Percy finally learned that her name was Dawn Jones. It was a nice name, but her family was incredibly poor. She had picked up the ring to sell it for money to cover living expenses. That was something different from all the women he met before. Percy could see traces of Stellar’s past self in her. But unlike Stellar, who was resilient and unwavering, always giving selflessly to him without greed and never complaining about hard work, the other women who approached him were like Yvonne—vain and materialistic, always asking for designer bags or jewelry. However, Dawn was different. She openly admitted her poverty without shame. After all, she had no control over the circumstances of her birth. Her straightforward and genuine nature made Percy see her in a different light. When the car arrived outside the club, Percy and Dawn walked in together. "Mr. Moore, since you're here for drinks, remember to request me later. That way, your order will be counted under my service,
“What is it?” Stephen turned to look at her, but before she could answer, he added, “I have work to do. If it’s not important, let’s talk later.” He cut her off again.She swallowed back her frustration. “It’s nothing.” For the rest of the day, they crossed paths in the lab multiple times, but there was no real chance to talk. A vague restlessness lingered in Stellar’s mind. By the time classes ended, Stephen had already left early. Lilian and the others invited her to dinner, but she turned them down. Her mood was complicated as she returned to the villa only to run into Stephen again. This time, she didn’t hesitate. Stepping forward, she handed him a neatly wrapped gift box. “Senior, thanks for taking me home last night. I know you said I don’t have to keep thanking you, but you’ve helped me so many times. “This is just a small gift I made to show my appreciation. I won’t bother you anymore unless it’s something important.” Stellar had never been the kind of per
“It was a gift from a relative,” Stephen answered casually. Stellar thought it was quite the coincidence that both their families had ended up hiring the same design firm. Following him into the kitchen, she opened the fridge only to find it practically empty. It was obvious he rarely, if ever, cooked.Stephen looked a little awkward, as if considering calling the whole thing off. But Stellar didn’t see it as a problem. “No worries, I’ll grab some ingredients from home. Just wait here.” Before he could object, she was already heading out. When she told Mary she was cooking for Stephen, the older woman gave her a knowing look that made her feel inexplicably self-conscious. Afraid she might say something embarrassing, Stellar grabbed the ingredients and hurried back. Even though Stephen didn’t know how to cook, he didn’t just stand around. While she busied herself in the kitchen, he helped however he could—washing vegetables and chopping ingredients. His fingers, da
It was the sound of a racing heartbeat, loud and urgent, as if demanding to be heard. Stellar’s cheeks burned as she quickly pulled away from his arms. “S-Sorry…” Stephen’s hand was still resting on her waist. Only when she had steadied herself did he slowly let go. “It’s fine. Let’s go.” His expression remained unreadable, as if the moment hadn’t affected him in the slightest. Stellar didn’t dare look at him. Flustered, she hurried ahead and completely missed the way the tips of his ears had turned red, the contrast against his black stud earring making it all the more obvious. By the time she reached her house, she barely managed a quick goodbye before darting inside. Mary was already waiting by the door with an umbrella, ready to go out and fetch her. Seeing Stellar rush in, she quickly stepped forward. "Miss, did you get caught in the rain? Here, dry off properly."She handed her a clean towel, then suddenly frowned in concern. “Wait a minute, why is your face
Percy was just about to say something to salvage the situation when Dawn spoke first, her tone casual. “Last night was just a drunken mistake. We’re both adults. I’m not that old-fashioned. Don’t worry, I won’t cling to you.” Percy, who had been trying to figure out how to distance himself, was momentarily stunned. As Dawn sat up, his gaze landed on the crimson stain on the sheets. So last night… was her first time? Sensing his discomfort, Dawn spoke again, reassuringly. “Seriously, don’t overthink it. If anything, I should be thanking you for letting me crash here. “Otherwise, with the dorms locked, and me too stingy to book a hotel, I’d have ended up spending the night at a fast-food place.” She was completely unfazed, showing no trace of embarrassment. Something about her straightforwardness stirred something in Percy. Even if she insisted it didn’t matter, the fact remained—he had taken something from her. With that thought, he grabbed his wallet from the night
How could someone be this shameless? Had she forgotten everything that happened? Stellar stepped back, avoiding her outstretched hand, her expression indifferent. "Mrs. Moore, I don’t believe I have anything to do with your family anymore. What do you want?" Margaret’s smile stiffened for a brief moment. She already heard that Percy had failed to win Stellar back, which frustrated her to no end. She cursed the girl countless times in private for being ungrateful. But given Stellar’s current status, she had no choice but to lower herself and personally come to appease her. "Oh, sweetheart, don’t say such hurtful things to me! I know how deep your bond with Percy was. “We were all deceived by that wretched Yvonne—she was the one who slandered you, poisoning our minds. We were foolish to believe her lies and treat you the way we did... “But now, the truth is out. Everyone knows she was the real culprit, and you were just an innocent victim. “We regret it deeply—especiall
"Oh, by the way, how’s the handover with Brighton Group going?""It’s going well. Their boss is easy to work with," Stellar answered honestly."Their boss?"Claude raised an eyebrow in surprise."I remember hearing that their CEO is quite the enigma. He rarely makes public appearances—it’s always his acting director, Shane Howe, handling things. “You actually met him? Rumor has it he’s sharp-eyed, incredibly selective, and hard to please. And you think he’s easy to work with?"Stellar blinked.Was Stephen just going easy on her because she was his junior?She wasn’t sure how to explain it to her uncle before he nodded to himself and carried on."Well, makes sense. Our Stellar is so capable and outstanding—who wouldn’t treat you with kindness?"As far as he was concerned, the whole world should acknowledge his niece’s brilliance.Even Stellar felt embarrassed hearing him boast so openly."Alright, Uncle Claude, stop hyping me up like a market vendor. I’m heading upstairs. We’ll talk la
Mary was momentarily stunned by the barrage of questions before finally processing them. "Oh, you must be talking about Mr. Ward from next door. He’s Miss Stellar’s senior at school. “She mentioned they’re attending an academic symposium together this afternoon at two." Hearing that it wasn’t a date, and that the guy was just a fellow student, Claude felt slightly more at ease. But then he caught onto something. "His last name is Ward…?" He clicked his tongue in distaste. What bad luck. Of all people, the guy had to share a last name with that insufferable Ward family. That same family had recently called off an engagement with them. Hah. It was their loss. Stellar was exceptional—one day, they’d regret it. Just as he was about to complain further, his phone rang with a call from a business associate. Letting the matter go, he grabbed a quick bite before heading out. …Meanwhile. Stellar and Stephen arrived at the symposium precisely at two o’clock. The venu
"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
When they stepped out of the car, Keith was already waiting outside.Guests coming and going couldn't help but glance his way—tall, poised, and impeccably dressed, he was instantly recognizable. Several people greeted him with polite smiles and nods.Keith returned the gestures with a cool, distant air, his smile polite but faint.But the moment he spotted Stellar and Laurence, a flicker of warmth lit up his eyes. Cutting through the crowd, he greeted them with uncharacteristic enthusiasm."Mr. Rivers, Stellar, you're here! Come on, I’ll take you inside."Guests nearby were visibly surprised by his sudden shift in demeanor, their curious gazes drifting to Stellar and her grandfather.Their composure and presence were impossible to miss.A few who had previously met Laurence found themselves stunned.Could the Rivers and Sinclair families be tying the knot soon?Unaware of the speculation swirling around them, Stellar followed Keith inside with her grandfather.The moment she stepped
Though a little disappointed, Keith didn’t push further. "Then let me give you a ride home.""No need, Mr. Sinclair. With me here, I’ll make sure Stellar gets home safely,” Stephen finally spoke, his voice cool and composed. "Yeah, we’re heading in the same direction anyway. No need to trouble you," Stellar added with a polite smile.Keith clenched his fists slightly, frustration flashing through him.Damn Stephen. The only reason he got this far was because he made the first move.Keith had even considered moving closer to Stellar’s neighborhood. But he’d held back, worried it might come off as too deliberate and push her further away instead. It was not worth the risk.In the end, he gave a casual wave and turned to walk away, doing his best to play it cool.It was fine. They’d be seeing each other again soon anyway.…After Keith left, Stellar and Stephen got into the car. On the ride back, Stephen finally broke the silence."You’re being too nice to him."Stellar blinked a
Now that the truth was out, netizens finally saw the full picture and reacted with outrage and clarity:"No wonder I thought the book was just average, but everyone online was hyping it like crazy. Turns out, it was all bots!""I left one comment about the poor plot logic and got attacked by a swarm of fake accounts. I thought I poked a hornet’s nest—turns out they were just panicking.""Compared to that, After Dawn is gripping, suspenseful, and logically tight. Star Luna really is in a league of her own and always has been.""I went to her signing today—she’s even more stunning in person! Smart, talented, and graceful… no wonder people are jealous."The entire incident ended up boosting Stellar’s reputation. Support flooded in, and even readers who hadn’t been interested in this genre started checking out her novel, only to find themselves completely hooked.In no time, After Dawn soared to the top of the site’s trending chart.As for Tori, the one who orchestrated the sabotage from
Even though acknowledging it meant giving credit to a rival, Keith had no intention of claiming what wasn’t his.Besides, if he kept it quiet and Stephen ended up telling Stellar the full story later—with a few embellishments to make himself look better—it’d all backfire anyway.Stellar froze for a second, then looked at Stephen in surprise.So, was it because she’d casually mentioned the issue before that Stephen took it to heart and made preparations ahead of time?The moment their eyes met—his gaze warm and steady—something soft bloomed in her chest."Thank you. Both of you."She truly meant it.Her connection with Stephen didn’t need words to be understood.As for Keith, she genuinely considered him a good friend now.Just as they stepped out of the hall, a wave of reporters from the neighboring signing event rushed toward them."Miss Rivers, it's been said that your friend paid to hire a crowd of fake fans to boost your signing event. Care to explain?""A group that large showing
Seeing how calm and composed Stellar was, Larry finally let out a breath of relief.At exactly two o’clock, the signing event officially began.A pair of hands slid a book across the table toward her, followed by a familiar deep voice above her head."Star Luna, would you sign your name for me? I’ll treasure it for the rest of my life."Stellar looked up and was met with Stephen’s handsome face. She couldn’t help the smile that bloomed on her lips.After signing her name on the first page, she added a note: To: my dear Stephen, followed by a little heart.When Stephen took the book back and saw what she wrote, a soft, lingering smile rose in his eyes.The chemistry between them was so sweet it practically clung to the air—enough to make anyone nearby cringe from the sugar overload.Readers began to trickle in. At first, there were only a dozen or so. After getting their books signed, they quietly left, making the event feel rather sparse.The reporters kept snapping photos, clearly
"It’s not even close. I checked that book out myself. It’s nowhere near as good as yours," Larry said firmly. "And it didn’t even have that title originally. It’s clearly trying to ride your wave. All the trending buzz? “That’s paid promotion, no doubt about it. There’s serious backing behind it."Stellar couldn’t help but laugh, though she wasn’t really upset about being overshadowed."Alright, alright. Don’t get worked up. Let’s just let things play out," she said, trying to calm him before ending the call.That evening, while out to dinner with Stephen, she brought it up in a teasing tone.Stephen listened quietly, thoughtful for a moment, as if something had just clicked in his mind.Soon, the day of the signing arrived.With Stephen by her side, Stellar arrived at the hall right on time.A group of reporters had already gathered. The moment they spotted her, they swarmed in.Thankfully, Stephen stepped in front of her, shielding her from the worst of it. With him there, no one