As Yvonne was led away, Stephen finally turned to Stellar."You okay?"Snapping out of her thoughts, Stellar nodded. Just as she was about to respond, Stephen’s phone rang. Whatever was said on the other end made his expression turn serious.Stellar immediately noticed the shift and spoke up. "I can handle the rest. Go take care of your business."He had already done more than enough by bringing out the evidence. Since something urgent had come up, she wouldn’t hold him back.Stephen seemed like he wanted to say something, but after glancing at his phone, he simply gave her a look. "Call me if anything happens. I’ll have a few people stay behind to help you."With that, he turned and left in a hurry.Stellar pressed her lips together and took in the chaotic scene around her. Just as she was about to walk away, a sharp voice cut through the air."Stellar, are you happy now? Ruining Yvonne’s engagement, sending her to prison—was this your way of getting revenge on us?"Pauline stood
"After all, we’ll still have to see each other in the business world, won’t we?"Besides, in cases involving contracts worth millions, what lawyer would willingly step into such a mess?In the corporate world, alliances shifted constantly—who's to say they wouldn’t be doing business with the Moore family again someday?Any lawyer who took on this case and lost would not only fail but also offend the Moore family. And that wouldn’t end well for them.Hearing this, the business partners looked grim, their anger still palpable.But he wasn’t wrong.Even if they wanted to sue, finding a lawyer willing to take the case would be nearly impossible.Just as they hesitated, Suzy let out a laugh and stepped forward."Why wouldn’t you pursue this?"Amusement flickered in her eyes as she spoke. "The Moore family is just putting on a front. In the eyes of the law, everyone is equal."If you’re worried about finding a good lawyer, I can recommend one. Xavier Reed. If there’s a case no one dares to
A sudden rush of wind came from behind."Watch out!"Suzy noticed the attack, but it was too late to stop it.Just as the wine bottle was about to crash down, a hand shot out, grabbing it midair.Stellar had already sensed the attack. With her current reflexes, dodging would have been easy. What she hadn’t expected was someone stepping in to help.She turned around, eyes widening slightly in surprise to see Jonathan."Jonathan, what the hell are you doing?!"Pauline stared at her brother in shock, unable to believe what she was seeing."Calm down, Pauline," Jonathan said firmly, his gaze heavy as he tried to soothe her. Then, he turned to Stellar, his expression strangely conflicted."Stellar… are you okay?"His voice carried a hint of concern, but she wasn’t fooled.Jonathan had never shown her an ounce of kindness before. Every time they crossed paths, his attitude had been cold and dismissive.And now he was suddenly worried about her?Sure enough, before she could respond, he
"Uncle Claude!" Stellar Rivers' eyes lit up with surprise and delight as she turned to the newcomer.Claude reached out and gently ruffled her hair. "My good niece."Jonathan's brows furrowed slightly at the word "uncle."There was something familiar about this man, but he couldn’t quite place it.The rest of the guests had the same nagging feeling, as if they’d seen him somewhere before.But Percy was completely stunned.Uncle?How the hell did she have an uncle this young?It took him only a couple of seconds to process before he scoffed in disdain."You’re just here to put on a show for her, aren’t you? A girl from the countryside having a wealthy uncle like you? Please."He scoffed. "I remember you handing Riverside Corporation over to her. Who are you trying to fool? She clearly latched onto you as her sugar daddy."But before he could gloat any further, Claude let out a sharp, cold chuckle.His voice was steady, deliberate, every word carrying weight."You’d better listen carefu
Suzy caught up with Stellar, glancing at the tall man beside her before lowering her voice. "So… this Mr. Rivers is really your uncle?"He was undeniably handsome, young even, but his aura was commanding, exuding an authority that couldn’t be ignored.One look, and it was obvious that this was a man of power.And he definitely wasn’t the type who’d dare pretend to be the head of the Rivers family."As real as it gets," Stellar said, a hint of pride in her voice. Then, as if remembering something, she turned to Suzy apologetically. "I wasn’t trying to keep it from you, I just hadn’t officially returned to the Rivers family yet. I planned to tell you once I did."Suzy waved off her concern without a second thought. With a sudden clap of her hands, she grinned."Are you kidding? With a family like this, you should’ve brought them out sooner! Watching those idiots eat their words would’ve been so satisfying."Stellar was speechless.Before she could say anything, Claude nodded in agreem
Stellar felt her face heat up. "Mary, that’s enough.""But I’m only telling the truth!" Mary said matter-of-factly, as if her words were indisputable.Claude was caught between pride and heartache.Other daughters of wealthy families were pampered from birth, untouched by hardship. Yet his Stellar not only crafted handmade gifts but also practiced martial arts.The thought of what she must have endured after being kidnapped weighed heavily on him.A flicker of darkness passed through his eyes.Sensing that Mary’s praises might never end, Stellar quickly changed the subject."Mary, I’m a little hungry."Mary’s attention immediately snapped back. "Oh! I’ll whip something up right away!"As soon as she bustled off to the kitchen, Stellar let out a quiet breath of relief.Claude chuckled. "What’s wrong? She wasn’t wrong about you.""She just sees me through rose-colored glasses. I’m worried you’ll believe everything she says, and when you realize I’m not that amazing, you’ll be disappoint
"This is the collaboration project between Riverside Corporation and Brighton Group. I’ve successfully secured the deal. “You can take a closer look at the investment returns. As for the follow-up work, I’ll leave it to you! I need to focus on my research for now.""Good job, Stellar. You’re truly capable."Claude grew increasingly convinced that his niece was an all-around genius.Honestly, no man in this world was worthy of her!With the task off her hands, Stellar felt relieved and went back to her room to continue studying.…The next day.At the Harlow and Moore families' engagement banquet, the scene of Yvonne being taken away by the police had already caused an uproar across the city.After all, so many reporters had been present.The Harlow family tried to suppress the news, but there was no way to stop it from spreading.As soon as they returned, numerous media outlets published articles, reporting on how Yvonne orchestrated Stellar’s kidnapping.Word spread like wildfire.Th
"Why should I help her? After everything she did to Stellar, she still thinks she can walk free? What a joke! “Since you’re here, I might as well make it clear—our families never finished the engagement ceremony that day, so consider it officially over.“I, Percy Moore, will never marry a vicious woman like her!""You…"Pauline stared at him in disbelief. "How… how can you say that about Yvonne? She was framed! Even you have been brainwashed by that ungrateful girl, haven’t you?""Enough!"Percy snapped, his patience gone."What right do you have to talk about Stellar? Do you even know who she is now? Your family must be blind to have mistaken Yvonne for something valuable while letting her run wild.“A woman like her—classless, reckless—who knows what kind of foolish things she’s done? She has no one to blame but herself for how things turned out.""Shut up! You’re not allowed to talk about Yvonne like that!" Pauline was livid."Oh, am I wrong? If your family hadn’t kicked Stellar o
If her grandfather or uncles caught them, she didn’t even dare to imagine how chaotic that scene would be.Stephen’s smile deepened. “What, isn’t the doorstep romantic enough?”Stellar said nothing.“You wish!”Throwing the words over her shoulder, she spun around and dashed back into the house.Stephen stood there, watching her retreating figure, a bright mood blooming in his chest.Clearly, he meant something different to her.At the very least, he was sure that Stellar would never kiss anyone else as a token of gratitude.This was something only they shared. A kind of secret intimacy.And with that thought, his desire to make their relationship public and mark his territory burned even stronger.He needed to act fast—cut off any competition before they even had a chance.…Meanwhile, after being turned down by Stellar and mocked by Keith, Percy’s mood was heavy.Back at the office, he was stopped by his boss, Jackson Far.“Percy, what’s with the long face? Come on, let’s grab a drin
Keith seemed to catch on to her thoughts—just for a moment, a flicker of something unspoken passed through his expression, a hint of melancholy."Of course, I believe in you," he said with a playful edge. "Guess that just makes me your silent supporter from the sidelines, Miss Rivers."The tension in the car eased, replaced by a lighter, more comfortable air.Before long, they pulled up to the villa.As Stellar stepped out, she turned back to him. "Are you sure you don’t want to come in for dinner? It’s the least I can do to repay you for today."Keith didn’t want to pass up the chance. But he had an important meeting scheduled in just half an hour. Missing it would be unprofessional and disrespectful to the client.With clear reluctance, he declined. "Next time. I’ll come by properly, with a gift in hand to visit your grandparents."Stellar waved him off with a smile, then turned around, only to jump slightly at the sight of a tall, shadowy figure lingering a short distance away.I
But just as Percy darted after her, a server stepped in his path. "Sir, you haven’t paid yet."He let out an irritated sigh, pulled out his card to tap at the register, then hurried out the door.He managed to catch up to her after a short sprint, blocking her path. "Stellar, wait… just hear me out…"Her brows furrowed deeply. She didn’t want to cause a scene in public, so she held back."Move.""Stellar, I mean it this time," Percy pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice. "Why won’t you give me another chance?"As he reached out to take her hand, she smacked it away without hesitation."A second chance? Are you seriously joking right now?" a cool, mocking voice cut in from the side.Percy turned his head sharply, only to see Keith standing at Stellar’s side, arms crossed, his eyes glinting with disdain."Percy, do you even own a mirror? What makes you think you’re qualified to chase after her? You’re a joke.""Keith Sinclair," Percy ground out through gritted teeth, the old
“No rush. I’m free all afternoon. Take your time and enjoy the dessert first,” Percy said gently, his smile relaxed."Stellar, aren’t you curious how I managed to climb back to the top? I’m not any less capable than I was before. If anything, it just proves you had great taste back then.”His self-congratulatory tone nearly made her gag."Mr. Moore, very impressive," she replied blandly, clearly not buying into the ego trip.But Percy took it as genuine praise, beaming. "But really, Stellar, it’s because of you that I pulled myself together. You’ve always been my driving force. I mean that I’m truly grateful."Stellar couldn’t care less about his sentimental nonsense. She finished her dessert in a few quick bites."Mr. Moore, I believe this is supposed to be a business meeting. If you’re not interested in the partnership and are just trying to stall, please say so—I won’t waste your time any further."Her tone left no room for pretense.Percy, sensing her patience wearing thin, finall
The secretary’s face turned ghostly pale as she pleaded, "Mr. Moore, I-I really didn’t mean to! Please, just give me another chance.”"Even if it wasn’t intentional, it only proves you’re incompetent. You can’t even manage a cup of coffee properly. “If you don’t leave now, I’ll have security throw you out," Percy said coldly, showing not the slightest hint of sympathy.With her eyes brimming red, the woman turned and ran out.Stellar had silently witnessed the entire exchange from outside the door.Once the secretary was gone, she waited a moment before stepping up and knocking."I told you to get out. Are you deaf?" Percy barked, assuming it was the secretary again.But when he looked up and saw who it was, his expression froze.A second later, he shot up from his seat, surprise and delight written all over his face. "Stellar? What are you doing here?"Then, realizing how it might’ve looked, he quickly added, "Don’t get the wrong idea. I wasn’t yelling at you just now. Come in."Stel
"Then I’ll leave it to you," Laurence said with a chuckle, clearly pleased.The more suitors his granddaughter attracted, the better her chances of finding the right one.Stellar, on the other hand, looked slightly exasperated, but it didn’t seem appropriate to refuse.On the way back, Keith kept bringing up amusing topics, clearly trying to win over Laurence, who laughed heartily throughout the ride. The heaviness from earlier had completely lifted.Stellar appreciated the effort. Maybe Keith had sensed something off about her grandfather’s mood and had taken it upon himself to help.The car pulled up in front of the villa.Just as they got out, Stephen stepped outside and caught sight of the three of them chatting and laughing.His expression tightened.Keith, as if sensing his gaze, shot him a look filled with smug confidence, as if to say, “Game on,” before waving and driving off.Laurence headed inside, but Stellar lingered.She walked straight toward Stephen, a teasing glint in
"Stellar, I really need to thank you." Autumn’s tone was sincere. "There’s no need for that, Autumn. I just did what anyone should’ve done." Stellar couldn’t explain it, but something about Autumn made her feel warm, almost protective. "Stellar…" Just then, Laurence approached from the side. Autumn turned instinctively at the sound of his voice. The moment their eyes met, both froze. That strange sense of familiarity surged again in Laurence’s chest. The closer he got, the stronger it felt. Stellar quickly stepped forward and took his arm. "Grandpa, let me introduce you."This is Ms. Autumn Lane, Keith’s aunt—the one I told you about. She’s always been kind to me. She even gave me an emerald pendant as a welcome gift when we first met!"Autumn, this is my grandfather." Autumn was the first to snap out of it, pushing aside the strange feeling in her chest. "Mr. Rivers, it’s an honor. I’ve heard so much about you. I really appreciate you taking the time to help ide
The manager turned to her in shock, clearly about to say something, but Keith stopped him with a single look."You’ve got some sense, I’ll give you that. At least you know I’m not someone you can afford to offend." The wealthy woman sneered smugly, then barked at the manager, "Well? Hurry up and get these things packed for me!"The manager looked troubled, but before he could respond, Stellar spoke up with a cheerful smile. "Ma’am, you can take them, sure, but we’ll need your signature and fingerprints first. These three antiques are each worth over two million. “If it turns out someone took them without the owner’s permission, it’ll go straight to court. And that’s a serious offense—major fraud with a possibly of a life sentence."Her tone was breezy, but the words sent a chill down the woman’s spine. "Wh-What are you trying to say? Are you threatening me?""Oh no, not threatening. Just stating the facts. If you’ve got the owner's permission, there’s nothing to worry about, right?"
"This is…" Laurence’s eyes lit up instantly. He leaned in, examining the piece carefully for a long moment before exclaiming, "This piece is from the early 1700s—right around the time of the Baroque period. I remember coming across it in historical archives..."Once the topic turned to his area of expertise, Laurence became animated, his voice filled with energy as he explained.A small crowd began to gather, drawn by his enthusiasm and deep knowledge.Stellar, who actually recognized many of the antiques herself, chose to play along, feigning curiosity. When Laurence finished, she pointed to another item. "What about this one, Grandpa?"He turned and his eyes lit up even more. "That’s an artifact from the early medieval period, likely from the 8th or 9th century. It’s absolutely priceless."He launched into another detailed explanation.Stellar kept the conversation going, asking thoughtful questions one after another, giving Laurence the chance to fully shine. Applause broke