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Chapter 334
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 335
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
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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
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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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Now Stellar had gotten a taste of just how overbearing Stephen’s mother could be. If Grace was that tough on her own son, there was no way she’d dare face her in person.Seeing her resistance, Stephen’s expression dimmed slightly, but he didn’t push her. "Alright, I’ll take you home."He had enough patience to slowly win over the girl he liked.This time, Stellar didn’t turn him down.After getting home and taking a shower, she still felt a lingering sense of unease.Thankfully, the meeting didn’t happen. Who knows how awkward it could’ve been!Pushing those thoughts aside, she returned to the base the next day to continue working on her project.Because of her efforts, several investors had been brought in, and Stellar’s position at the base rose quickly.That morning, Rendell called her into his office to inform her of a new assignment."Stellar, there’s an important aerospace summit coming up. You’ve been working on that new project recently, right? Perfect timing. You’ll represe
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 446
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
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"You really are as sharp as they say," Jonas remarked, handing her a folder.Tori immediately reached for it. Inside were detailed notes on Stellar’s current situation, including the announcement of her upcoming book signing event.A cold, bitter laugh slipped out.She gripped the papers tightly, growing more furious with each line. "Unbelievable. She ruined my name, dragged me through the mud, and now she gets to rise from it all? “A book signing? Seriously? If it weren’t for me mentioning Star Luna in the first place, that washed-up author would’ve been long forgotten!"The more she thought about it, the more rage bubbled inside her.No. There was no way that book signing was going to go smoothly. She was going to sabotage it.Jonas watched the shift in her expression and gave a faint, satisfied smile. It looked like his job was done.…The next day.Stellar returned to the research center and shared some specialty treats she’d brought back from Southport with her team.Every
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The two finally returned to the villa after an hour.Just before they stepped inside, Stellar suddenly stopped and grabbed Stephen’s arm, leaning in close to whisper in his ear. "By the way, I should warn you that I'm pretty sure Mary’s starting to suspect something’s going on between us. You might want to tone it down around her.""Something going on?" Stephen raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Are we hiding some kind of scandal?""I’m talking about that night during the thunderstorm. When you stayed in my room! I think she caught on to something. She’s been subtly probing me ever since."She shot him a half-glare, half-pout. "Anyway, no matter what Mary asks you, don’t admit to anything. If my family gets the wrong idea, they’ll come after you for sure."Stephen paused, eyes flickering with surprise. Was she more worried about him than herself?"Don’t worry, from the moment I decided to pursue you, I was ready to take whatever came with it. So, stop worrying about me," he said,
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Hulk and the others were practically fuming with rage. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go! Wasn’t she just some harmless little girl? Why was even the guy next to her such a monster? Had they been played?In the end, Stellar let out a cold snort and made a call to the police, having the entire group hauled away. From start to finish, neither she nor Stephen were harmed.In fact, they looked more energized than ever."You two are even more in sync than my wife and I! Honestly, you're a perfect match," Wayne said with genuine admiration after watching the whole scene unfold.Stellar cleared her throat awkwardly and pretended not to hear. Stephen, however, smiled gently.…After settling the trouble in Southport, the group finally arrived in Northvale that evening.With the family reunited, Laurence and Martha were overjoyed. They chatted warmly with Wayne for quite a while.Just in time for dinner, they even insisted Stephen stay for the reunion meal. Having learned from
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"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
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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
