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Chapter 164
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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
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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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 167
But looking at Stephen’s behavior today, he didn’t seem like a man who had a girlfriend.Could it be… that she had misunderstood something?A sudden heat crept up Stellar’s face. She quickly shook off the chaotic thoughts running through her mind.Rolling over, she wrapped herself tightly in the blanket like a cocoon and forced her eyes shut, willing herself into sleep.…Two Days LaterThe short break was over, and it was time for Stellar to return to school for her studies.The Rivers family, of course, was reluctant to see her go."Stellar, here, take this diamond bracelet," Martha said as she gently slid the piece onto Stellar’s wrist, her eyes warm with affection."This was something I had once set aside for your mother. Now, I’m passing it down to you. It represents our family being whole again. No matter what, always take care of yourself, alright?""Grandma…"A lump formed in Stellar’s throat. She reached out and hugged Martha, her voice soft with reassurance."Don’t worry. A
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 168
Stephen's expression stiffened.If it were Keith, he could have easily brushed him off, matching sarcasm for sarcasm without a second thought.But Claude? That was different.As Stellar’s eldest uncle, he was someone Stephen would inevitably have to win over. Right now, Claude looked about as displeased with him as humanly possible.And it was entirely Stephen’s own doing.Keith, watching Stephen, who was usually so sharp and eloquent, suddenly rendered speechless, couldn’t contain his amusement. He let out a chuckle, full of blatant schadenfreude.Stephen’s gaze snapped to him like an arrow.But Keith wasn’t the least bit intimidated. If anything, his grin widened."Mr. Ward, I have to agree with Mr. Rivers. You should really be more mindful of your actions. Wouldn’t want to send the wrong message, now would we?"Stephen was speechless.His expression darkened.Stellar, seeing him take such a hit for once, felt a strange pang of sympathy.Just as she was about to speak up and smooth
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“I don’t need a ride anyway!” Janet muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed. But her frustration didn’t last long. Her gaze quickly shifted to Stephen, and with a flushed face, she stepped forward, her voice sickly sweet. “Mr. Ward, could you give me a lift instead?” Stephen was even more blunt than Stellar. “No.” With that, he turned around and got into the car, slamming the door shut with a resounding thud. Janet stood frozen in place, her face a mix of embarrassment and humiliation. Seeing her daughter rejected so coldly, Layla had no choice but to turn to Keith. However, before she could even speak, Keith scoffed, cutting her off. “What, has the Cole family fallen so low? No personal chauffeur? Or are you saying you can’t even afford a cab?” Without waiting for a response, he got into the car and shut the door, not sparing them a second glance. Layla was speechless. Three cars, and two of them had empty seats, but not a single person was willing to take Janet
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 170
“Miss, remember I mentioned I went home for a bit? Well, my husband asked me to bring you this gift. He hopes you’ll like it.” Stellar was surprised as she reached out to take it. When she opened the box, she found an intricately carved, beautifully detailed keepsake—made of polished stone, with an antique, heirloom-like quality.“This must be expensive!” “It’s nothing, just a little trinket,” Mary said casually. However, Stellar was touched. “Mary, please thank your husband for me. I’ll make sure to visit and thank him in person next time.” Regardless of its value, a gift was a gesture of kindness. Being treated with such sincerity was rare, and she appreciated it deeply. “Oh, Miss, you’re too polite.” The two chatted and laughed as Mary helped her unwrap the rest of her gifts and tidied up the bed. Before long, it was getting late, and Stellar turned in early for the night. …The next morning, when she went to school, she brought local specialties from Southport for
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Janet was so furious she nearly ground her teeth to dust. But with all the students watching, she had to maintain her composure. Forcing a laugh, she said, “Haha, that’s just how my cousin is—she’s a bit proud. I hope you don’t take it the wrong way.” Joanna, being a fellow classmate, decided to help smooth things over. “Alright, alright, Janet, weren’t you planning to treat everyone to a meal? Let’s go!” Janet quickly nodded and eagerly led the group to a nearby upscale restaurant. As they settled in, the atmosphere lightened, and the girls started chatting excitedly about relationships, fashion, and jewelry. “I had no idea you all liked this brand too! The new collection of earrings is absolutely stunning. Too bad they’re limited edition. I couldn’t get my hands on a single pair.” “I know, right? I was online the moment they dropped and even had a few friends trying to help me grab a pair. Still, we all came up empty-handed.” “Ugh, I’ve seen more of this designer’s w
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 172
Simon was more focused on the team’s overall achievement. “And the prize money isn’t bad either.”Nathan, whose family wasn’t well-off, was the most practical of them all. “The real challenge is figuring out what kind of project will stand out in such a competitive field,” Lilian said, frowning slightly at the thought. Stellar considered it for a moment before an idea began to form. “Since it’s an aerospace model competition, we can start by focusing on the design—using artistic techniques to enhance the model’s sense of motion…” She continued laying out several constructive ideas, and by the time she finished, the others were nodding enthusiastically, their eyes full of admiration. “As expected from Stellar! I think I already have some ideas now,” Lilian said, grinning. “Stellar’s basically our think tank at this point. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind handing over the team leader title to her,” Simon joked. Stellar gave him a helpless look. “Simon, cut it out.” “But we’re
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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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 427
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
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"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
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
