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Chapter 333
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 334
"Miss, you probably don’t know this yet. Over the past six months, Mr. Ward has been sending gifts to the house every now and then. “I don’t know how he figured out what the Mr. and Mrs. Rivers like, but everything he sent matched their tastes perfectly..."At first, of course, the old couple turned him down coldly.But Stephen didn’t give up. He sent Laurence a rare first-edition hardcover from his favorite classic author. For Martha, he tracked down a limited-edition vinyl from a beloved jazz singer she’d always wanted in her collection.In the end, they couldn’t resist and accepted the gifts."I only found out because the housekeeper mentioned it when I visited," Mary said with a smile.Stellar felt a wave of emotion she couldn’t quite name.In the background, quietly and persistently, Stephen was doing everything he could to make amends, trying to win over her grandparents. His methods might’ve been a little sly, but it was all for her.Her cheeks flushed slightly at the though
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Stephen got up and followed after her. "Let me help too."The two of them entered the kitchen one after the other.Mary was cooking, while Stellar helped wash the vegetables before handing them to Stephen to cut.As Stephen reached out to take them, his fingertips accidentally brushed against her pinky. It felt like a jolt of electricity ran through her limbs, leaving her whole body tingling.Stellar quickly pulled her hand back in a panic, her ears turning red.Stephen couldn't help but smile.The air between them felt sweet and charged with tension.Outside the kitchen, Laurence and Martha had seen everything through the doorway. Their expressions grew increasingly serious."What do you think will happen if the two of them end up together?" Martha asked softly."No," Laurence replied flatly.Although the broken engagement was long behind them and Stephen had done more than enough to prove himself, earning back much of their goodwill, Laurence still shook his head."I still don't ag
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"Hm?" Stellar tilted her head curiously, looking up at him, only to meet a pair of eyes deeper than the night sky. For a moment, she completely froze.Stephen gazed into hers, as if silently laying his heart bare."It’s just... without you, work hasn’t felt the same. All the fun little moments are gone. I want to share everything with you."Back at the SA base, they used to see each other nearly every day.A flush crept across her cheeks. She hadn’t expected him to say something so unabashedly tender. Her heart was racing, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond."You… you could always text me," she murmured."You wouldn’t find it annoying?" he asked, almost hesitant."Of course not!" She pressed a palm to her burning cheek and added with a casual air."Depends on my mood though. If I’m free, I’ll reply."A deeper smile flickered in Stephen’s eyes. His voice, low and magnetic, sent a shiver down her spine. "Then I’ll look forward to your replies every day."Stellar’s he
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 337
The next day, Stellar finalized her new research direction.Once the clean-energy tech rolled into production, she assembled a fresh team under her lead and launched a new project group. She outlined the detailed plan to her colleagues, who not only admired her vision but quickly fell into step, getting preparations underway for phase one.With things relatively calm, she finally had a bit more free time.That afternoon, she headed home early, planning to swing by the market to pick up some things or supplements for her grandparents. After all, even Stephen knew how to choose gifts they liked—she couldn’t keep being the indifferent granddaughter with nothing to show.But just as she stepped outside, she froze.Stephen was there, tall and composed, clearly having waited for a while.Her heart tensed as she remembered the decision she made last night. Trying to stay calm, she walked over. “Senior, you’re not at the office today?”“I’m here for you.”His gaze locked on her, steady and
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Stephen didn’t even flinch. With a completely straight face, he said, “I figured it mattered to you. So, I wanted to give you one myself, to make up for it.”Stellar’s face turned scarlet. She didn’t even have time to deny the whole jealousy thing. Flustered and frustrated, she snapped, “You can’t just give something like that so casually!”“I wouldn’t give it to anyone else,” Stephen replied plainly. “But you’re different. I want to give it to you.”He said it with such calm sincerity, so openly, as if sharing something that personal in the middle of a store wasn’t the least bit embarrassing.Her heart pounded wildly, and all she could think about was turning and bolting for the door.Just then, the sales associate chimed in with a cheerful smile. “Choosing wedding rings? We offer custom engraving—initials, special dates, anything you'd like.”“We’re not a couple,” Stellar blurted out immediately.“Mm.” Stephen nodded calmly, unfazed. “Not yet.”The associate gave them a knowing lo
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 339
The thought left Stellar with a strange heaviness in her chest.“When… did you change the décor in here?” she asked, trying to sound casual.Stephen glanced at her, reading her expression carefully. Then, to her surprise, he asked, “You don’t like it?”She blinked, caught off guard. “Why would it matter if I do? It’s your place.”“I just wanted you to feel good every time you came over,” he said simply. “So, I looked up suggestions online and changed the style based on what people recommended.”Her eyes widened. “Wait, are you saying you did all of this yourself? The decorations, the setup, everything?”She could hardly picture Stephen—the cold and strict CEO—carefully arranging throw pillows or selecting warm-toned tablecloths.And the fact that he’d done it just to make her feel comfortable?“Yes,” he said, his gaze steady. “I thought you might like it.”Her heart gave an unsteady lurch.Where on earth had this man learned how to be so disarmingly thoughtful?He knew exactly how to
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The moment Stellar heard the film’s title, her eyes lit up.It was a movie she’d loved for years but never had the chance to see in its full, uncut form.After a brief internal struggle, she decided to stay.They settled in the living room, turning on the projector and starting the film.At first, she was hyper-aware of Stephen beside her—his presence, his quiet breathing, and the warmth radiating from him. It made her sit a little too straight, her movements a little too careful.But ten minutes in, the story drew her in, and she slowly began to relax.By the end of the hour-long film, her eyes were burning with unshed tears.Even though she’d seen it before, the emotions still hit her like the first time—raw and aching. She forgot he was there at all.A single tear slid down her cheek, only to be gently wiped away by a warm, calloused hand.His thumb brushed across her skin—rough and careful all at once.The sudden contact snapped her back. She looked up, startled, only to meet hi
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“All these years, you’ve had more than enough freedom. It’s time to come home and take over the family business.”Grace Knight’s voice was firm and commanding, her words sharp and to the point, just like her.“You need to stop wasting time with all these research projects. That’s work for scientists. Don’t forget who you are. You have responsibilities and obligations that come with your name.”“My career is my own choice. You don’t need to worry about it,” Stephen replied coolly, his tone detached.They had never been close. From childhood to adulthood, their conversations had always been limited, surface-level at best.Trying to explain himself now would be pointless.Grace bristled at his indifferent attitude, but she knew his temperament well. He was an adult now, and once his mind was made up, pushing harder would only make him dig in his heels.“Fine. Let’s hope you really do know what you’re doing, then. No point in wasting my breath.”Grace glanced at her watch. “I’ve got a vi
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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
