LOGINShare
Chapter 155
Related chapters
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 156
After Laurence finished the introductions, he officially announced the start of the banquet. Then, he patted Stellar’s hand, signaling her to mingle and greet the guests. She understood his intention and knew she couldn’t refuse, so she followed along, making introductions one after another. By the time she had met nearly everyone, her face felt sore from all the smiling. Finally, when the socializing was mostly done, hunger gnawed at her stomach. She made her way to the dessert table, picking up a few pastries. Just as she took her first bite, she turned around only to find a man dressed in an ostentatious suit standing in front of her. "Miss Rivers, nice to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Ace Rothwell, the Rothwell family’s heir. You’re even more beautiful than I expected." His gaze roamed over her, his smirk laced with amusement. Stellar felt a slight discomfort but remained polite. "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Rothwell. You’re quite impressive y
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 157
Stellar had been holding back, but after hearing that, she saw no reason to be polite anymore."The best option? You mean yourself?" She let out a short laugh. "Sorry, but I’m not that desperate. Whether I get married or not is none of your concern."With that, she stepped past him, ready to walk away."Stop right there!"Ace was furious. His hand shot out to grab her wrist but before he could touch her, his own wrist was caught in a firm grip."Mr. Rothwell, this is the Rivers family's banquet," a familiar voice drawled. "As a guest, shouldn’t you know how to respect your hosts?"Stellar's eyes widened in surprise.Standing before her, dressed in a crisp white suit, was a man with a casually tousled strand of hair tied up at the back."Keith Sinclair?"He was here? How had she not noticed his name on the guest list?Keith released Ace’s wrist and turned to her with a devil-may-care grin, the kind that could send a thousand hearts fluttering."It’s me. Didn’t expect you to be the Riv
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 158
"Grandpa, happy birthday. Wishing you longevity and happiness."Janet's tone was warm and affectionate, as if last night’s incident had been nothing more than a harmless prank.Since the Rivers family hadn’t pursued the matter, she acted as if it had all been forgotten.Although Laurence wasn’t pleased, he wasn’t about to embarrass her in front of so many guests."I appreciate the thought," he replied curtly.Janet’s heart lifted.It was just as her mother had predicted.The Rivers family had watched her grow up; they wouldn’t hold a grudge over something so trivial.After all, everyone knew how close the Rivers and Cole families were.Then, someone in the crowd spoke up."Miss Cole, since it’s Mr. Rivers’ birthday, wouldn’t it be fitting for you to play a song in his honor?"Many guests were aware that Janet had studied piano professionally and was highly skilled. The suggestion wasn’t just about celebrating—it was a way to create an opportunity for her to shine.Janet hesitated for
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 159
As the final note faded, the entire hall fell into a moment of silence.Stellar rose gracefully and said, "Thank you, everyone. This is a piece I composed in my free time, representing my wishes for happiness and blessings. It is also a special gift for my grandfather on his birthday. I hope he likes it."As soon as she finished speaking, the guests snapped out of their daze, and thunderous applause erupted across the hall.Laurence beamed with pride and satisfaction.Only Janet looked both furious and anxious, her expression turning incredibly sour. She hadn't expected this outcome at all, leaving her completely unprepared.At that moment, Stellar's gaze landed on her, her voice gentle as she spoke."Janet, I’ve heard that your piano skills are exceptional and that you've even won an international piano competition. I would love to hear you play. Would you mind performing a piece?"Did Janet really think she wouldn’t see through her little schemes?Since the other party had set a tra
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 160
Stellar smiled pleasantly as she countered their remarks, making no effort to indulge Layla and Janet. Watching their faces darken, she remained composed, refusing to back down.Keith let out a mocking chuckle from the side."If Miss Janet’s hand is injured, she should be resting at home instead of parading around in a red dress, dripping in jewelry. “Anyone who didn’t know better might think this birthday banquet was being held in her honor."Keith had never been one to hold back his sharp tongue.Janet’s face turned as red as tomato, her eyes brimming with anger. Layla didn’t fare much better, though she managed to keep her composure."Janet is still young and inexperienced. She simply picked a color she liked without considering the occasion. “I’ll make sure to educate her properly when we get home," she said, then grabbed her daughter’s arm, ready to leave with her in tow.Stellar exhaled lightly, turning to Keith with a grateful smile."Thanks again for stepping in."Keith ret
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 161
Meanwhile, to avoid the prying eyes and unnecessary entanglements of others, Stellar followed Keith out to the terrace, where they could talk in private."So, Percy already knows your true identity, and he still has the audacity to cling to you and try to win you back?" Keith scoffed, finding it utterly ridiculous. He was only concerned about whether Percy had continued to bother her after that day, but this revelation was beyond laughable."I ignored him," Stellar replied casually before shifting the topic. "But what about you? He hasn’t tried to target you, has he?"She knew that Percy had always seen Keith as his biggest rival.Keith let out a disdainful chuckle. "Him? Please."His tone was relaxed, but there was an underlying sharpness in his words. "The Moore family is already drowning in lawsuits. They can barely keep themselves afloat. Unless he seeks help from the Moore family's main branch, he’s not even worth my time.""The main branch?" Stellar was slightly surprised. Sh
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 162
Keith immediately caught the underlying possessiveness in Stephen’s words.He let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Oh? That’s funny, I don’t recall ever hearing about this engagement. Could this just be another one of Mr. Ward’s delusions?"The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable.Stephen remained expressionless, his tone cool and detached. "This is a private matter between our families. There’s no need for an outsider like you to concern yourself."Keith shot back without missing a beat. "Outsider? I’ve known Stellar far longer than you have. So, between the two of us, who’s really the outsider?"If Stephen thought he could just swoop in and stake his claim in front of her, he was sorely mistaken.The tension between them crackled like a live wire. Their words were sharp, but their eyes said even more—silent sparks flying, neither willing to back down.Caught between them, Stellar felt momentarily overwhelmed.From a distance, Laurence watched the scene unfold, utterly baffled.Why was
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 163
Stellar felt a bit awkward but forced herself to introduce them."Uncle Claude, Stephen is the senior who lives in the villa across from mine."The moment she said it, both Claude and Stephen froze in realization.So that was why they had found each other’s faces so familiar!Neither of them had expected such a coincidence.But now that they understood, both men looked equally displeased—though for entirely different reasons.Claude regretted not finding out sooner. Had he known the man next door was the very one who broke off the engagement, he would have gone over and beaten him to a pulp long ago!Stephen, on the other hand, was filled with a completely different kind of regret. If he had known Stellar was the Rivers family’s heiress, he would never have chosen to end the engagement in the first place.Keith, observing the sudden tension, caught onto something and deliberately tested the waters."Just now, I heard Mr. Ward mention that the Ward and Rivers families had a marriage a
Latest chapter
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 422
"I never agreed to any of this. You made the arrangements on your own, so you should be the one to deal with the fallout. I'm not going."His tone was firm, and it instantly darkened Grace’s expression. “Stephen!”He'd always been cold toward her, but he had never flat-out embarrassed her like this.Suddenly, her thoughts turned to the woman she’d seen hidden away in his villa last time. Her gaze turned sharp.“It’s that woman, isn’t it? She’s the one filling your head with nonsense! I’m telling you now—I will never approve of that relationship!”Stephen, however, remained unfazed.He'd never had a close relationship with his parents. He didn’t care what they thought back then, and he didn’t now.“Then wait for Grandfather to return and ask him what he thinks.”Lately, Marcus had been overseas, traveling the world with his wife, and likely wouldn’t be back anytime soon.“You’re using your grandfather to pressure me now?”Grace let out a cold laugh. “Do you really think he’d accept ju
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 421
After watching the demonstration, Stellar quickly memorized it. She took a deep breath with her eyes closed, then opened them again, her gaze sharp. Moving step by step, she repeated the moves with precision.Wayne, who had been watching from the side, was dumbfounded.She wasn’t just mimicking the movements—her strength and control were spot on, powerful and exact.Everything Mary bragged about turned out to be true.In fact, it was even more impressive than she’d claimed.“She’s a natural martial arts prodigy!”Wayne’s eyes lit up as he grew even more excited. “Stellar, let me be your official mentor! Carry on my legacy! I’ll teach you everything I know, every move from my school—what do you say?”Before Stellar could respond, Mary exploded, “You shameless old man! She’s the one I picked as my apprentice! Who do you think you are?”“Don’t get cocky, you old hag! It’s up to Miss Stellar to decide which school she wants to follow. For all you know, she might prefer mine!” Wayne refus
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 420
Mary was about to punch Hulk square in the face, fists clenched in fury at the way he’d just humiliated Stellar.But before she could move, Stellar stepped forward and gently patted her shoulder, calming her down. Then she turned to face the other side and spoke, her voice steady."You want to fight me? Fine. But I have one condition—it has to be an official match. “If your side loses, I want a public apology. And I want a banner that reads: 'Ironclad Academy lost to Rising Cloud Academy and left in disgrace.' “From that moment on, you stay away from us permanently."Her words left Mary and the others stunned."Listen to this one!" Hank barked out a laugh like he’d just heard the world’s best joke. "You really think you can take us down, little girl?"Stellar raised an eyebrow, a cool smirk tugging at her lips. "What, are you scared?""Who’s scared?" Hulk snapped, instantly provoked. "You want a fight? You’ve got one! But if you lose, you’ll get on your knees, bow your head, and d
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 419
The couple’s faces darkened immediately.Wayne let out a sharp snort. "Hmph, that old snake Hank Yates has been trying to get in my way for years. Now that he’s caught wind of me being sick, he’s gotten even more arrogant.""Maybe because you’ve never been good enough to beat him in the first place," Mary shot back, not missing the chance to jab at him.Wayne grumbled, "That’s only because I never found a worthy successor."Just as it looked like the two were about to start bickering again, Stellar quickly stepped in."Wayne, Mary, how about we check out what’s going on first? I’ll go with you."That finally stopped the argument. The three of them headed toward the training hall.Inside the gym, the atmosphere was tense."So this is what your so-called Rising Cloud Academy has come to? A whole group of you can’t even take down one of my students!" A bearded man in his fifties stood at the center, his voice booming with mockery. "Then again, Wayne Warren is practically on his deathb
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 418
"In my eyes, he’s not even worthy of being compared to you. He doesn't measure up to a single finger of yours. You’re worrying for nothing."Stephen raised an eyebrow, always quick to catch the key detail. "So, what you’re saying is, I matter to you?"Stellar cleared her throat. "It’s getting late. We should head back to Southport."She walked ahead before he could say more.Stephen followed, smiling as he caught up.Over an hour later, they arrived safely in Southport. Stephen had to return to the office—there were still loose ends to tie up from the project, and he needed to handle them personally.Meanwhile, Stellar followed the address her grandmother gave and arrived at Mary’s house.To her surprise, it was a traditional courtyard home.The place had an old-world charm. Weathered gray brick walls bore the marks of time, radiating a quiet strength. In the neat courtyard, potted green plants thrived in the soft morning light, adding a touch of life and calm.Just as she reached th
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 417
The next morning.When Stellar woke up, she noticed the dark circles under Stephen’s eyes. He looked slightly worn out."Did you not sleep well last night?" she asked with concern. "Is your wound hurting?"Stephen didn’t answer.He couldn’t exactly admit he'd spent half the night watching her like some obsessed fool, too reluctant to close his eyes.So, he changed the subject. "There was a call earlier. The car’s been fixed. Once we pick it up, we can head back to Southport.""That’s great news!"Stellar lit up at once.After getting ready, the two of them stepped out of the room together.They had barely turned the corner when a shocked voice rang out."Stellar…"She turned around and was stunned to see Percy stepping out from the room across the hall.He was dressed in an expensive suit with a luxury watch on his wrist, looking every bit the picture of a polished executive."What are you doing here?" Stellar frowned instinctively.Did he follow her all the way here?"Why are you look
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 416
Her movements were gentle, and the warmth of her breath brushed against his back, making Stephen shudder all over."What's wrong? Does it hurt a lot?" Stellar thought she'd touched his wound.Stephen, of course, wasn’t about to tell the truth. He just mumbled, "A little." Stellar leaned closer and blew softly on the wound like she was coaxing a child. "There, it won’t hurt now."This time, Stephen tensed up completely, even the tips of his ears turned red.Unaware of his reaction, Stellar carefully finished applying the iodine, then wrapped the wound with a bandage. She wound it round and round, finally tying it off with a neat bow. "All done. Just keep it dry and it’ll heal quickly." As she gave her instructions, Stephen turned around at that very moment.Their eyes met, and his bare torso was once again in full view before her. They were sitting on the same bed, close—far too close. Even the air between them seemed to thicken with tension. Stellar's heart pounded wil
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 415
The car finally came to a halt after crashing into the greenery on the side.Stellar gripped the handlebar tightly, her head spinning and her heart pounding.Then, she felt a pair of arms scoop her up into a broad embrace.Only then did she slowly open her eyes and look up into Stephen’s worried gaze."You alright?"Her breathing gradually calmed. "With you here, how could I not be?"He truly lived up to his promise—no matter what danger came their way, he always made sure she was safe."But your driving is seriously impressive."That moment had been terrifying. She was sure the two cars were going to collide.Stephen gave a modest reply. "I learned a bit of racing before. Just the basics."Stellar couldn’t help but laugh, finally feeling at ease. She tried to pull away from his arms.As he let go, his brow twitched slightly, and the movement of raising his arm looked a bit off"You're hurt?"She caught the detail right away, and her heart clenched again."It’s nothing..."Stephen tr
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 414
But the teasing tone behind their words made it clear that they weren’t being entirely serious.Still, Stellar flushed with a mix of embarrassment and shyness. And this time, she didn’t correct them. She didn’t deny the term “boyfriend.”Stephen noticed, of course. His smile deepened, and on the way to Southport, he brought it up himself.Stellar blinked, caught off guard for a moment before quickly firing back, "That’s only because you kept interrupting. Even if I wanted to deny it, I didn’t get the chance.""Is that so?"Stephen knew better. If Stellar had truly wanted to distance herself, no amount of interruption could’ve stopped her.It was her quiet indulgence that gave him the courage to inch closer and desire more.Still, he understood how reserved she could be, so he let it go, without calling her out."You’re right," he said with a soft laugh. "But I still hope one day… you’ll say it out loud that I’m your boyfriend."Her heart skipped a beat, pounding faster than she co
