured top rankings in past competitions, could there really be nothing shady going on behind the scenes?She knew Harold well enough to know he didn’t deserve his reputation.Still, since they were here to relax, she pushed those thoughts aside for now. The group had a great time exploring the university before finally heading back to their lodgings.The next day, they were set to return to their school. Stellar specifically asked Stephen if he would be going back with them, but to her surprise, he said he was staying behind for a few more days. She had no idea what he was up to.So, she returned to campus with
As they walked backstage, Lilian looked at Stellar with admiration written all over her face. "Stellar, you are my angel! If it weren’t for you turning the tide, we would have completely embarrassed our professor." However, Stellar didn’t take all the credit. "This was a team effort. Without your support, I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off alone." "This whole situation is definitely not a coincidence." Simon had a sharp eye for details. "Our model was sabotaged—someone deliberately tampered with it. And I already have a suspect in mind." Stellar was well aware that there was an eighty percent chance that Alex’s team was behind it. But for the sake of their school’s reputation, they couldn’t expose them here. She would settle this matter when they got back. Before they could confront anyone, however, Alex and his team stormed over, brimming with hostility. "Stellar Rivers! You planned this, didn’t you? You deliberately held back just to shock the audience and g