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Chapter 276
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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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 278
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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 279
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.
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 280
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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Percy looked utterly defeated, his voice hoarse. "Mom, we can't win against her. The one who locked us up was Zayden Moore!"Margaret's face was filled with disbelief. "What?! He…how could he…""Stellar got involved with Zayden behind my back. He’s only helping her to humiliate and torment us."Percy's eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on the back of his clenched hand. His heart burned with resentment and shame."That shameless vixen! I always knew she was trouble, but to go behind your back and seduce your cousin…"Margaret was completely enraged now, abandoning all pretense of composure, cursing viciously without restraint.But no amount of insults could change reality."No, we can't just let this go! I’ll make her pay!"Percy's eyelid twitched, sensing something. "Mom, what are you planning?"A sinister glint flashed across Margaret’s face. "Since she’s so ruthless to us, we’ll destroy her!""Mom, you’re not thinking…""If she loves throwing herself at men, then we’ll help her do
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That made sense—Joy would never let something like that spread. Stellar remained silent for a moment, considering that Stephen was still a senior engineer at SA Aerospace. She decided not to speak ill of the place. "Let’s just say it wasn’t a good fit for me." Stephen frowned slightly, suspecting she had encountered something unpleasant. "What’s next? Do you have any plans?" On this, Stellar had nothing to hide. In fact, she spoke with a hint of excitement. "My junior mentioned an opportunity at Starlight Aerospace. I’d like to give it a shot." She had meant to share her good news with him. But as soon as she said it, Stephen’s frown deepened. "So, you'd rather accept his help than mine?"Stellar was caught off guard. "What?" Stephen’s voice grew heavier. "Do you really think he’s just helping you out of kindness? He’s making sure you owe him…" Who knew what else he was planning behind the scenes? "That’s your bias talking." Stellar emphasized, displeased. "He’s
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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
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"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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 437
Layla was still completely in the dark.“I never said I was handing her the project. And for the record, I’ve never been involved with this Miss Yates, and I never will be.”Stephen’s tone was firm and final. “Ma’am, I’ll have my attorney contact you for spreading false claims like that.”Layla froze, stunned.This was nothing like the scene she’d imagined.“M-Mr. Ward, maybe there’s just a misunderstanding between you and Janet?” she asked hesitantly, still clinging to hope.“There’s no misunderstanding,” Stephen replied coldly. “Your daughter pretended to be the girl who saved me when I was a child. She used that lie to manipulate me and gain access to my resources. “On top of that, she went online and spread rumors that I was her boyfriend. I’ve now exposed the truth.”His eyes swept over to Janet, as cold as ice. “Miss Yates, what you’ve done crosses every line. “But for the sake of your family’s connection to Stellar, I won’t press criminal charges. “However, everything you to
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As Stephen’s expression grew darker by the second, beads of sweat began to form on Janet’s forehead in panic.Then, a flash of inspiration hit her, and she blurted out, “Wait, yes! I remember losing the pendant once when I was younger. Maybe someone switched the real one back then?”She doubled down without hesitation. “Someone must’ve brought that pendant to you, probably that woman. She must’ve found out about our past and pretended to be me on purpose…”She actually had the audacity to turn the blame around.“Enough!”Stephen finally lost all patience. He shot to his feet, his gaze as sharp and cutting as a blade.“You’re still lying even now? Do you think I’d confront you without solid proof?”Ever since he’d seen the real Regency Emerald Pendant on Stellar, he’d quietly started investigating the truth himself.And what he found had confirmed everything.“You claimed to be the little girl who saved me, but I checked—when the kidnapping happened, you weren’t even in that city. “Yo
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 435
After hearing her plan, Layla’s eyes lit up instantly.“That’s my girl—brilliant as always. Once the reporters show up and catch you meeting with Stephen, along with him handing over a major production to you, everyone will start speculating about your relationship. “They'll see what you're capable of. You’ll be famous in no time.”Just picturing it had Janet practically glowing with pride. “That’s why I’m trusting you with this, Mom. Make sure you get the top media outlets involved.”“Leave it to me!” Layla said with enthusiasm before marching off, fully fired up.Feeling satisfied, Janet smoothed her hair and told the driver to take her to the meeting spot.When the car pulled up, she stepped out in her heels, strutting confidently into the place, only to pause the moment she saw it clearly.It was an open-air café?Why would Stephen choose a place like this?But then it hit her—this kind of setting was perfect for paparazzi shots. Her confidence returned in full.And soon, she spo
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
