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Chapter 144
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 145
Stellar sat in the backseat with Mary beside her. Sensing her unease, Mary gently reassured her. "Miss, there's no need to be nervous. Mr. and Mrs. Rivers Sr. are both kind people—they're going to love you."Stellar was, in fact, anxious. After experiencing the coldness of the Harlow family, she wasn’t eager to relive that kind of disappointment. From the front passenger seat, Claude turned slightly to offer his own reassurance. "Relax, Stellar. Everyone at home has been looking forward to meeting you. They won’t let you down." The driver smoothly turned the car around, pulling out of the estate. Just as they exited the driveway, Stephen happened to step out of the neighboring villa. His gaze landed on the car, and for a brief moment, he caught sight of the man sitting in the passenger seat. Something about that silhouette felt oddly familiar. He took a few steps forward, intending to get a clearer look, but before he could, the car had already driven past him. …
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Stellar stood frozen in place. It had been a long time since she had felt such a warm embrace, and she wasn’t quite used to it. She hesitantly raised her arms and gently hugged Martha back. Even Laurence, a man who spent years on the battlefield, found his eyes misting over. He stepped forward and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Stellar, welcome home. No one will ever bully you again. This family is your safe harbor." "Grandpa…" A lump formed in Stellar’s throat, and the grievances she had carried for so many years seemed to vanish in an instant, leaving only warmth in her heart. They held onto each other for a while until a male voice behind them finally broke the moment, unable to hold back any longer. "Mom, Dad, alright, alright. The rest of us haven’t even had a chance to say hello to Stellar yet!" Martha finally let go of her and turned to glare at the speaker. "Brat, you always have so much to say.”Stellar wiped her reddened eyes and finally noticed the two
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"Our Stellar is incredibly talented and thoughtful—the most caring little sweetheart," Martha said, her eyes welling up with emotion again. Seeing this, Stellar quickly walked over to her grandmother and picked up the hair clip. "Grandma, let me put this on for you. Let’s see how it looks." "Alright, alright," Martha eagerly agreed. Stellar carefully gathered her grandmother’s hair into a neat bun, securing it with the elegant clip. After examining her handiwork, she nodded in satisfaction and said with a straight face, "Now, when you step outside, you’ll be the most dazzling lady in all of Southport." Martha couldn’t hold back her laughter, thoroughly amused. Laurence watched their interaction, a sense of nostalgia washing over him. For a fleeting moment, it felt like stepping back in time—his daughter had always been a cheerful little girl, making Martha laugh with ease. Now, Stellar’s face overlapped with the memory of his daughter. She was such a wonderful child,
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"You have no idea how much effort the Rivers family has put into finding you over the years. “Grandpa and Grandma have been heartbroken from missing you, and not long ago, Grandpa even fell ill. “Thankfully, you finally decided to show up, or who knows what would have happened!"It was meant to be a kind sentiment, but to Stellar, something about it felt off."Stellar didn’t go missing by choice. No one in the family blames her, and my illness has nothing to do with her. Janet, don’t put so much pressure on her."Laurence was sharp as always, cutting straight to the issue in her words.Janet's face turned pale, and she immediately looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, Grandpa. I got too emotional and misspoke."Laurence nodded, choosing not to dwell on it with a younger generation.The family quickly shifted their attention back to Stellar."Stellar, this is a gift from me."Julian handed her a card. "This is an all-access pass to my resorts, hotels, and restaurants. “Whenever you're trave
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To everyone’s surprise, Stellar simply smiled at Janet’s words."If I’m not mistaken, this should be the work of the renowned painter and calligrapher, Mr. Malachi Law, from a thousand years ago. “At the time, his country had just endured devastation and was in the process of rebuilding. “This painting reflects his emotions during that period. As for the poem, it conveys the importance of cherishing a prosperous homeland…"Janet listened in stunned silence as Stellar spoke with eloquence, citing historical references with ease. Every word felt like a slap to her face.When Stellar finished, she turned to Janet. "Miss Cole, do you think I’m correct? Or would you like to add something?"If she had thought it was just her imagination before, now she was certain—the girl standing before her harbored clear hostility.But why? They had never met before. Where did this animosity come from?"I…" Janet had only thought of using an expensive gift to win Laurence’s favor. She knew jewelry, l
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Her face turned pale. "What happened?" Claude and the others had clearly noticed the commotion. Before Stellar could say a word, Janet forced a smile and spoke first. "It’s nothing. The bracelet accidentally broke. It wasn’t Stellar’s fault, of course. I’ll be sure to get her an even better one next time." The way she said it made it sound as if Stellar had broken the bracelet, yet she was graciously letting it slide. Stellar’s lips twitched. "I didn’t drop it." Janet immediately adjusted her tone, lowering her stance. "It was my own carelessness. It really had nothing to do with Stellar." Stellar was speechless.She almost laughed at the ridiculousness of it. Before she could respond, Claude spoke from the couch. "It’s just a bracelet. Four hundred thousand dollars is hardly worthy of our princess, Stellar. No need to bring out something so insignificant next time." Janet’s carefully crafted look of grievance nearly cracked. She had never seen Claude stand
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Now that Stellar finally understood Janet’s motives, she found them even more absurd."Just because I am the true heiress of the Rivers family, and my grandparents are my closest relatives, you—an outsider—think you have the right to claim everything as yours? “Have you stayed in the Rivers family for so long that you actually believe you belong here?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. The truth always struck the deepest. Stellar wasn’t being cruel. She had simply fought too hard to reunite with her family—she wasn’t about to lose them again. Janet couldn’t bear the humiliation. Just as she was about to step forward in anger, she suddenly noticed a figure not far away. In an instant, she reversed her move and delivered a hard slap to her own face. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked pitifully at Stellar. "Stellar, I thought we had already moved past this. I didn’t expect you to still blame me. If hitting me makes you feel better, then go ahead." Stellar was stunne
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Stellar’s nose tingled with emotion.Unable to hold back, she reached out and hugged Martha, her voice soft. "Thank you, Grandma." "Good girl." Martha gently patted her back, her eyes filled with warmth and heartache. As they made their way downstairs, Laurence spoke up. "Why did Janet leave so suddenly? She looked awful. Did something happen?" Martha’s expression darkened as she recounted everything. "She grew up under our watch, but I never thought someone so young could be so consumed by jealousy."She couldn’t deny the disappointment and sadness she felt, but Janet had crossed a line. Stellar was their precious long-lost granddaughter who finally returned home. Their family was meant to be her safe haven—how could they stand by and let someone mistreat her?Laurence’s face hardened. "Looks like we’ve been far too generous with the Cole family all these years. They’ve forgotten their place, pushing their luck and daring to mistreat our Stellar. This won’t go unche
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 452
"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
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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?"
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"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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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"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
