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Chapter 187

Penulis: Warm Cocoa
Stephen's gaze flickered slightly, but he remained calm. "Did I?"

Stellar narrowed her eyes, her tone unwavering. "Yes. I caught it. When you lie, your eyes shift slightly to the right."

Stephen raised an eyebrow, his expression meaningful. "You've been watching me pretty closely."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly tried to justify herself. "That was just during the game. I observed everyone, not just you."

Stephen didn’t expose her lie.

In reality, throughout the entire evening, his gaze had never once strayed from her.

If anyone here wasn’t exactly innocent, it was both of them.

Especially now, with her sitting right next to him, an unfamiliar yet oddly familiar feeling crept into his heart.

It was the same feeling he’d had back then—for the girl who saved him all those years ago.

But if they weren’t the same person…

Did that mean he was being unfaithful? That he fell for someone else? Or had he unknowingly fallen for two people at the same time?

Stellar
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  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 188

    After all, in the past few years, due to the nature of his research projects, he hadn’t achieved any major breakthroughs and had been deliberately suppressed by certain individuals.Stellar gave Victor a firm promise.However, Victor simply patted everyone on the shoulder, his expression surprisingly kind."I'm already at an age where prestige doesn’t matter much to me. You don’t need to feel pressured—just go with the flow and perform to the best of your ability. I believe your project is just as good as any other team’s."His words acted like a shot of confidence, boosting everyone's spirits.After a two-hour train ride, Stellar and her team successfully arrived in Westport."There are so many participants this time. The hotels must be fully booked. I couldn't even make a reservation online," Simon said, his habit of taking charge making him particularly worried.Stellar simply smiled."Don't worry, I’ve got connections."She led them straight to Regent Hotel, the largest and most lu

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 189

    She pressed her lips together, feeling a bit guilty as she spoke.After all, her uncle only told her that she could stay at the hotel whenever she wanted; he hadn’t mentioned anything about extra privileges.This was the first time she had ever thrown her weight around, and honestly, it made her a little nervous.But to her surprise, the receptionist didn’t even hesitate. "Understood, Miss Rivers."The moment those words fell, everyone around them was left stunned.However, Percy and Dawn looked like they had just swallowed a lemon."Stellar, you wouldn’t dare! Who do you think you are…""And why wouldn’t I?" Stellar scoffed. She had been far too lenient with him before, which was probably why he kept showing up to ruin her mood.Now that she had the right to do this, why not use it?"You…!" Percy, fuming, took a step forward.Before he could get any closer, the receptionist picked up the intercom and calmly instructed, "Send four security guards to the lobby. We have two unruly guest

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 190

    Percy looked around the motel room, his expression filled with disdain at the outdated decor.The sheets on the bed were visibly worn, and the entire place carried a faint musty smell.Every instinct in him screamed to walk right back out.But before he could, Dawn grabbed his arm."It’s okay, Percy. The fact that you even found a place for us is already more than enough. “I’ll tidy things up a bit. It’s already dark outside, and you’ve had a long day. There’s no need to keep looking."She walked over to the window and pushed it open, letting in some fresh air.Then, without hesitation, she flipped the sheets over to the cleaner side.As she worked, she spoke casually, as if trying to put him at ease."I’ve stayed in places way worse than this before. You get used to it after a while…"She said it lightly, but something about it made Percy feel a twinge of guilt.For once, he softened. "This is my fault. I asked you to come with me, thinking it would make things easier for you, and no

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 191

    Stephen explained, "I’m here as a guest behind the scenes, not as a competitor.""I see." Stellar nodded in understanding, falling into a brief silence.A few seconds later, it was Stephen who spoke again. "Want to take a walk? If you have any questions about the competition, you can ask me."Stellar blinked, then teased with a smile, "Are you offering me a private tutoring session?"To her surprise, Stephen nodded seriously."That’s right. Will you take it?"Stellar’s lips curled into a playful grin. "Of course! A rare opportunity like this? I’d be a fool to pass it up."They laughed and walked out together.As they chatted, Stephen actually provided some insightful advice."In competitions like this, the judges focus on the technical aspects of your project—whether it demonstrates innovation, pushes boundaries, or surprises them in some way. That’s what earns the highest scores..."Stellar listened intently, absorbing his words.Before she realized it, they had already stepped outsi

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 192

    Alex smirked arrogantly, his tone deliberately provocative. He was clearly trying to stir up trouble.But Simon remained unfazed. Instead, he shot back without hesitation, "If even someone like you can be a team leader, then why wouldn’t Stellar? She’s an actual genius, unlike some people who just talk big."Stellar raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.Simon was usually the easygoing and diplomatic type—she hadn’t expected him to have such a sharp tongue.Lilian chimed in as well, arms crossed, "Exactly. Some people have zero talent, but as long as they suck up to the right people, they still manage to throw their weight around like they own the place. Pathetic, isn’t it?"It seemed that after hanging around Stellar for so long, both of them had picked up the skill of throwing shade."You—!"Alex clenched his jaw, fuming, but before he could lash out, one of his teammates grabbed his arm and whispered something in his ear.His expression shifted almost instantly, regaining his smug

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 193

    At that moment, Stephen suddenly stood up from the special guest seating area."Wait a moment. Why don’t we hear what the contestant has to say?"Stellar looked up and met his deep, steady gaze, as if he were conveying some kind of message to her.In that instant, inspiration struck her, and a thought surged into her mind.She suddenly calmed down, then lifted her head and spoke with composure."Please wait, esteemed judges. This is exactly what I want to present to you—the latest aircraft model technology!""What?" The judges were visibly stunned."In our country’s current research on aircraft development, the C-class technical challenge has yet to be overcome. However, I have already found a way to solve it using the latest technology. This time, I deliberately brought a disassembled model to demonstrate the assembly process on-site, so I can showcase the principles behind it."Stellar spoke with confidence, neither humble nor arrogant. "Give me just thirty minutes, and I will prese

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 194

    As they walked backstage, Lilian looked at Stellar with admiration written all over her face. "Stellar, you are my angel! If it weren’t for you turning the tide, we would have completely embarrassed our professor." However, Stellar didn’t take all the credit. "This was a team effort. Without your support, I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off alone." "This whole situation is definitely not a coincidence." Simon had a sharp eye for details. "Our model was sabotaged—someone deliberately tampered with it. And I already have a suspect in mind." Stellar was well aware that there was an eighty percent chance that Alex’s team was behind it. But for the sake of their school’s reputation, they couldn’t expose them here. She would settle this matter when they got back. Before they could confront anyone, however, Alex and his team stormed over, brimming with hostility. "Stellar Rivers! You planned this, didn’t you? You deliberately held back just to shock the audience and g

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 195

    Lilian dragged Stellar through the crowd, her excitement evident. She had complete confidence in their victory.After all, their performance was leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.But for some reason, Stellar couldn’t shake the feeling that things weren’t so simple.Alex and his team had seemed overly confident. And considering that Harold’s team had consistently secured top rankings in past competitions, could there really be nothing shady going on behind the scenes?She knew Harold well enough to know he didn’t deserve his reputation.Still, since they were here to relax, she pushed those thoughts aside for now. The group had a great time exploring the university before finally heading back to their lodgings.The next day, they were set to return to their school. Stellar specifically asked Stephen if he would be going back with them, but to her surprise, he said he was staying behind for a few more days. She had no idea what he was up to.So, she returned to campus with

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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

  • 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,

  • As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart   Chapter 423

    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

  • 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

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