LOGINShare
Chapter 244
Related chapters
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 245
Dawn’s phone screen was filled with message notifications.“Dawn Jones, you heartless thing! It’s been days, and you still haven’t transferred the $20,000?”“I raised you all these years, and this is how you repay me? Ungrateful brat.”“If you don’t send the money soon, I’ll come find you myself! Your brother needs the dowry for his fiancée.”Disgust flashed across Dawn’s face. She silenced her phone and shoved it back into her bag.These parasites.If she hadn’t been desperate to cut ties with them, she wouldn’t have gone behind Percy’s back to seek out Margaret.Margaret’s voice suddenly broke her thoughts. "I heard you’re still living alone?"Dawn immediately collected herself and responded obediently. "Yes, but my lease is almost up. I was just thinking about finding a new place…""There’s no need for that. It’s not safe for you to live outside, especially while you’re pregnant. I’ll take you to stay at Percy’s villa for now." Margaret decided for her.A surge of excitement shot
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 246
Stephen was the last person Stellar expected to see at the villa entrance.He was wearing only a light jacket, despite the cold weather. His fingers had turned red from the biting wind, and it was impossible to tell how long he had been waiting.The moment he saw her, his dark eyes lit up, and he immediately stepped forward."Stellar, you’re back. I was afraid I might miss you, so I waited. Luckily, you came."Stellar looked at his wind-chilled face, emotions stirring within her.She remained silent for a while before finally speaking. "What exactly do you want to say?"Stephen froze.There was so much he wanted to ask.“Why are you treating me so coldly?”“Why did you return the lab keys?”But when he finally opened his mouth, all he said was, "I wanted to take you out for dinner. Will you come?""There’s no need."Stellar’s expression turned indifferent as she prepared to head inside.Panic flickered across Stephen’s face. Ignoring the situation, he hurriedly explained, "I wanted to
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 247
Stephen’s presence was overpowering, as if he carried some kind of built-in radar.The moment he appeared, Stellar sensed it immediately."Uh, you guys go ahead and enjoy. I just remembered I have an important report I haven’t submitted yet."Without waiting for a response, she turned and left before Stephen could reach her.At the doorway, Stephen’s steps halted, and a suffocating pressure radiated from him.If before, Stellar had at least maintained a polite facade and exchanged a few words with him, then her outright avoidance just now made her stance painfully clear.She didn’t want any contact with him.A dull ache spread through his chest, a bitter emotion slowly seeping in.Taking out his phone, he opened their chat. The last message was from a month ago.He hesitated, typing out a message.“Stellar, can you tell me why…”He reworded it over and over again, typing it at least a dozen times, only to delete it every time.For the first time in his life, Stephen felt fear in matter
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 248
Stephen didn’t answer.But when Lilian looked up and met his gaze, she already knew.A satisfied smile spread across her face. "Alright, I’ll set it up for you."That evening.As Stellar left the base, her phone rang. It was Lilian, inviting her to a class gathering.She was about to decline, but Lilian wouldn’t take no for an answer, insisting that this was a one-time thing, their last chance before graduation. After relentless coaxing, Stellar finally agreed.Following the location Lilian sent, she arrived at Sophie Hotel.As she pushed open the private room door, she saw a lively crowd inside.Yet, despite the number of people, her eyes immediately locked onto a familiar figure.She froze for a moment, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Stephen to attend something like this—a casual social gathering."There you are!" Lilian jumped up to greet her, pulling her over. "Come sit! We’ve been waiting for you.""Wait a second."Stellar hesitated, then offered an apologetic smile. "Li
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 249
Her voice was soft. "I just don’t want others to misunderstand.""Who would misunderstand? I gave you the keys. I don’t want distance between us. I want you to look at me and give me an answer!"Stephen’s grip tightened as he tilted her chin up, refusing to let her avoid his gaze.A wave of grievance swelled in Stellar’s chest. Her eyes burned, turning misty at the edges. She slapped his hand away."You want everything, don’t you? You made promises to Janet, gave her a ring, and now you still want to stay entangled with me. Stephen, what do you take me for?"Stephen froze, confusion flashing across his face. "What promises? What ring?""Don’t play dumb!" Stellar glared at him, frustration bubbling over. "Didn’t you personally say you helped her pick out a gift?""A gift?"Stephen hesitated for a moment, as if piecing something together. Then, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small, exquisitely wrapped box."You thought the gift I was talking about… was this?"He flipped ope
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 250
Stephen lowered his head slightly, his voice carrying an unusual trace of nervousness. "So… Stellar, will you accept my confession?" Stellar snapped out of her thoughts, her mind flashing back to that unexpected kiss. Her cheeks burned instantly. Lowering her head, she fidgeted, lost in thought. After a long pause, she finally looked up, meeting his gaze. Her voice was soft but steady. "Senior, I’m sorry about before. But… I don’t think this is the right time for us." Stephen stiffened. His expression dimmed, disappointment and sorrow flickering in his eyes. But before he could dwell on it, Stellar continued, "That said… I’m willing to give it a try and see where it leads." A spark of hope ignited in Stephen’s gaze. Astonishment, disbelief, and pure joy flickered across his face all at once. "I won’t lie to you," Stellar admitted. "In my last relationship, I saw Percy as my salvation. He was there when I hit rock bottom, so I blindly clung to him. “I thought he wa
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 251
Stephen quickly left the spot and returned to the private room.Just then, a junior student enthusiastically approached Stellar with a drink in hand."Stellar, I’d like to toast to you as well! You’re my idol. I followed in your footsteps to get where I am today!"Faced with such sincerity, Stellar found it hard to refuse.She picked up her glass, just about to take a sip when a hand reached over and effortlessly took it from her."She’s had a bit too much to drink tonight. I’ll take this for her."With that, Stephen stepped in front of her, raised the glass to his lips, and downed the drink in one go.The entire room fell into stunned silence.Stellar, momentarily dazed, suddenly realized that it was her glass.The spot he drank from was exactly where she had just taken a sip…The thought of their earlier kiss flashed through her mind, and a wave of heat surged to her head, making her feel like she was about to combust.As the crowd looked on with gossipy curiosity, Stephen calmly set
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 252
“In this industry, the abundance of poorly written scripts is precisely why so many productions turn out to be subpar. I find it quite unfortunate."Stellar understood. "I know. You truly love acting, which is why you chose this path."Given Suzy's family background, she could have taken a much easier route.The two best friends chatted for a long time before Stellar finally dropped her off safely at home.On her way back, Stellar checked her phone and noticed Julian had sent her a few messages half an hour ago.“Stellar, I'm planning to direct a new film, and the theme is related to aeronautics. Since you're knowledgeable in this field, could you help me take a look?”Attached were the script and character profiles.Raising an eyebrow in surprise, Stellar clicked on the files and began reading them carefully.She lost track of time until the car came to a stop at the villa entrance."Miss, we're home."Snapping out of her thoughts, Stellar quickly got out of the car and went inside.A
Latest chapter
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 446
Even though acknowledging it meant giving credit to a rival, Keith had no intention of claiming what wasn’t his.Besides, if he kept it quiet and Stephen ended up telling Stellar the full story later—with a few embellishments to make himself look better—it’d all backfire anyway.Stellar froze for a second, then looked at Stephen in surprise.So, was it because she’d casually mentioned the issue before that Stephen took it to heart and made preparations ahead of time?The moment their eyes met—his gaze warm and steady—something soft bloomed in her chest."Thank you. Both of you."She truly meant it.Her connection with Stephen didn’t 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 Apart Chapter 445
Seeing how calm and composed Stellar was, Larry finally let out a breath of relief.At exactly two o’clock, 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? I’ll treasure it for the rest of my life."Stellar looked up and was met with Stephen’s handsome face. She couldn’t 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 air—enough 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 Apart Chapter 444
"It’s not even close. I checked that book out myself. It’s nowhere near as good as yours," Larry said firmly. "And it didn’t even have that title originally. It’s clearly trying to ride your wave. All the trending buzz? “That’s paid promotion, no doubt about it. There’s serious backing behind it."Stellar couldn’t help but laugh, though she wasn’t really upset about being overshadowed."Alright, alright. Don’t get worked up. Let’s 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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 443
"You really are as sharp as they say," Jonas remarked, handing her a folder.Tori immediately reached for it. Inside were detailed notes on Stellar’s current situation, including the announcement of her upcoming book signing event.A cold, bitter laugh slipped out.She gripped the papers tightly, growing more furious with each line. "Unbelievable. She ruined my name, dragged me through the mud, and now she gets to rise from it all? “A book signing? Seriously? If it weren’t for me mentioning Star Luna in the first place, that washed-up author would’ve been long forgotten!"The more she thought about it, the more rage bubbled inside her.No. There was no way that book signing was going to go smoothly. She was going to sabotage it.Jonas watched the shift in her expression and gave a faint, satisfied smile. It looked like his job was done.…The next day.Stellar returned to the research center and shared some specialty treats she’d brought back from Southport with her team.Every
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 442
The two finally returned to the villa after an hour.Just before they stepped inside, Stellar suddenly stopped and grabbed Stephen’s arm, leaning in close to whisper in his ear. "By the way, I should warn you that I'm pretty sure Mary’s starting to suspect something’s going on between us. You might want to tone it down around her.""Something going on?" Stephen raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Are we hiding some kind of scandal?""I’m talking about that night during the thunderstorm. When you stayed in my room! I think she caught on to something. She’s been subtly probing me ever since."She shot him a half-glare, half-pout. "Anyway, no matter what Mary asks you, don’t admit to anything. If my family gets the wrong idea, they’ll come after you for sure."Stephen paused, eyes flickering with surprise. Was she more worried about him than herself?"Don’t worry, from the moment I decided to pursue you, I was ready to take whatever came with it. So, stop worrying about me," he said,
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 441
Hulk and the others were practically fuming with rage. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go! Wasn’t she just some harmless little girl? Why was even the guy next to her such a monster? Had they been played?In the end, Stellar let out a cold snort and made a call to the police, having the entire group hauled away. From start to finish, neither she nor Stephen were harmed.In fact, they looked more energized than ever."You two are even more in sync than my wife and I! Honestly, you're a perfect match," Wayne said with genuine admiration after watching the whole scene unfold.Stellar cleared her throat awkwardly and pretended not to hear. Stephen, however, smiled gently.…After settling the trouble in Southport, the group finally arrived in Northvale that evening.With the family reunited, Laurence and Martha were overjoyed. They chatted warmly with Wayne for quite a while.Just in time for dinner, they even insisted Stephen stay for the reunion meal. Having learned from
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 440
"Stellar, Stephen, this is my oldest student, Isaac Cross. Let me introduce him. He's the one I trust the most."Isaac might not have been the most gifted, but he was dependable and steady to the core.Everyone exchanged greetings."Isaac, while I’m away, I’ll be entrusting the academy to you. I believe you can lead everyone well." Wayne patted his shoulder firmly."Mentor, don’t worry. I won’t let you down," Isaac nodded earnestly.After a pleasant chat, everyone said their goodbyes and left.But not long after Stellar and the others stepped outside, they found the path ahead blocked by a crowd of dozens."Miss Rivers, where are you off to? Want me to walk you home?"The one teasing her in the lead was none other than Hulk—the same guy she’d knocked flat earlier.And behind him were clearly members of the Ironclad Academy."What’s the meaning of this?"Wayne's face darkened instantly. "Your academy lost to us in the challenge match, and according to the wager, you're not allowed to ca
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 439
Fueled by rage, Janet stormed toward the living room, ready to smash whatever else she could get her hands on.But before she could touch anything, a sharp slap landed across her face.Layla’s voice followed, cold and cutting. “Have you lost your mind?”“Mom!” Janet looked up in shock, clutching her cheek, utterly stunned.“Do you not think we’ve been humiliated enough already? I put all my trust in you, pinned every hope on your future—and this is what you do? “Pretending to be Stephen Ward’s childhood savior? How unbelievably stupid can you be!”The thrill and anticipation she'd felt over the past few days vanished like a bucket of ice water poured over her, snapping her back to reality.“But Mom, how can you blame me? I did all this for the family!” Janet protested, her voice laced with indignation.“You think I’m angry because you lied? If you were absolutely certain you wouldn’t be exposed, I might’ve turned a blind eye. “But Stephen Ward of all people? You thought you could foo
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 438
"Thinking back now, I’m pretty sure the people around me kept the truth from me on purpose. “And as for me falling into the water... I don’t think that was just an accident either.""Are you saying someone tried to hurt you?" A cold, sharp glint flashed in Stephen’s eyes."It’s been too long. I don’t really remember everything clearly..." Stellar didn’t want to dwell on the past. With a smile, she shifted the mood. "Didn’t you invite me out for dinner? Let’s not ruin it with gloomy talk."Stephen nodded but made a mental note to look into it later.Their dinner unfolded in warm, quiet elegance.Then, just as dessert plates were being cleared, the soft notes of a waltz began to float through the room.The next second, Stephen rose from his seat and stepped toward her, offering his hand like a perfect gentleman."May I have this dance with this beautiful lady?"Stellar looked up, surprised.He stood tall under the soft golden light, his every feature kissed with a glow, and the earnest
