MasukShare
Chapter 203
Bab terkait
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 204
Stephen seemed to be clutching something in his hand, his expression slightly off. It wasn’t until he heard her voice that he finally looked up. Seeing that bright, radiant face before him, for a moment, it overlapped with the image of the little girl in his memories. His heart clenched, a complicated emotion flickering across his features. Stellar noticed something was off and instinctively dropped her smile. Concern crept into her voice. “Are you okay?” Stephen snapped out of his thoughts. “It’s nothing. What a coincidence, really.” No wonder he thought he heard Stellar’s voice upstairs earlier and assumed it was just his imagination. “Did you win anything good at the auction?” Her gaze drifted to his hand, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. Stephen’s grip tightened slightly, and almost instinctively, he responded, “Nothing much.” Until he confirmed the identity of the seller, he didn’t want Stellar to know about it. But that simple action made her expression stiff
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 205
"We should go find the professor and ask about it!"Stellar suggested, and the others immediately agreed.The group hurried toward the academic building, only to be informed that Victor, Harold, and several other professors were currently in the dean’s office.Those two rivals in the same room?Stellar's eyelid twitched, and an ominous feeling crept over her.Leading her team, she made her way toward the administration office.The door was slightly ajar, allowing them to catch a glimpse inside."Professor Xander, congratulations! After three years, you've once again led your team to victory in the aircraft model competition!"The president, Richard Rowan’s voice was filled with satisfaction."Bringing honor to the school and recognition to my team is simply my duty," Harold responded humbly."No need to be modest—this is all thanks to your efforts."Richard beamed, the wrinkles on his face deepening with his broad smile."After careful deliberation, the administration has decided to on
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 206
Half the day passed in a blur. During lunch break, Stellar checked her phone multiple times, but Stephen’s reply never came. "Stellar, any news?" At the cafeteria, Lilian leaned in curiously. "Did Stephen reply? What did he say? Is he going to help investigate?" Stellar set her phone down on the table, screen facing down, and tried to keep her expression calm. "He hasn’t replied." "Huh? How’s that possible? Aren’t you two a couple? I thought you were practically glued to each other all the time." Lilian blurted the words out, half-joking. But Stellar’s expression subtly shifted. "You’re overthinking it. He and I… aren’t in that kind of relationship." Her tone was light and indifferent. Yet, the moment the words left her lips, an inexplicable emptiness settled in her chest. Lilian, realizing she might have touched a nerve, awkwardly rubbed her nose and exchanged glances with Simon and Nathan, silently urging them to say something to ease the tension. "Actually, S
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 207
Everyone froze for a moment before it clicked.Of course.If Harold’s team couldn’t bribe the judges, then the only way to manipulate the outcome was through the final scoring process. Since the judges worked independently and had no knowledge of each other’s scores, there was plenty of room for tampering.“I’ll handle it.”As the heiress of the Rivers family, Stellar had her own connections. Without hesitation, she stepped out and made a call, instructing someone to investigate.An hour later, the results came in.The information wasn’t enough to outright expose Xander’s team for fraud, but it was enough to shake them up.Returning to the lounge, she shared the findings and the plan with her team.“Let’s do it!”Everyone agreed unanimously.“Won’t know if it works unless we try.”Half an hour laterHarold strode into Richard’s office, flanked by Alex and the rest of his team.Their faces beamed with pride, fully expecting this meeting to be about receiving their Outstanding Research
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 208
"Mr. Rowan, I didn’t do it! This is all just Stellar’s baseless accusations—""One million dollars."Stellar suddenly threw out a precise number.Harold’s eyes widened.She smirked at him, her voice dripping with mockery. "One million in bribes—quite the investment, Professor Xander. But what I’m really curious about is, as a supposedly dedicated professor, where did you get that kind of money? “Embezzlement? Kickbacks? Were all those research projects you led actually your success? Or did you steal someone else’s work?"Her words were razor-sharp, striking directly at his most vulnerable spot."Shut up!"Harold’s face turned red with fury. Losing all composure, he lunged forward and raised a hand to slap her.But before he could, Victor stepped in, blocking the strike."Harold Xander! You shameless bastard—you think you can lay a hand on my student?" Victor had been in stunned silence moments before, but now his fury erupted. Without hesitation, he shoved Harold away and barked,
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 209
She briefly explained the situation to Stephen, and he immediately offered her a suggestion."What was his idea?"Among the group, only Victor was still in the dark. Stellar filled him in, and after hearing the explanation, Victor burst into laughter."I knew it! When it comes to strategy, no one outsmarts that kid! Let’s have a celebratory dinner later—I’ll invite him to join us."Stellar agreed and dialed Stephen’s number again, only for the call to go unanswered once more.A strange feeling settled in her chest.Was something going on with him?She mentioned it to Victor, who mulled over it for a moment before shrugging. "If he’s busy, let’s not worry about it. Come on, let’s go enjoy our victory dinner."The group headed to a nearby restaurant, indulging in a well-deserved feast.Just as the gathering was winding down, Victor stepped out to take a call.When he returned, his expression was solemn and heavy.The mood instantly shifted.Stellar and the others tensed. "Professor, did
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 210
A woman with sharp, cropped short hair strode into the room with long, confident steps. She stood around 5'9", dressed in a fitted gray business suit that accentuated her sleek and commanding presence. She looked effortlessly cool and composed. Two staff members followed closely behind her. "Hello, everyone. I’m Joy Shaw, an engineer and operations commander at SA Aerospace Base. I’ll be leading you through the facility today. Please state your names, verify your identities, and follow me." Joy got straight to the point, skipping unnecessary pleasantries or any hint of arrogance. Her crisp and efficient demeanor made a strong impression, earning instant respect from the group. Snapping out of their daze, everyone took turns introducing themselves. When it was Stellar’s turn, Joy paused for a brief moment, her smile growing a touch more genuine. "So, you’re the prodigy I’ve been hearing about. Stellar Rivers—your reputation precedes you. I’m looking forward to seeing wha
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 211
Joy’s expression remained serious. "Got it. I’ll make the necessary arrangements right away." She then turned to the interns behind her. "From here on, Mr. Smith will guide you through the rest of the base." With that, she was about to leave. "Wait…" Stellar stepped forward urgently. "Ms. Shaw, please let us come along. We might be able to help." An accident during a test flight was a major issue. And as a future member of the engineering team, she had every reason to be involved. Joy furrowed her brows slightly before nodding. "Alright, you and three other interns, follow me." Stellar and the others quickly joined the group. The team went through an extensive investigation—analyzing the black box, running accident simulations, and reviewing flight data. But no clear issue surfaced. Frustration settled over the room. The A16 model was a brand-new aircraft, and no one had expected such a critical failure on its very first test flight. If they couldn’t pinpoint the r
Bab terbaru
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 464
"I didn’t..." Joy’s voice trembled, panic flashing across her face as she instinctively turned to Evan. “Evan, you’ve been with me this whole time. Tell them that I didn’t do anything!”Evan slowly stepped forward, arms crossed.Under Joy’s desperate gaze, he looked at Stellar and said calmly, clearly, “She’s telling the truth about you. I overheard you on the phone arranging a deal with a hacker. “There are call logs, payment records… you never intended to let Stellar or her team walk away unscathed.”The words dropped like a bomb, plunging the room into stunned silence.Joy stared at him in disbelief, as if struck by lightning. “Evan Burns, are you out of your mind?!”She never imagined that the man who had always groveled at her feet would one day betray her so thoroughly.“You’ve got no one to blame but yourself,” Evan said, voice cold. “Pulling cheap tricks like that and jeopardizing an entire research team? Save yourself the embarrassment and just admit what you did.”He hadn’
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 463
Stellar’s face darkened. “Who would stoop to something that…”She suddenly paused mid-sentence. A thought struck her like lightning.Of course. That was it—someone had tampered with the equipment, not the data.Her expression shifted in an instant, the realization lighting up her eyes.Evan caught the change and a sharp glint flickered across his own gaze....Three days passed in a flash.On the fourth day, shortly after Stellar and her teammates arrived at the institute, Joy once again blocked their path."Three days are up, and not a word from you. Don’t tell me you were hoping to bluff your way out of this?"Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction, her tone smug. “Unfortunately for you, I won’t give you that chance. Pack your things. You're done here.”People from across the institute gathered to watch the confrontation unfold.But facing Joy’s aggression, Stellar and her team remained calm and composed.“Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Shaw,” Stellar replied lightly. “The issue’s been f
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 462
She’d expected him to take at least a few minutes to think it over.To her surprise, Stephen didn’t even hesitate for a second.“Sure. Bring them with you.”Stellar’s heart lifted. “Alright.”After ending the call, she returned to the lab and motioned to the others. “Grab whatever we might need. Come with me.”Though unsure of the plan, the three of them followed without question, trusting her completely.Half an hour later, the group arrived at the university’s research institute.Lilian glanced around, hesitating. “Stellar, why are we back here?”Stellar didn’t answer right away. She simply smiled mysteriously and led them into one of the labs.When they entered and saw the tall, lean figure waiting inside, all three straightened instinctively. “Senior Ward!”Stephen gave a faint nod, then walked over to Stellar and handed her a folder. “Here’s what you asked for.”She took it, and the others quickly gathered around, curious.A few moments later, their eyes widened as realization da
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 461
Everyone instinctively turned their heads as Lucien stepped up beside Stellar. Smiling faintly at Joy, he said, "After such a significant contribution, you're already planning to cast her aside? Miss Shaw, are you trying to make our entire research institute the laughingstock of the industry?"Joy’s expression froze.The man before her stood tall, and with those deep blue eyes, he gave off an intimidating presence. Though he was smiling, it carried an unsettling chill that instantly weakened her aura.Before she could figure out a response, Stellar let out a cold laugh. "This isn’t the first time Miss Shaw’s tried to stab someone in the back the moment they were no longer useful."That snapped Joy out of her daze. She snapped back in anger, "Just because she made a contribution doesn’t mean her mistakes can be overlooked! If we let her and her team off that easily, what about everyone else’s hard work?"As soon as those words left her mouth, the other researchers around them visibly
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 460
Lilian stood before her with red-rimmed eyes, face filled with panic and remorse. Her voice trembled as she choked out, “Stellar, it was my mistake during the experiment. I messed up the process… all of our hard work, it’s my fault. I ruined everything…”“Easy, Lilian, take a breath,” Stellar said, reaching out to gently pat her back.They’d worked together for so long, and she knew Lilian wasn’t the reckless type.“Don’t panic. We’re a team. When something goes wrong, we find a way to fix it. Just tell me exactly what happened.”Her tone softened, trying to reassure her.“Well…” Lilian wiped at her tears, her expression clouded with guilt. “Everything was going smoothly at first, so I didn’t watch the progress too closely. I thought it’d be fine if I took just a brief break, nothing major… but somehow, it spiraled. I don’t even know how it got this bad…”Stellar’s brows drew into a deep frown.Something about this didn’t sit right. She could feel it. But to get to the bottom of it
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 459
That night, Percy stumbled home, still reeking of alcohol.Since reclaiming his place at the top, he’d gone back and bought Azure Heights—the same villa he once shared with Stellar.He had even restored her old room exactly as it was, down to the smallest detail. Every piece of furniture and arrangement just as she’d left it.With unsteady steps, he walked into the room, letting his fingers trail across the familiar surfaces—the vanity, the mirror.He remembered how she used to sit there, carefully putting on makeup while he leaned against the doorway, impatiently telling her to hurry.And she’d always reply that she wanted to look her best for him, every single day.The memories returned in waves—so vivid, so sweet, and all the more painful because they were gone.He sank onto the bed, lying back as if he could still feel the trace of her warmth in the sheets.Then, almost instinctively, he pulled out his phone and dialed her number. Only when the automated message played did he rem
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 458
If her grandfather or uncles caught them, she didn’t even dare to imagine how chaotic that scene would be.Stephen’s smile deepened. “What, isn’t the doorstep romantic enough?”Stellar said nothing.“You wish!”Throwing the words over her shoulder, she spun around and dashed back into the house.Stephen stood there, watching her retreating figure, a bright mood blooming in his chest.Clearly, he meant something different to her.At the very least, he was sure that Stellar would never kiss anyone else as a token of gratitude.This was something only they shared. A kind of secret intimacy.And with that thought, his desire to make their relationship public and mark his territory burned even stronger.He needed to act fast—cut off any competition before they even had a chance.…Meanwhile, after being turned down by Stellar and mocked by Keith, Percy’s mood was heavy.Back at the office, he was stopped by his boss, Jackson Far.“Percy, what’s with the long face? Come on, let’s grab a drin
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 457
Keith seemed to catch on to her thoughts—just for a moment, a flicker of something unspoken passed through his expression, a hint of melancholy."Of course, I believe in you," he said with a playful edge. "Guess that just makes me your silent supporter from the sidelines, Miss Rivers."The tension in the car eased, replaced by a lighter, more comfortable air.Before long, they pulled up to the villa.As Stellar stepped out, she turned back to him. "Are you sure you don’t want to come in for dinner? It’s the least I can do to repay you for today."Keith didn’t want to pass up the chance. But he had an important meeting scheduled in just half an hour. Missing it would be unprofessional and disrespectful to the client.With clear reluctance, he declined. "Next time. I’ll come by properly, with a gift in hand to visit your grandparents."Stellar waved him off with a smile, then turned around, only to jump slightly at the sight of a tall, shadowy figure lingering a short distance away.I
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 456
But just as Percy darted after her, a server stepped in his path. "Sir, you haven’t paid yet."He let out an irritated sigh, pulled out his card to tap at the register, then hurried out the door.He managed to catch up to her after a short sprint, blocking her path. "Stellar, wait… just hear me out…"Her brows furrowed deeply. She didn’t want to cause a scene in public, so she held back."Move.""Stellar, I mean it this time," Percy pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice. "Why won’t you give me another chance?"As he reached out to take her hand, she smacked it away without hesitation."A second chance? Are you seriously joking right now?" a cool, mocking voice cut in from the side.Percy turned his head sharply, only to see Keith standing at Stellar’s side, arms crossed, his eyes glinting with disdain."Percy, do you even own a mirror? What makes you think you’re qualified to chase after her? You’re a joke.""Keith Sinclair," Percy ground out through gritted teeth, the old
