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Chapter 245
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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“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
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Edwin had clearly absorbed the entire conversation and wasted no time in dismissing Suzy with a long-winded argument. Stellar frowned. She had never wanted to get involved in whatever had happened between him and Suzy. But for him to badmouth her while she wasn’t even here to defend herself? That was too much. Turning to Edwin, her gaze turned cold. His confidence wavered under her stare, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. “Did I say anything wrong?” Stellar let out a sharp laugh. “Uncle Edwin, you’re just being biased. You don’t know Suzy at all. You’ve never watched any of her performances, have no idea what she’s capable of, and yet you’re so sure she’s not good enough?“Let me show you exactly what she can do.” Without another word, she pulled up a clip of Suzy’s acting and cast it onto the big screen. Julian leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he studied the performance with a director’s keen eye. However, Edwin sat frozen. The Suzy he knew had
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 452
"Stellar, I really need to thank you." Autumn’s tone was sincere. "There’s no need for that, Autumn. I just did what anyone should’ve done." Stellar couldn’t explain it, but something about Autumn made her feel warm, almost protective. "Stellar…" 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 Laurence’s 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, Keith’s aunt—the one I told you about. She’s 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, it’s an honor. I’ve heard so much about you. I really appreciate you taking the time to help ide
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The manager turned to her in shock, clearly about to say something, but Keith stopped him with a single look."You’ve got some sense, I’ll give you that. At least you know I’m 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. "Ma’am, you can take them, sure, but we’ll need your signature and fingerprints first. These three antiques are each worth over two million. “If it turns out someone took them without the owner’s permission, it’ll go straight to court. And that’s a serious offense—major fraud with a possibly of a life sentence."Her tone was breezy, but the words sent a chill down the woman’s spine. "Wh-What are you trying to say? Are you threatening me?""Oh no, not threatening. Just stating the facts. If you’ve got the owner's permission, there’s nothing to worry about, right?"
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 450
"This is…" Laurence’s eyes lit up instantly. He leaned in, examining the piece carefully for a long moment before exclaiming, "This piece is from the early 1700s—right 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. "That’s an artifact from the early medieval period, likely from the 8th or 9th century. It’s 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 Apart Chapter 449
When they stepped out of the car, Keith was already waiting outside.Guests coming and going couldn't help but glance his way—tall, 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, I’ll 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
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Though a little disappointed, Keith didn’t push further. "Then let me give you a ride home.""No need, Mr. Sinclair. With me here, I’ll make sure Stellar gets home safely,” Stephen finally spoke, his voice cool and composed. "Yeah, we’re 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 Stellar’s neighborhood. But he’d 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. They’d be seeing each other again soon anyway.…After Keith left, Stellar and Stephen got into the car. On the ride back, Stephen finally broke the silence."You’re being too nice to him."Stellar blinked a
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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 hornet’s nest—turns 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 today—she’s even more stunning in person! Smart, talented, and graceful… no wonder people are jealous."The entire incident ended up boosting Stellar’s reputation. Support flooded in, and even readers who hadn’t 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 site’s trending chart.As for Tori, the one who orchestrated the sabotage from
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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
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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
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"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
