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Chapter 304
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 305
"Mr. Sinclair? What are you doing here?" Stellar looked genuinely surprised.The moment her gaze landed on him, Keith’s face lit up with that signature devilish grin. “Stellar, I heard your housekeeper went back to Southport. I figured you might not have anything to eat, so I personally cooked and brought you something delicious.”He raised the two large bags in his hands with a flourish.“That won’t be necessary,” Stephen said coolly, arms folded as he leaned against the doorframe with the air of someone who lived there. “I’m already making dinner for her. You can go.”Keith’s smile twitched, his expression turning sharp. “This is Stellar’s house. But here you are, shamelessly playing house like you belong—wearing a pink apron no less. What is that? Some sort of performance?”Unbothered, Stephen replied calmly, “She put it on me herself.”One simple sentence, and Keith's face turned an impressive shade of green.Stellar sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead, expertly cutting i
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Keith’s forehead throbbed with fury, veins bulging as he lunged forward and grabbed Stephen by the collar.“You bastard! It was you, wasn’t it? You tampered with the food on purpose and made me double over in pain!”This fireworks show was supposed to be a surprise he’d planned especially for Stellar Rivers. Instead, it ended up benefiting someone else.Stephen calmly pulled his collar free from Keith’s grip, gave it a light pat, and said coolly, “Mr. Sinclair, you need proof when you make accusations. You brought the food. We all ate it and no one else had an issue. How is that my fault?”“You…”Keith choked on his words.For the moment, he really couldn’t find any solid evidence.Stephen patted him on the shoulder, looking “concerned” as he offered, “It’s nothing to be ashamed of if your body’s weak. Go home and rest up. You wouldn’t want rumors flying about how you’re already burning out so young, right?”Keith’s eyes turned bloodshot, his voice filled with rage. “Stephen… Ward!”
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Stephen knew he was in the wrong and couldn’t argue back. He even braced himself for some harsh words or a difficult time.But it was Stellar who couldn’t bear the tension any longer and stepped in to change the subject. “Uncle Claude, what brings you here at just the right time? It must’ve been exhausting coming all this way. Do you want to go upstairs and rest for a bit?”The moment he heard his niece’s concern, Claude’s expression softened. “I’m fine. I was planning to come over anyway to discuss a patent on artificial intelligence…”“Are you talking about the patent for the Stellar AI robot?” Stephen cut in.Claude paused in surprise. “You know about it?”“Yes. The software is actually developed under our company, Brighton Group.”Stephen regained his calm, collected look. “If you’re interested, Mr. Rivers, we could sit down and talk in detail.”“Sounds good. So, you’re the president of Brighton? You really know how to keep a low profile!”Claude was clearly intrigued now. He sa
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"This is incredible—every bit as good as what you'd get from a master tea brewer. My Stellar really can do it all," Claude said with genuine admiration.Stephen snapped out of his daze at the compliment and offered warmly, "Mr. Rivers, since you enjoy tea so much, how about I take you to visit my Goldenleaf Tea Estate sometime?"Claude looked surprised. "You mean the Goldenleaf Tea Estate that was auctioned off at a sky-high price not long ago?"The estate had gained a strong reputation across the country. If its previous owner hadn’t fallen seriously ill, it never would’ve gone up for sale. Claude had tried to acquire it himself but missed it by a hair—he hadn’t expected it was Stephen who bought it."Yes," Stephen confirmed without hesitation. "If you’re interested, I can let it go to you at the original price."Claude's eyes widened in astonishment. He was clearly overjoyed but still hesitated. "I—well—that’s far too generous!""A tea estate should be managed by someone who truly
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Claude was having such a great time chatting with Stephen that, after a few drinks, his mood turned even more exuberant. He was so hyped, he nearly called Stephen his long-lost brother.Thankfully, Stephen kept his head clear and managed to deflect the sentiment with some diplomatic phrasing.Even as he sipped his drink, he kept an eye on Stellar. Her flushed cheeks and slightly dazed gaze didn’t escape his notice—she was definitely tipsy.He stepped over and gently took the glass from her hand. “Stellar, that’s enough. You’ll regret it in the morning if you get a hangover.”She lifted her blurry eyes to him, her words slightly slurred. “Don’t boss me around.”It came out so adorably, Stephen couldn’t help but smile. The corners of his mouth twitched up as he reached out, wanting to touch her face.But Claude suddenly threw an arm around his shoulders with a boisterous laugh. “You’re fussing over my niece like this—what, you trying to be her uncle or something?”Stephen was momenta
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Though Stellar was reluctant to let go, the pull of sleep quickly took over. Her fingers loosened, and her eyes slowly fluttered shut.Only then did Stephen manage to slip out of the room. He loosened the collar of his tie and exhaled a long breath before heading downstairs with long, steady strides.Downstairs, Claude happened to stir awake in a daze. Catching a glimpse of Stephen’s retreating figure, his groggy brain struggled to catch up. “Hey, where’ve you been, buddy?”Stephen froze for half a second, then casually replied, “Just went to the bathroom. Mr. Rivers, would you like me to help you upstairs to rest?”“Nah, I’m not done drinking yet…” Claude slurred, waving him off, but within moments, he was snoring again.Stephen could only shake his head with a helpless smile. He stepped forward, grabbed a blanket, and gently draped it over him before quietly letting himself out.Stellar woke up the next morning with a throbbing head and groaned as she sat up, rubbing her temples.
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Joy’s attempt to stir the pot had clearly failed, and it nearly drove her up the wall.He was a respected figure on the international stage, for god’s sake—how could he be so spineless?Stellar, on the other hand, was both amused and exasperated.Still, she couldn’t help but find his easygoing personality rather endearing.The morning flew by.Just as Stellar stepped into the cafeteria, a tall figure walked straight toward her.“Stellar.” Stephen stopped in front of her, holding a food container in his hand. “I heard you skipped breakfast. I made something for you. There’s even a warm soup for your stomach. Want to try it?”The moment she saw him, memories of the night before came rushing back. Her cheeks flushed, and she couldn’t quite meet his eyes.“You didn’t have to go through all that trouble, really,” she mumbled.But Stephen, surprisingly, wasn’t giving her an out. “If you don’t like it, you can toss it. But once I offer something, I don’t take it back.”Her heart skipped aga
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“I thought you wouldn’t come… because of Stephen,” Keith said, his voice still carrying a trace of wounded pride.“He’s him, and you’re you. No one makes decisions for me,” Stellar replied calmly. “Besides, we’re friends, aren’t we?”That single word “friends” shouldn’t have meant so much, but somehow it did. His heart warmed. “How’s your mom, by the way?” she added, remembering suddenly.Keith's expression softened. “She’s doing better now—just a stomach bug, nothing serious.”She cared about his family. Did that mean she cared about him, even just a little?The thought made his smile widen unconsciously.In the distance, hidden behind a patch of bushes, a paparazzo crouched with his lens trained on them. The golden-orange sunset cast the pair in silhouette, their figures outlined in a warm glow. The resulting photo looked strikingly intimate.“Damn,” the photographer muttered. “Who knew these two looked this good together?”After chatting a little longer, Stellar and Keith said t
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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?"
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"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
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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
