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Chapter 343
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 344
“Miss Rivers, I’ve heard so much about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet. Your proposal was recently featured in a national journal. I had the privilege of reading it. It was truly impressive…”It was clear that they were here for her reputation.Some looked at her with admiration, while others came with questions, subtly probing as if trying to see whether the stories about her brilliance were true or just hype.Thankfully, Stellar was well-prepared. She responded with ease, and the overall atmosphere remained warm and respectful until a sharp female voice suddenly cut through the hum of conversation.“Miss Rivers, I admire you as well. When you left SA and chose the more prestigious Starlight base, I was genuinely disappointed. It’s a shame we never got to be colleagues. That was my loss.”Joy stepped out from the crowd, all smiles.On the surface, it sounded like a compliment. But her words suggested Stellar had turned her back on SA in pursuit of fame, casting her decision in
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But as the doubtful stares around the room gathered on her, Stellar slowly curved her lips into a calm smile and said offhandedly, “Miss Shaw. Do you really believe this is a flaw?”“Isn’t it?” Joy narrowed her eyes, eager to see how she’d try to spin her way out.“That issue might’ve been considered a flaw in the past,” Stellar replied casually. “But not anymore. Not with what I’ve developed.”Joy let out a sharp laugh. “Oh please, now you’re just making things up to save yourself from getting humiliated. If you’re really that capable, why don’t you show us the solution?”The crowd seemed to agree—skepticism flashed across several faces, a few even looking at Stellar with thinly veiled contempt.But the next moment, she calmly reached into her bag and pulled out a folder, opening it with practiced ease. Her voice was steady.“I’ve already broken through this technical barrier. With the data in this set, the issue resolves itself. That’s why I said it’s not a problem at all.”All tho
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Joy leaned in, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “Who is it?”Dean smiled and spoke slowly, “He used to be one of our senior engineers at the base—young, brilliant, and incredibly promising. His name is Stephen Ward.”Joy’s eyes widened in realization. “It’s him?”The crowd erupted with murmurs of admiration.“Ah, of course—it’s Mr. Ward. No wonder!”“I’m not even surprised. Men do tend to have the edge when it comes to technical work.”But just then, a calm voice rang out from behind them, slicing clean through the chatter.“It’s not me.”The entire room fell silent.Everyone turned to watch as Stephen walked through the crowd and stopped beside Stellar. His tone was steady as he looked toward Dean.“I’m not the author of that paper.”Dean blinked in surprise. “But… didn’t you call me before and ask to have it approved for publication? If it’s not yours, then whose is it?”“I only helped submit it,” Stephen said, his gaze landing on Stellar with clear admiration. “The true author is s
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 347
The summit concluded smoothly.“Stellar, that was incredible! Even Dean Shaw was so impressed he offered you that opportunity. You absolutely can’t miss it!”“And when did you even publish that paper? None of us had a clue!”Back at the base, everyone buzzed with excitement, firing off questions one after another.Stellar pressed her lips together, then cast a slightly sheepish glance at Stephen beside her. “Honestly, it was thanks to him. He helped me find the fastest way to get it published.”“Ohh…” The group immediately exchanged knowing looks, teasing smiles spreading across their faces.They didn’t press further—just gave her the kind of look that said that they understood.“Stellar, I’ve got something else to handle, but we’ll definitely throw you a celebration soon!”“Same here! Got a bit of work piling up. You two take your time.”One by one, her colleagues slipped away.Before she could even say anything to stop them, Stephen chuckled softly beside her. “Your coworkers
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"You’re really turning down this kind of exposure? I get it that you’re holding out for payment, right? Fine. If you do the scene properly, I’ll give you one thousand."Anthony said it like he was doing her a favor. In his mind, anyone else would’ve been falling over themselves with gratitude.But Stellar had already run out of patience."You could offer me one million, and I still wouldn’t do it."Her words landed like a slap across his face.His expression darkened instantly. In all his years in the industry, he had never encountered a woman so ungrateful.Most women groveled for roles, buttered him up with flattery, and even agreed to unspoken terms just to get into his productions.But this woman? She looked at him like he was beneath her. Who did she think she was?Rage surged through him, stripping away whatever civility he had left."You think you’re somebody? Just because you’ve got a pretty face, you think you can play hard to get? Look at you, like some cheap little tease
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 349
“I’m here to see a friend and didn’t expect to run into you two,” Stephen said as he strode over, greeting Martha with a polite nod. Then he turned to Stellar, curiosity in his eyes. “I overheard something about wanting to try on costumes?”“That was the plan,” she replied.“Well, that’s perfect. A friend of mine owns a costume shop just around the corner. Why don’t I take you there?”Stellar’s eyes lit up as she looked at her grandmother. “Sounds like fate, Grandma. The costumes are right there. Why don’t you come with me? I’d love to see you dressed up too!”Martha hesitated, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. “Alright then.”Stephen quickly sent a message to his friend. “All set. Let’s go.”The three of them stepped into the shop, and it felt like walking into a vibrant world of drama and color.Gowns adorned with intricate embroidery swayed gently on their racks, chiffon sleeves fluttering like mist. Gold and silver threads wove through rich velvet and satin, forming elega
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Stephen stepped into the room, his expression as composed as ever, completely free of flattery or pretense."See, Grandma? Even he says so," Stellar chimed in playfully. "He wouldn’t lie to you, would he?""Really?" Martha asked, raising a curious brow."Absolutely," Stephen replied, holding up a professional-looking camera that he'd clearly brought with intent. "In fact, I was hoping to take a photo—something to remember this by, if you don’t mind.""I’ll join her!" Stellar grinned, slipping behind her grandmother and wrapping her arms around her neck, resting her head on her shoulder.Martha couldn’t help but smile, the joy on her face soft and genuine.Stephen captured the moment—warmth, love, and laughter frozen perfectly in frame.He wasn’t the smooth-talking type, nor was he known for charming people easily. He usually kept his distance with that cool, reserved demeanor.But somehow, in the span of just one afternoon, he’d managed to win Martha over completely. She looked at h
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However, Julian River didn’t seem the least bit concerned. “Stellar’s already figured most of it out anyway. At this point, there’s no turning back. Besides, you’re the woman I went out of my way to win over.”Judging by his tone, he sounded rather pleased with himself.Suzy could only sigh, reluctantly giving in. “Fine. But let’s be clear—we’re partners, and maybe… friends with benefits, but nothing more. No strings, no promises, and definitely no talk of marriage. If you can agree to that, then I’ll let you stay.”Julian didn’t hesitate. “Deal.”Suzy let out a barely audible sigh.Julian’s personality and temperament were undeniably her type, but was it true that people always wanted what they couldn’t have?Somehow, compared to him, Edwin had always carried a deeper allure.She knew she was fickle when it came to love.Most people saw her as a heartbreaker, and they weren’t wrong.But she’d never cared much for the world’s opinions. If she had, she wouldn’t have become who she
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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
