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Chapter 220
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 221
Inside the lounge.Stellar helped Stephen sit down gently, cupping his face in her hands."Senior, you really didnโt have to stand up for me. How are you feeling? Let me apply some medicine first."Her palms were soft, carrying a faint, sweet scent.Stephenโs eyes widened, just as he was about to speak, Stellar stopped him. "Don't talk yetโฆ"She leaned in, carefully examining his wound with a serious expression.Seeing her lips so close, Stephenโs Adamโs apple bobbed, his gaze darkening.But in the next second, Stellar let go of him. "Fortunately, itโs not too serious."After saying that, she stood up, asked Stephen a question, then went to retrieve the first-aid kit.A flicker of disappointment crossed Stephenโs heart.Moments later, Stellar returned to his side, took out a cotton swab, dipped it in antiseptic, and carefully applied the medicine to his wound."Hissโ" Stephen sucked in a breath, as if it stung a little."Now you know it hurts? Why bother fighting with someone like that
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 222
She never knew that Stephen and Janet were close enough for her to call him so affectionately.But she also trusted Stephenโs character. He wouldnโt do something like this."Stellar, youโve misunderstood Stephen. He just gave me an opportunity to make my path smoother, but in the end, I still have to rely on my own abilities to get in," Janet quickly denied, not foolish enough to let the misunderstanding continue."Oh, by the way, this engine development project is led by Stephen, right? Your team is participating in the research. He agreed to let me sit in and observe!" With a smug expression, she waved the project documents in front of Stellar, as if showing off.Stellar narrowed her eyes and stepped forward, her tone serious. "Are you saying he personally agreed to let you join?" "Of course!" Janet answered confidently.She knew how much the university valued this project. As long as she got involved, she would have the chance to create distance between Stellar and Stephen. W
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 223
Janet's expression was full of satisfaction. "Oh? Is that so?" Stellarโs tone was indifferent. "Well, it looks like you two really do have a close relationship." Her casual, uninterested response only made Janet bristle with frustration. "Youโฆ" Just as Janet was about to argue further, her eyes suddenly flickered toward the door. In an instant, her expression lit up. "Stephen!" Dropping her previous arrogance, she beamed and walked past Stellar, her whole demeanor shifting into one of sweet delight. Stellar turned, watching as Janet approached Stephen, looking almost bashful. "Starting today, Iโm officially your junior. I hope youโll take care of me from now on." Stephen gave a small nod, his response noticeably less cold than before. A strange tightness gripped Stellarโs chest. He didnโt reject her? So, they were really that close now? "What were you two talking about?" After offering a polite greeting, Stephenโs gaze landed on Stellar, his tone carrying a hi
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 224
"What happened?" Stellarโs heart tightened as she quickly got in her car and rushed to SA Club, following the address Suzy had sent.When she finally arrived at the booth, she found Suzy hunched over a glass of liquor, drinking sullenly.The tension in her chest eased instantly.With a mix of relief and exasperation, she sat down beside her. "You scared me to death! I thought something serious had happened.""It is serious!"Suzy slammed her glass down, her face full of misery as she poured out her grievances."You have no idea! A few days ago, I went on a date with my boy toy, and guess what? My mom caught us! She thinks heโs just a gold digger and is now forcing me to go on blind dates!โCan you believe it? Meโa rising star at the peak of my careerโbeing reduced to blind dates?! Tell me, isnโt that tragic?"Stellar couldnโt help but chuckle, shaking her head. "Your mom is just looking out for your future. She probably just wants you to find someone reliable.""Exactly! Thatโs what sh
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 225
Suzy remained completely oblivious to the outrageous words that had just come out of her mouth."Good evening, Ms. Riversโฆ" the male escorts greeted her in perfect unison, bowing politely.Stellarโs lips twitched hard.She cleared her throat, her tone as gentle as possible."Suzy, I donโt think this is necessaryโฆ"But Suzy waved her off. "It is! Theyโll give you all the emotional support you need. Just relax and let them take care of you.""Ms. Rivers, please let us keep you company.""Ms. Rivers, do you enjoy drinking? I can personally feed you a sip."The escorts enthusiastically tried to engage her, their voices warm and inviting.Just as Stellar was scrambling for a way out, Suzy suddenly stood up."Oh! I just spotted a prime specimenโIโm gonna go say hi. You take your time and have fun!"She shot Stellar a playful wink before disappearing into the crowd.Stellar barely had time to call after her before she was gone.With Suzy out of the picture, the men around her became even more
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 226
A sharp glint flickered in Janetโs eyes.So, her dear cousin actually had the power to make Stephen lose control like that? Impressive.But it didnโt matter.She would win him back.With that thought in mind, Janet tugged gently at Stephenโs sleeve, her voice soft and coaxing."Stephen, we should go. We donโt want to be lateโฆ"Stephenโs face remained dark, his jaw tight as he said nothing. Without another word, he turned and led Janet away.Stellar, still engaged in conversation with Keith, caught the movement from the corner of her eye. She lowered her gaze, masking the flicker of disappointment in her expression.Keith, however, had been watching her the entire time. It didnโt take much for him to notice the shift in her mood.He followed her gaze, just in time to catch Stephenโs retreating figure and the woman beside him.Keithโs eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of mischief flashing across them before he let out a slow, amused whistle."Well, wellโฆ isnโt that Stephen? Didnโt take
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 227
Suzyโs eye twitched hard.She had always been unstoppable in the game of romanceโnever once had she met a man she couldnโt charm.His cold rejection annoyed her, but instead of backing off, it only fueled her intrigue."Oh? Is that so?"She curved her lips into a seductive smile, one that could bring kingdoms to their knees.Taking a step closer, she trailed her soft fingers along his throat, gliding down his shoulder, then slowly over the firm muscles of his chest.Like an irresistible temptress, she refused to let up."Are you sure you donโt feel anything for me?"Her fingers moved with deliberate slowness, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.Edwinโs gaze darkened.Without warning, he grabbed her wrist, spun her around, and pinned her against the wall.Suzy instinctively tried to retreat, but he gave her no room to escape.His arm hooked around the back of her neck as he leaned in and kissed her hard."You started this," he murmured against her lips.Late at night, wrapped in sile
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 228
Before Keith could even get a word in, another striking woman with an air of elegance strolled over. "You ladies really have no self-awareness. If Keith hasnโt reached out to you, that means heโs done with you. Whatโs the point of clinging like this? Heโs my man." Keith actually recognized this woman. But what was she doing here? His eyelid twitched furiously. This whole scene was completely unexpected. It felt orchestratedโlike someone had planned it. Then, the sound of slow, deliberate applause echoed through the air. Stephen, who left earlier, casually walked back, looking thoroughly entertained. "Impressive, Keith. Truly a ladies' man. Youโve got so many women wrapped around your finger and still have the nerve to break more hearts. Quite the talent." Stellar raised an eyebrow. Hadnโt Stephen just left with Janet? Why was he back? "Stephen Ward!" Keith shot to his feet, finally piecing everything together. "This was your doing, wasnโt it? You set this up to ruin m
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 452
"Stellar, I really need to thank you." Autumnโs tone was sincere. "Thereโs no need for that, Autumn. I just did what anyone shouldโve done." Stellar couldnโt explain it, but something about Autumn made her feel warm, almost protective. "Stellarโฆ" Just then, Laurence approached from the side. Autumn turned instinctively at the sound of his voice. The moment their eyes met, both froze. That strange sense of familiarity surged again in Laurenceโs chest. The closer he got, the stronger it felt. Stellar quickly stepped forward and took his arm. "Grandpa, let me introduce you."This is Ms. Autumn Lane, Keithโs auntโthe one I told you about. Sheโs always been kind to me. She even gave me an emerald pendant as a welcome gift when we first met!"Autumn, this is my grandfather." Autumn was the first to snap out of it, pushing aside the strange feeling in her chest. "Mr. Rivers, itโs an honor. Iโve heard so much about you. I really appreciate you taking the time to help ide
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 451
The manager turned to her in shock, clearly about to say something, but Keith stopped him with a single look."Youโve got some sense, Iโll give you that. At least you know Iโm not someone you can afford to offend." The wealthy woman sneered smugly, then barked at the manager, "Well? Hurry up and get these things packed for me!"The manager looked troubled, but before he could respond, Stellar spoke up with a cheerful smile. "Maโam, you can take them, sure, but weโll need your signature and fingerprints first. These three antiques are each worth over two million. โIf it turns out someone took them without the ownerโs permission, itโll go straight to court. And thatโs a serious offenseโmajor fraud with a possibly of a life sentence."Her tone was breezy, but the words sent a chill down the womanโs spine. "Wh-What are you trying to say? Are you threatening me?""Oh no, not threatening. Just stating the facts. If youโve got the owner's permission, thereโs nothing to worry about, right?"
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 450
"This isโฆ" Laurenceโs eyes lit up instantly. He leaned in, examining the piece carefully for a long moment before exclaiming, "This piece is from the early 1700sโright around the time of the Baroque period. I remember coming across it in historical archives..."Once the topic turned to his area of expertise, Laurence became animated, his voice filled with energy as he explained.A small crowd began to gather, drawn by his enthusiasm and deep knowledge.Stellar, who actually recognized many of the antiques herself, chose to play along, feigning curiosity. When Laurence finished, she pointed to another item. "What about this one, Grandpa?"He turned and his eyes lit up even more. "Thatโs an artifact from the early medieval period, likely from the 8th or 9th century. Itโs absolutely priceless."He launched into another detailed explanation.Stellar kept the conversation going, asking thoughtful questions one after another, giving Laurence the chance to fully shine. Applause broke
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 449
When they stepped out of the car, Keith was already waiting outside.Guests coming and going couldn't help but glance his wayโtall, poised, and impeccably dressed, he was instantly recognizable. Several people greeted him with polite smiles and nods.Keith returned the gestures with a cool, distant air, his smile polite but faint.But the moment he spotted Stellar and Laurence, a flicker of warmth lit up his eyes. Cutting through the crowd, he greeted them with uncharacteristic enthusiasm."Mr. Rivers, Stellar, you're here! Come on, Iโll take you inside."Guests nearby were visibly surprised by his sudden shift in demeanor, their curious gazes drifting to Stellar and her grandfather.Their composure and presence were impossible to miss.A few who had previously met Laurence found themselves stunned.Could the Rivers and Sinclair families be tying the knot soon?Unaware of the speculation swirling around them, Stellar followed Keith inside with her grandfather.The moment she stepped
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 448
Though a little disappointed, Keith didnโt push further. "Then let me give you a ride home.""No need, Mr. Sinclair. With me here, Iโll make sure Stellar gets home safely,โ Stephen finally spoke, his voice cool and composed. "Yeah, weโre heading in the same direction anyway. No need to trouble you," Stellar added with a polite smile.Keith clenched his fists slightly, frustration flashing through him.Damn Stephen. The only reason he got this far was because he made the first move.Keith had even considered moving closer to Stellarโs neighborhood. But heโd held back, worried it might come off as too deliberate and push her further away instead. It was not worth the risk.In the end, he gave a casual wave and turned to walk away, doing his best to play it cool.It was fine. Theyโd be seeing each other again soon anyway.โฆAfter Keith left, Stellar and Stephen got into the car. On the ride back, Stephen finally broke the silence."Youโre being too nice to him."Stellar blinked a
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 447
Now that the truth was out, netizens finally saw the full picture and reacted with outrage and clarity:"No wonder I thought the book was just average, but everyone online was hyping it like crazy. Turns out, it was all bots!""I left one comment about the poor plot logic and got attacked by a swarm of fake accounts. I thought I poked a hornetโs nestโturns out they were just panicking.""Compared to that, After Dawn is gripping, suspenseful, and logically tight. Star Luna really is in a league of her own and always has been.""I went to her signing todayโsheโs even more stunning in person! Smart, talented, and gracefulโฆ no wonder people are jealous."The entire incident ended up boosting Stellarโs reputation. Support flooded in, and even readers who hadnโt been interested in this genre started checking out her novel, only to find themselves completely hooked.In no time, After Dawn soared to the top of the siteโs trending chart.As for Tori, the one who orchestrated the sabotage from
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 446
Even though acknowledging it meant giving credit to a rival, Keith had no intention of claiming what wasnโt his.Besides, if he kept it quiet and Stephen ended up telling Stellar the full story laterโwith a few embellishments to make himself look betterโitโd all backfire anyway.Stellar froze for a second, then looked at Stephen in surprise.So, was it because sheโd casually mentioned the issue before that Stephen took it to heart and made preparations ahead of time?The moment their eyes metโhis gaze warm and steadyโsomething soft bloomed in her chest."Thank you. Both of you."She truly meant it.Her connection with Stephen didnโt need words to be understood.As for Keith, she genuinely considered him a good friend now.Just as they stepped out of the hall, a wave of reporters from the neighboring signing event rushed toward them."Miss Rivers, it's been said that your friend paid to hire a crowd of fake fans to boost your signing event. Care to explain?""A group that large showing
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 445
Seeing how calm and composed Stellar was, Larry finally let out a breath of relief.At exactly two oโclock, the signing event officially began.A pair of hands slid a book across the table toward her, followed by a familiar deep voice above her head."Star Luna, would you sign your name for me? Iโll treasure it for the rest of my life."Stellar looked up and was met with Stephenโs handsome face. She couldnโt help the smile that bloomed on her lips.After signing her name on the first page, she added a note: To: my dear Stephen, followed by a little heart.When Stephen took the book back and saw what she wrote, a soft, lingering smile rose in his eyes.The chemistry between them was so sweet it practically clung to the airโenough to make anyone nearby cringe from the sugar overload.Readers began to trickle in. At first, there were only a dozen or so. After getting their books signed, they quietly left, making the event feel rather sparse.The reporters kept snapping photos, clearly
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apartย ย ย Chapter 444
"Itโs not even close. I checked that book out myself. Itโs nowhere near as good as yours," Larry said firmly. "And it didnโt even have that title originally. Itโs clearly trying to ride your wave. All the trending buzz? โThatโs paid promotion, no doubt about it. Thereโs serious backing behind it."Stellar couldnโt help but laugh, though she wasnโt really upset about being overshadowed."Alright, alright. Donโt get worked up. Letโs just let things play out," she said, trying to calm him before ending the call.That evening, while out to dinner with Stephen, she brought it up in a teasing tone.Stephen listened quietly, thoughtful for a moment, as if something had just clicked in his mind.Soon, the day of the signing arrived.With Stephen by her side, Stellar arrived at the hall right on time.A group of reporters had already gathered. The moment they spotted her, they swarmed in.Thankfully, Stephen stepped in front of her, shielding her from the worst of it. With him there, no one
