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Chapter 158
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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
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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
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
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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 165
Marcus slapped his thigh in frustration, his anger boiling over.How could something be so absurd, yet fall into place so perfectly?If he had known, he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to break the engagement, even at the risk of offending Laurence.That girl would have been the perfect granddaughter-in-law!It should have been a match made in heaven!"You, you… why didn’t you look further into her background first? Look where that’s gotten you!" Marcus groaned, practically beating his chest in regret.But then, something from their earlier conversation clicked in his mind. He suddenly clapped a firm hand on Stephen’s shoulder."Listen, kid, you still have a chance. The Rivers girl hasn’t accepted anyone yet! You better get your act together and go after her!"Of course, Stephen already knew that."I never said I was giving up."The determination in his eyes burned brighter than ever.Marcus nodded in satisfaction. "Good. That’s the spirit—now that’s a true Ward!"…The Rivers Estat
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 166
Janet felt utterly humiliated. It felt like they were implying she was desperately chasing after something Stellar had thrown away—and worse, she still couldn’t have it."That’s enough," Laurence finally spoke, his sharp gaze sweeping over the mother and daughter. He waved a hand dismissively. "It’s getting late. You should head home—we’re calling it a night." Layla quickly composed herself, her expression smoothing into something polite. "Of course, Uncle Laurence, Aunt Martha. We’ll take our leave now," she said, before pulling Janet away with her. …Once they were gone, no one in the Rivers family immediately went to bed. Instead, they all gathered in the living room, circling around Stellar. "Stellar, I have to say, that young man from the Sinclair family seems quite promising," Martha spoke first, a clear note of approval in her voice. "Handsome, witty, and most importantly, he seems to care for you. He could be a good match." "Agreed," Julian chimed in. "That ki
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 428
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
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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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 426
“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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 425
“Um…” Stellar looked flustered. “I forgot to bring my clothes, so I borrowed your bathrobe. Sorry about that.”“It’s fine.” Stephen didn’t realize how hoarse his voice sounded until the words were already out.“I’ll just head back to my room then…”She turned to leave, but just as she took a step, a flash of lightning split across the sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder.The lights cut out in an instant, plunging the room into darkness.“Ah!” Stellar flinched and stumbled forward, instinctively crashing into him, her body pressed tightly against his chest.She was warm, soft, still smelling faintly of shower gel—the subtle, clean scent wrapping around him. For a moment, Stephen’s thoughts scattered.But when he felt her trembling, instinct took over. He wrapped his arms around her without thinking. “Don’t worry. It’s probably just a power outage.”His voice, low and gentle, carried a soothing calm that helped ease her tension.Just as she began to relax, another crack of thu
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 424
"Of course, no problem at all!""Take your time, there's no rush."The couple smiled warmly, their expressions full of quiet joy. With the perfect successors in sight, both seemed genuinely pleased.Mary even chimed in with a suggestion, “Mr. Ward, why don’t you stay for dinner tonight?”“Thank you, Mary. I’d be happy to,” Stephen replied with a courteous smile.But after dinner, a light drizzle began to fall outside. At first, no one paid it any mind.Then the drizzle turned into a downpour, rain lashing against the windows as flashes of lightning split the sky.Stephen was getting ready to leave, but the sudden turn in weather made Stellar hesitate. “Why don’t you stay the night? It’s not safe to drive in this storm.”They had already shared a room once before, so she didn’t see any reason to fuss over it.Stephen glanced toward Mary and Wayne, hesitating.“You should stay, Stephen,” Wayne urged. “We’ve got plenty of guest rooms here at the courtyard house.”“Well, if you insist,
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Wayne stood off to the side, a little taken aback.The man in front of him looked every bit the part of a well-bred heir—polished suit, refined demeanor. And yet, he knew how to fight?“You sure you want to spar with me?”Stephen looked mildly surprised by her challenge.“Why not? Afraid you’ll lose?” Stellar raised a brow, a glint of mischief flashing in her eyes. “Relax, even if you do, I won’t tell anyone. Your secret’s safe with me.”He knew she was baiting him, but he still took the hook with a smirk. “Alright then, let’s see what you’ve got.”Stephen shrugged off his coat and hung it nearby, left in a crisp white dress shirt. With effortless precision, he rolled up his sleeves, his fingers moving with a fluid grace that was oddly captivating.Stellar gave her head a shake, forcing out the sudden thoughts that slipped in.“Ready... go!”She lunged forward, a sharp punch aimed straight at his face, but Stephen sidestepped neatly, twisting his body as his open hand shot out to gr
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"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
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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
