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Chapter 156
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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
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"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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 164
When it came to striking where it hurt, Keith was just as ruthless.Their gazes clashed again, the tension between them crackling like static in the air.Stellar sighed, rubbing her temples. This was exhausting.Thankfully, the banquet was finally drawing to a close.The other young men, seeing two powerhouses like Keith and Stephen openly competing for Stellar’s attention, quickly gave up and left.Just as the event wrapped up, Marcus stormed forward, his eyes practically burning with fury."Stephen, we’re leaving. Now."Stephen still had so much to say to Stellar—he wanted to explain everything about the broken engagement.But seeing his grandfather’s expression, as if he were ready to drag him out by force, he had no choice but to follow.Before leaving, though, he caught sight of Keith lingering behind, clearly planning to continue his conversation with Stellar. Stephen’s eyes narrowed slightly."Mr. Sinclair, could I have a word with you?"Keith folded his arms, immediately adop
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 440
"Stellar, Stephen, this is my oldest student, Isaac Cross. Let me introduce him. He's the one I trust the most."Isaac might not have been the most gifted, but he was dependable and steady to the core.Everyone exchanged greetings."Isaac, while I’m away, I’ll be entrusting the academy to you. I believe you can lead everyone well." Wayne patted his shoulder firmly."Mentor, don’t worry. I won’t let you down," Isaac nodded earnestly.After a pleasant chat, everyone said their goodbyes and left.But not long after Stellar and the others stepped outside, they found the path ahead blocked by a crowd of dozens."Miss Rivers, where are you off to? Want me to walk you home?"The one teasing her in the lead was none other than Hulk—the same guy she’d knocked flat earlier.And behind him were clearly members of the Ironclad Academy."What’s the meaning of this?"Wayne's face darkened instantly. "Your academy lost to us in the challenge match, and according to the wager, you're not allowed to ca
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 439
Fueled by rage, Janet stormed toward the living room, ready to smash whatever else she could get her hands on.But before she could touch anything, a sharp slap landed across her face.Layla’s voice followed, cold and cutting. “Have you lost your mind?”“Mom!” Janet looked up in shock, clutching her cheek, utterly stunned.“Do you not think we’ve been humiliated enough already? I put all my trust in you, pinned every hope on your future—and this is what you do? “Pretending to be Stephen Ward’s childhood savior? How unbelievably stupid can you be!”The thrill and anticipation she'd felt over the past few days vanished like a bucket of ice water poured over her, snapping her back to reality.“But Mom, how can you blame me? I did all this for the family!” Janet protested, her voice laced with indignation.“You think I’m angry because you lied? If you were absolutely certain you wouldn’t be exposed, I might’ve turned a blind eye. “But Stephen Ward of all people? You thought you could foo
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 438
"Thinking back now, I’m pretty sure the people around me kept the truth from me on purpose. “And as for me falling into the water... I don’t think that was just an accident either.""Are you saying someone tried to hurt you?" A cold, sharp glint flashed in Stephen’s eyes."It’s been too long. I don’t really remember everything clearly..." Stellar didn’t want to dwell on the past. With a smile, she shifted the mood. "Didn’t you invite me out for dinner? Let’s not ruin it with gloomy talk."Stephen nodded but made a mental note to look into it later.Their dinner unfolded in warm, quiet elegance.Then, just as dessert plates were being cleared, the soft notes of a waltz began to float through the room.The next second, Stephen rose from his seat and stepped toward her, offering his hand like a perfect gentleman."May I have this dance with this beautiful lady?"Stellar looked up, surprised.He stood tall under the soft golden light, his every feature kissed with a glow, and the earnest
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Layla was still completely in the dark.“I never said I was handing her the project. And for the record, I’ve never been involved with this Miss Yates, and I never will be.”Stephen’s tone was firm and final. “Ma’am, I’ll have my attorney contact you for spreading false claims like that.”Layla froze, stunned.This was nothing like the scene she’d imagined.“M-Mr. Ward, maybe there’s just a misunderstanding between you and Janet?” she asked hesitantly, still clinging to hope.“There’s no misunderstanding,” Stephen replied coldly. “Your daughter pretended to be the girl who saved me when I was a child. She used that lie to manipulate me and gain access to my resources. “On top of that, she went online and spread rumors that I was her boyfriend. I’ve now exposed the truth.”His eyes swept over to Janet, as cold as ice. “Miss Yates, what you’ve done crosses every line. “But for the sake of your family’s connection to Stellar, I won’t press criminal charges. “However, everything you to
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As Stephen’s expression grew darker by the second, beads of sweat began to form on Janet’s forehead in panic.Then, a flash of inspiration hit her, and she blurted out, “Wait, yes! I remember losing the pendant once when I was younger. Maybe someone switched the real one back then?”She doubled down without hesitation. “Someone must’ve brought that pendant to you, probably that woman. She must’ve found out about our past and pretended to be me on purpose…”She actually had the audacity to turn the blame around.“Enough!”Stephen finally lost all patience. He shot to his feet, his gaze as sharp and cutting as a blade.“You’re still lying even now? Do you think I’d confront you without solid proof?”Ever since he’d seen the real Regency Emerald Pendant on Stellar, he’d quietly started investigating the truth himself.And what he found had confirmed everything.“You claimed to be the little girl who saved me, but I checked—when the kidnapping happened, you weren’t even in that city. “Yo
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After hearing her plan, Layla’s eyes lit up instantly.“That’s my girl—brilliant as always. Once the reporters show up and catch you meeting with Stephen, along with him handing over a major production to you, everyone will start speculating about your relationship. “They'll see what you're capable of. You’ll be famous in no time.”Just picturing it had Janet practically glowing with pride. “That’s why I’m trusting you with this, Mom. Make sure you get the top media outlets involved.”“Leave it to me!” Layla said with enthusiasm before marching off, fully fired up.Feeling satisfied, Janet smoothed her hair and told the driver to take her to the meeting spot.When the car pulled up, she stepped out in her heels, strutting confidently into the place, only to pause the moment she saw it clearly.It was an open-air café?Why would Stephen choose a place like this?But then it hit her—this kind of setting was perfect for paparazzi shots. Her confidence returned in full.And soon, she spo
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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
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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
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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
