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Chapter 274
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 275
The bodyguards immediately understood and shut the basement door behind them.With everyone gone, the only ones left in the dark, enclosed space were Stellar and Percy."Stellar, are you really sure about this?" Percy asked again, wanting confirmation.She gave him a sweet, innocent smile. "Of course. Now, can you untie me?"Percy hesitated for a moment."You’re not scared I’ll hurt you, are you?" Stellar tilted her head, her voice soft, almost teasing. "Don’t forget, I can barely move right now. And if you keep me tied up like this, how am I supposed to hold you?"She even pouted a little, as if sulking.Percy’s heart nearly leaped out of his chest.It made sense. She was completely powerless right now. There was no way she could fight back—wasn’t she already at his mercy?Feeling reassured, he finally moved forward and loosened the knots.As the ropes fell away, Stellar stretched her stiff wrists, rubbing the soreness out before curling her fingers into a slow, deliberate fist."S
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The moment Zayden appeared, Percy’s eyes lit up like he had just seen his savior.Using every ounce of strength left in his battered body, he crawled forward, grasping onto Zayden’s pant leg in desperation."Zayden, help me! Stellar offended you, so I brought her here to teach her a lesson for you, but she turned around and beat me like this! Please, you have to save me!"Zayden’s jaw clenched, the vein on his temple twitching violently."You idiot. Who gave you the right to lay a hand on her?! Are you looking for death?"With that, he delivered a vicious kick, sending Percy flying across the room.Percy felt his insides shift as he crashed to the ground, gasping in pain.What the hell?! Wasn’t Stellar the one who had pissed off Zayden? Then why… why was he protecting her?Before he could process it, Stephen had already stepped toward Stellar, scanning her from head to toe."Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.Stellar raised a brow, flashing a bright, teasing smile.
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 277
"You don’t have to thank me. Saving Stellar was simply the right thing to do," Stephen said smoothly. Now that things had reached this point, there was no way he would back down. Instead, he subtly staked his own claim. "Stellar is very important to me. If anything, I should be the one thanking you for stepping in." A flicker of hostility flashed through Zayden’s eyes, and though he still wore a smile, there was something eerily cold about it. "My senior is also the most important person to me," he stated, enunciating every word with deliberate emphasis. Stephen, unbothered, simply responded with a casual, almost teasing tone. "Is that so? Strange, I don’t recall Stellar ever mentioning you before." Zayden’s expression darkened instantly. Sensing the growing tension, Stellar finally stepped in. "Alright, enough of this. You two can stop arguing now." Turning to Stephen, she asked, "How did you even know I was in trouble?" "Your uncle called me," he answered. St
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Margaret sat drenched, her body still trembling from the lingering effects of the electric shock.But this was only the beginning.Every single torture device in this prison—every cruel mechanism—was designed based on her own suggestions.She planned to personally oversee Stellar’s suffering.Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, it was now all coming back to her.She tried to scream for help, but no one outside would answer her.What awaited her was the next round of punishment."What goes around, comes around."Outside, Stellar watched coldly before turning away.Without sparing another glance, she walked off with Stephen and Zayden.As they left the compound, Stellar glanced at Stephen, curiosity flashing in her eyes."By the way, how did you figure out this was a trap?"Stephen explained calmly, "I’ve studied mechanical traps before. The way this place was structured, along with the control panel on the wall, made it pretty obvious."Stellar’s eyes sparkled with admiration. "Wow, that’s i
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Stellar hadn’t expected that.Stephen suddenly turned to her, his gaze deep and unwavering, his voice low and serious."What if I said I was?"Her heart skipped a beat.A rush of emotions flooded her all at once—nervousness, panic, uncertainty, and warmth."I…"She pressed her lips together, her mind scrambling for words.Maybe it was the intensity of his gaze, or maybe it was something else entirely, but she found herself speaking, her voice steady."You misunderstood. He’s my junior—someone I look out for, like a younger brother. That’s all."The moment the words left her lips, Stephen’s dark eyes lit up.They were brighter than the moon hanging in the night sky.In an instant, all the tension, unease, and frustration he felt earlier vanished.His voice was rich and unwavering."That’s all I needed to hear."So, it wasn’t just him.Stellar’s heart pounded against her ribs.She quickly averted her gaze, trying to compose herself. But the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her.
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Deep down, she refused to be seen as a delicate flower—someone incapable of standing on her own without a man's protection.But that wasn’t something she could easily explain to anyone.Yet, as if reading her mind, Stephen’s reply came through:"I know you don’t like being treated this way. I’ll talk to your uncles for you."Stellar was taken aback.She assumed that since Stephen was pursuing her, he would seize this opportunity to spend more time with her.Instead, he was turning it down.Stellar: “Why would you…?”Stephen: “I won’t force you into something you don’t want. But whenever you need me, I’ll always be there.”His words struck a chord in her heart.A slow smile spread across her lips.This time, she didn’t bother with polite refusals or empty words.“Okay.”That night, she fell asleep with an inexplicable sense of warmth.The next morning, upon arriving at the base, Stellar received an official notification.Her proposal had been approved.It should have been good news.Aft
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Stellar had never seen such shamelessness.Not only had Joy stolen her work, but now she was twisting the situation to make herself the victim.Backing down wasn’t an option—not for her."Fine. If that’s the case, I’m out of the final stage of this project!" she declared without hesitation.The room fell into stunned silence.Many were taken aback by her decisiveness, unable to hide their shock.Joy was the first to recover."Miss Rivers, do you really think the team can’t function without you?" she sneered. "This isn’t some playground where you can throw a tantrum. If you quit now, your work will be discarded, and your internship might not even be approved. Are you sure you want to be this reckless?"She spoke as if she were lecturing a child—one who was acting spoiled and irrational.But Stellar merely let out a cold laugh, standing her ground."Yes. If this place can’t even uphold fairness, I see no reason to stay."With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.Joy’s gaze dark
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 282
Hearing Zayden’s offer, Stellar couldn’t deny that she was tempted."Alright, I’d love to give it a shot!"A satisfied smile spread across Zayden’s face.He reveled in the feeling of having her within his grasp, unwilling to let go."I’ll personally take you there tomorrow.""Then…" Stellar was about to say she needed to head back and prepare.But the moment Zayden sensed she was about to part ways with him, he quickly spoke up."Senior, I didn’t just come here to see you today. There’s someone I want to take you to meet.""Who?""Our old mentor. He’s in town for a while. Would you come with me to visit him?" His gaze was sincere, almost pleading.Stellar hadn’t expected him to be so respectful toward their teacher.Back when they were younger, she assumed Zayden hated their mentor and their fellow classmates—practically everyone except her.Maybe she had misunderstood him.With a warm smile, she nodded."Of course! I haven’t seen him in so long. Let’s stop by a shop and pick up some g
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 434
Message after message, all of them were overly affectionate displays of love.From the details in the photos, the chat records, and the familiar username, Stellar quickly figured out the account belonged to Janet.So, the reason Stephen had been in such a bind, spending so long helping her pick a script was it all for Janet?The thought stung more than she expected.But then, she remembered the misunderstanding caused by Janet not long ago.She still felt it wasn't fair to jump to conclusions. Stephen deserved her trust.With that in mind, she opened messenger and made a video call.Stephen picked up the call shortly after."Stellar, what’s wrong?"Stephen seemed to notice her shift in mood right away."I... there’s something I wanted to ask you..." She paused, noticing the scenery shifting behind him. "Hold on, are you in a car? Where are you going?""I'm just checking on something. I’ll be back soon. What did you want to talk about?"After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Have yo
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Unfortunately, Janet agreed with her mother."I’ve said it all along—the Rivers family never saw us as their own. At least now you’re finally seeing their true colors. “But Mom, there’s no need to be upset anymore. We don’t need to rely on them."Her tone was firm and resolute."If not the Rivers, then who? You know your father’s limited abilities. With the company in its current state, what else can we do..." Layla muttered, already regretting marrying such a useless man."Mom, you still have me!" Janet’s eyes lit up. "To tell you the truth, I’ve already gotten close to Stephen Ward.""What did you say?" Layla blinked, unsure if she’d heard correctly. "You mean the heir to the Ward family?""That’s right. Things between us aren’t ordinary anymore. I told him I wanted to become a director, and he immediately promised to give me the best resources. “It won’t be long before I win him over completely. Once that happens, he’ll help the Cole family out of this mess and bring us more ben
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 432
She had only learned about her family situation from her mother after returning to Southport this time. If they couldn’t find a way to turn things around soon, the Cole family would be finished.Janet had to start planning for herself. But on the other end of the line, it suddenly went silent. Just as Janet grew anxious, Stephen’s deep voice finally came through. But he brought up something else entirely. "Janet, tell me, were you really the girl who saved me back then?" Janet’s heart skipped a beat, and she nearly dropped her phone. Her expression turned flustered, but thankfully, he couldn’t see her face through the screen. "Of course I was! Isn’t the pendant the best proof? Stephen, why would you suddenly ask that? Did someone say something to you?" She tried to sound hurt. "Is that so? But you don’t remember anything about saving me." Stephen’s tone was calm, almost testing her—though it also sounded like an offhand remark. "That’s because of the aftereffects f
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When Stellar came downstairs in fresh clothes, Stephen was just finishing up a call in the living room.She walked toward him, planning to share what had just come to mind, but paused when she realized he was on a work call.“A script?” he was saying.“Yes, Mr. Ward,” came the voice of the development director on the other end. “We’ve just reviewed last quarter’s report from the film division—it exceeded projections by a wide margin. “If we continue selecting strong scripts and hiring top-tier actors, this production model could take the company even further.”“So, you want me to choose?” Stephen asked.“Yes, I’ve received several promising scripts and we’re ready to move forward with a major production. “But I’m struggling to narrow down the best one. I’d really appreciate your judgment on this.”“Got it. I’ll come by shortly,” Stephen replied, ending the call.He turned to see Stellar approaching. “Something on your mind?”Then, as if struck by inspiration, his eyes lit up. “Star
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Stellar turned around, puzzled, and met a pair of eyes filled with emotion so intense it felt like it might swallow her whole.The weight of it hit her all at once. “What’s wrong?”“Stellar, Promise me... no matter what happens, no matter the situation, don’t ever risk your life like that again. Please,” Stephen said, his voice rough, heavy with something deeper. In that moment, she understood. Her expression softened as she stepped closer, her tone gentle, almost coaxing. “I only had the courage to jump in because I knew you were there. “You’re the reason I felt safe. You’re my biggest sense of security.”The words, light and sincere, hit Stephen right in the chest.It was like a quiet confession that reached the softest part of him.He let out a helpless breath and smiled, brushing the damp strands of hair from her forehead. “Let’s get you changed. You’re completely…”Soaked.He didn’t finish the sentence.His gaze had fallen to her chest, where a familiar emerald pendant hung fro
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"Mary, Wayne, we’ve decided that we’d like you to be our mentors and carry on your legacy. “Martial arts may not be our full-time focus, and we won’t be able to devote ourselves to it completely... but if you're willing to accept that, please take this as a symbol of our commitment."Both of them had made the same decision.The older couple exchanged a glance, visibly moved.With successors finally in place, they had a renewed sense of purpose. With time, they were confident the two would come to love martial arts just as deeply as they did.“I couldn’t ask for better students,” Wayne said with a wide grin. “Alright, enough with the bowing.”Mary chuckled. "Honestly, it’s starting to feel like a wedding ceremony."Stellar flushed and quickly stood straight.The four of them chatted warmly, already discussing plans for the trip back. After some thought, Wayne made his decision."This time, I’ll head back to the city with you two for a while. It’s been ages since I visited the Mr. and
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
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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
