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
"Hello, Miss Rivers. Hello, Mr. Ward." The girl greeted them with a bright smile. "I’m Dawn Jones, a junior at your university. Are you two attending the symposium together?" Stellar was caught off guard. There was something oddly familiar about Dawn’s face, but she couldn’t quite place it. Still, since the girl had greeted them politely, she naturally responded in kind. "Yes, we are. Are you participating as well?" "I wasn’t originally supposed to, but I got in as a volunteer for the event. That’s the only reason I’m here," Dawn said cheerfully before tilting her head. "By the way, are you two wearing matching outfits? You look great together." Her tone was casual, neither too loud nor too soft, but just enough for Percy to overhear from nearby. Stellar blinked, then instinctively glanced down. Only then did she realize that she and Stephen were both wearing deep emerald green. They hadn’t planned it at all, yet somehow, they ended up looking perfectly coordinated
Stellar was utterly speechless. "When exactly did I bully anyone? If your eyes are failing you, go see an ophthalmologist. If your brain isn't working, a psychiatrist might help!" She fired back without hesitation. Dawn suddenly seemed to realize the situation had escalated and hurried to explain. "Mr. Moore, it’s not what you think. I made the mistake. It has nothing to do with Miss Rivers. You’ve misunderstood." But the more she tried to smooth things over, the more Percy felt the need to defend her. "Dawn, you don’t have to cover for her. I saw everything with my own eyes—her throwing her weight around while you kept begging for forgiveness.“A cold-hearted woman like that doesn’t deserve your apology." That was when it clicked for Stellar. These two clearly knew each other from before. Now, she really couldn’t be bothered to argue. Her patience was wearing thin. "Percy, what does any of this have to do with you? In what capacity are you questioning me right now
Under the weight of countless eyes and a wave of applause, Stellar stepped onto the stage, her movements slightly stiff. In the audience, Percy finally snapped out of his daze. Seeing the slight nervousness in Stellar’s posture, a sneer tugged at his lips. "Hah, there’s no way she’ll do well. As if she could possibly measure up to Professor Song." To be honest, despite Stellar being hailed as a genius back in school, Percy had always thought that title was exaggerated. Back then, she was always so meek around him—where was the brilliance everyone spoke of? Two years had passed, and he still didn’t believe she was as capable as people claimed. On stage, Stellar took the microphone from Sean, his kind and encouraging gaze steady on her. Hundreds of scholars and professors watched her expectantly. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest, and her throat felt dry. She could even hear whispers from the crowd. "Why hasn’t she started yet?" "Did she freeze up?" She really wa
Dawn approached again with a bright smile, this time with Percy trailing behind her, his expression unreadable. "I really want to apologize for earlier. Actually, I’ve always admired you, Miss Rivers. Your speech just now was incredible! I’d love to treat you to dinner as an apology. Would you be willing to join me?" Her eyes shimmered with cautious hope. "No need," Stellar replied flatly, unmoved. Dawn’s face faltered, a hint of disappointment flashing across it before she quickly turned to Percy for help. "Mr. Moore, you and Miss Rivers know each other well, don’t you? Could you help me invite her? We could all have dinner together—my treat." Percy hesitated for a brief moment, but quickly masked it with his usual indifferent demeanor. "You heard her, didn’t you, Stellar? Dawn is extending such a sincere invitation. Can’t you drop that high-and-mighty attitude of yours just this once?" Right on cue, Dawn put on a pitiful expression, as if she had been wronged. That
Message after message, all of them were overly affectionate displays of love.From the details in the photos, the chat records, and the familiar username, Stellar quickly figured out the account belonged to Janet.So, the reason Stephen had been in such a bind, spending so long helping her pick a script was it all for Janet?The thought stung more than she expected.But then, she remembered the misunderstanding caused by Janet not long ago.She still felt it wasn't fair to jump to conclusions. Stephen deserved her trust.With that in mind, she opened messenger and made a video call.Stephen picked up the call shortly after."Stellar, what’s wrong?"Stephen seemed to notice her shift in mood right away."I... there’s something I wanted to ask you..." She paused, noticing the scenery shifting behind him. "Hold on, are you in a car? Where are you going?""I'm just checking on something. I’ll be back soon. What did you want to talk about?"After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Have yo
Unfortunately, Janet agreed with her mother."I’ve said it all along—the Rivers family never saw us as their own. At least now you’re finally seeing their true colors. “But Mom, there’s no need to be upset anymore. We don’t need to rely on them."Her tone was firm and resolute."If not the Rivers, then who? You know your father’s limited abilities. With the company in its current state, what else can we do..." Layla muttered, already regretting marrying such a useless man."Mom, you still have me!" Janet’s eyes lit up. "To tell you the truth, I’ve already gotten close to Stephen Ward.""What did you say?" Layla blinked, unsure if she’d heard correctly. "You mean the heir to the Ward family?""That’s right. Things between us aren’t ordinary anymore. I told him I wanted to become a director, and he immediately promised to give me the best resources. “It won’t be long before I win him over completely. Once that happens, he’ll help the Cole family out of this mess and bring us more ben
She had only learned about her family situation from her mother after returning to Southport this time. If they couldn’t find a way to turn things around soon, the Cole family would be finished.Janet had to start planning for herself. But on the other end of the line, it suddenly went silent. Just as Janet grew anxious, Stephen’s deep voice finally came through. But he brought up something else entirely. "Janet, tell me, were you really the girl who saved me back then?" Janet’s heart skipped a beat, and she nearly dropped her phone. Her expression turned flustered, but thankfully, he couldn’t see her face through the screen. "Of course I was! Isn’t the pendant the best proof? Stephen, why would you suddenly ask that? Did someone say something to you?" She tried to sound hurt. "Is that so? But you don’t remember anything about saving me." Stephen’s tone was calm, almost testing her—though it also sounded like an offhand remark. "That’s because of the aftereffects f
When Stellar came downstairs in fresh clothes, Stephen was just finishing up a call in the living room.She walked toward him, planning to share what had just come to mind, but paused when she realized he was on a work call.“A script?” he was saying.“Yes, Mr. Ward,” came the voice of the development director on the other end. “We’ve just reviewed last quarter’s report from the film division—it exceeded projections by a wide margin. “If we continue selecting strong scripts and hiring top-tier actors, this production model could take the company even further.”“So, you want me to choose?” Stephen asked.“Yes, I’ve received several promising scripts and we’re ready to move forward with a major production. “But I’m struggling to narrow down the best one. I’d really appreciate your judgment on this.”“Got it. I’ll come by shortly,” Stephen replied, ending the call.He turned to see Stellar approaching. “Something on your mind?”Then, as if struck by inspiration, his eyes lit up. “Star
Stellar turned around, puzzled, and met a pair of eyes filled with emotion so intense it felt like it might swallow her whole.The weight of it hit her all at once. “What’s wrong?”“Stellar, Promise me... no matter what happens, no matter the situation, don’t ever risk your life like that again. Please,” Stephen said, his voice rough, heavy with something deeper. In that moment, she understood. Her expression softened as she stepped closer, her tone gentle, almost coaxing. “I only had the courage to jump in because I knew you were there. “You’re the reason I felt safe. You’re my biggest sense of security.”The words, light and sincere, hit Stephen right in the chest.It was like a quiet confession that reached the softest part of him.He let out a helpless breath and smiled, brushing the damp strands of hair from her forehead. “Let’s get you changed. You’re completely…”Soaked.He didn’t finish the sentence.His gaze had fallen to her chest, where a familiar emerald pendant hung fro
"Mary, Wayne, we’ve decided that we’d like you to be our mentors and carry on your legacy. “Martial arts may not be our full-time focus, and we won’t be able to devote ourselves to it completely... but if you're willing to accept that, please take this as a symbol of our commitment."Both of them had made the same decision.The older couple exchanged a glance, visibly moved.With successors finally in place, they had a renewed sense of purpose. With time, they were confident the two would come to love martial arts just as deeply as they did.“I couldn’t ask for better students,” Wayne said with a wide grin. “Alright, enough with the bowing.”Mary chuckled. "Honestly, it’s starting to feel like a wedding ceremony."Stellar flushed and quickly stood straight.The four of them chatted warmly, already discussing plans for the trip back. After some thought, Wayne made his decision."This time, I’ll head back to the city with you two for a while. It’s been ages since I visited the Mr. and
Lillie’s manner was polite, her words respectful, with no hint of provocation.Still, Stellar felt a flicker of unease stir in her chest.“The second match—ready, go!”At the sound of the whistle, Lillie made the first move, launching herself forward.Stellar reacted instantly, meeting her head-on. The two quickly locked into a rapid exchange of strikes and counters.To most observers, the fight looked evenly matched. But Stellar picked up on something others might have missed—every one of Lillie’s moves was calculated, ruthless, aimed with precision at the most vulnerable points of her body.A single mistake could lead to serious injury.Thankfully, Stellar’s reflexes were sharp. She dodged every blow by the skin of her teeth, her movements agile and fluid.Dozens of moves passed in quick succession, the two appearing evenly matched.But soon, Lillie began to falter. Her breathing grew labored while Stellar remained steady, her rhythm controlled, her energy barely flagging. The b
Hank wore the smug expression of a man who thought he’d already won. “She agreed to the match. “She can back down now if she wants, but you have to hand over your academy, and maybe I’ll consider letting her walk away.”“Not a chance,” Stellar cut in before Wayne could speak. “I don’t care who I’m up against—bring it on.”“Well said. Gotta admire that spirit.”The match was about to begin.In the first round, Stellar stepped onto the platform opposite Hulk.He cracked his knuckles and looked her over with a leering grin. “Tell you what, sweetheart—bow your head and call me a darling, and maybe I’ll go easy on you.”Stellar gave a low chuckle, eyes glinting with mischief. “Call me ‘Queen,’ and I might let you walk away with a couple teeth still intact.”Hulk’s face twisted in rage, a vein popping along his temple. “You’re dead meat!”The whistle blew.His eyes narrowed, and with a growl, he lunged, throwing a vicious punch straight at her face.It was fast and brutal.If the punch lan
“Miss, are you awake?”Stellar slowly blinked her eyes open, still groggy, only to be met with a close-up view of a man's strikingly handsome face.“Aah…!”She screamed instinctively, jerking upright and startling Stephen awake beside her.From outside the door, Mary’s worried voice called out, “Miss Stellar? What happened? Are you alright?”The doorknob rattled.Mary was seconds from walking in and Stellar panicked.“It’s fine, Mary!” Stellar blurted out in a rush. “I just thought I saw a cockroach—false alarm! Don’t come in, I’m getting dressed!”She got it all out in one breath.Mary paused. “Oh… alright, then.”Only when the doorknob stilled did Stellar finally exhale in relief. She turned and found Stephen watching her with an amused smile.He lay on his side, effortlessly handsome, looking far too comfortable for someone who had just narrowly avoided being caught in such a compromising situation.Stellar’s eye twitched.“I’ll leave you to change then. Breakfast is ready. I’ll g