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Chapter 408
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 409
Stephen remained perfectly composed, his slender fingers deftly peeling the shrimp and placing it onto Stellar’s plate. Every movement was smooth and elegant, executed with an effortless grace. Only after he’d done it did he speak, casually, as if making an offhand observation. "Some people call it friendship, but they’re secretly coveting more. They pretend to be devoted, but all it does is make things uncomfortable for the person involved." "You act like you know everything!" Rory snapped, fuming. What was with this guy? Did he think he could be so smug just because he had a handsome face?And honestly, in her eyes, her cousin was even better looking. But Stephen only chuckled softly, saying nothing more. Still, the sarcasm behind that laugh couldn’t have been clearer. Keith, unwilling to let him have the last word, fired back. "Mr. Ward, I heard you’re heading back to take over the Ward family business. Word is, your family already lined up a few marriage prospects f
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 410
It took a moment before Rory finally snapped out of it. "Stellar…"She looked like she wanted to say more, but her phone rang. The moment she saw the caller ID, her expression drained of color."Where are you right now?" a woman’s harsh voice barked through the speaker.Rory stiffened, nerves kicking in. "Mom, I…I’m just out shopping, why?""You’re not with Autumn, are you? I warned you about staying away from that woman. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten."Her mother’s words sent a chill straight down her spine.For as long as Rory could remember, her mother had always despised her younger sister. As a child, Rory hadn’t understood it, but later she’d learned the truth: her mother believed that by taking Autumn in, the Lane family gave away a share of what should’ve rightfully been hers.Rory, on the other hand, knew Autumn never cared about any of that.But her mother would never believe it. If she found out Rory spent time with Autumn today, she would absolutely lose her mind."No,
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 411
"But..." Stellar started to protest, but Autumn gently took her hand, her eyes soft and full of warmth. "Honestly, it’s because I really like you. I know it’s our first time meeting, but I can’t help wanting to be good to you. “Just take it, alright? It’s my way of showing how much you mean to me." Stellar’s heart tightened at her words. Because the truth was—she felt the same. She felt a kind of care she had never quite experienced before from AutumnIt wasn’t just kindness. It felt maternal. She never knew her birth mother, never even had the chance to meet her. But in her mind, if she had, she imagined it would’ve felt like this. "Thank you, Autumn," Stellar said quietly. She accepted the gift. And in her heart, she made a note to prepare something meaningful in return for the next time they met. The afternoon ended, and eventually, the group split up. Stellar left with Stephen. Keith tried several times to speak with her before they parted, but each time, St
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 412
Martha’s expression turned a little wistful at the mention of her daughter.After all, she was their only child—and losing her so young had been the deepest heartbreak of her life. Back then, when grief nearly swallowed her whole, it was Mary’s quiet companionship that helped her find the strength to carry on."What about her background?" Stellar asked. Mary mentioned bits and pieces before, but nothing too detailed."She comes from a family of martial artists. Her husband does too. Back in the day, they were a formidable pair."They stood by your grandfather and me through countless storms, both within the family and beyond. Without them, the Rivers family wouldn’t have made it through, let alone become what it is today."There was a gleam in Martha’s eyes as she recalled the past.Stellar listened, feeling intrigued."Mary’s husband is a man I’ve always respected. Though he’s mostly retired now,” Laurence added.Then he gave a small chuckle. "If I had to guess, I’d say the reason
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 413
Stellar glanced at her phone.It was a message from Stephen. “You’re still up? Don’t overwork yourself. Get some rest.”She blinked in surprise. “How did you know I wasn’t asleep? Are you spying on me?”Stephen replied almost instantly. “I saw your latest update.”Realization clicked. Right. She just posted her new chapters.A second later, another message came in. “Do I seem like the type who spies on others?”It was followed by an exaggeratedly pitiful sticker which appeared so wildly out of his character that she burst out laughing.“Where did you even get that? It’s kind of… adorable. Did some girl send you those?”Stephen’s reply came fast. “Is this an interrogation?”Before she could deny it, another message popped up. “You sent me that sticker pack once. I bought the whole set because you liked it.”“There’s no one else I message with this account. Just you.”He’d only said two simple sentences, but they sent her heart into a sudden, unsteady flutter.A smile tugged at her lip
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 414
But the teasing tone behind their words made it clear that they weren’t being entirely serious.Still, Stellar flushed with a mix of embarrassment and shyness. And this time, she didn’t correct them. She didn’t deny the term “boyfriend.”Stephen noticed, of course. His smile deepened, and on the way to Southport, he brought it up himself.Stellar blinked, caught off guard for a moment before quickly firing back, "That’s only because you kept interrupting. Even if I wanted to deny it, I didn’t get the chance.""Is that so?"Stephen knew better. If Stellar had truly wanted to distance herself, no amount of interruption could’ve stopped her.It was her quiet indulgence that gave him the courage to inch closer and desire more.Still, he understood how reserved she could be, so he let it go, without calling her out."You’re right," he said with a soft laugh. "But I still hope one day… you’ll say it out loud that I’m your boyfriend."Her heart skipped a beat, pounding faster than she co
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 415
The car finally came to a halt after crashing into the greenery on the side.Stellar gripped the handlebar tightly, her head spinning and her heart pounding.Then, she felt a pair of arms scoop her up into a broad embrace.Only then did she slowly open her eyes and look up into Stephen’s worried gaze."You alright?"Her breathing gradually calmed. "With you here, how could I not be?"He truly lived up to his promise—no matter what danger came their way, he always made sure she was safe."But your driving is seriously impressive."That moment had been terrifying. She was sure the two cars were going to collide.Stephen gave a modest reply. "I learned a bit of racing before. Just the basics."Stellar couldn’t help but laugh, finally feeling at ease. She tried to pull away from his arms.As he let go, his brow twitched slightly, and the movement of raising his arm looked a bit off"You're hurt?"She caught the detail right away, and her heart clenched again."It’s nothing..."Stephen tr
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 416
Her movements were gentle, and the warmth of her breath brushed against his back, making Stephen shudder all over."What's wrong? Does it hurt a lot?" Stellar thought she'd touched his wound.Stephen, of course, wasn’t about to tell the truth. He just mumbled, "A little." Stellar leaned closer and blew softly on the wound like she was coaxing a child. "There, it won’t hurt now."This time, Stephen tensed up completely, even the tips of his ears turned red.Unaware of his reaction, Stellar carefully finished applying the iodine, then wrapped the wound with a bandage. She wound it round and round, finally tying it off with a neat bow. "All done. Just keep it dry and it’ll heal quickly." As she gave her instructions, Stephen turned around at that very moment.Their eyes met, and his bare torso was once again in full view before her. They were sitting on the same bed, close—far too close. Even the air between them seemed to thicken with tension. Stellar's heart pounded wil
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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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 431
When Stellar came downstairs in fresh clothes, Stephen was just finishing up a call in the living room.She walked toward him, planning to share what had just come to mind, but paused when she realized he was on a work call.“A script?” he was saying.“Yes, Mr. Ward,” came the voice of the development director on the other end. “We’ve just reviewed last quarter’s report from the film division—it exceeded projections by a wide margin. “If we continue selecting strong scripts and hiring top-tier actors, this production model could take the company even further.”“So, you want me to choose?” Stephen asked.“Yes, I’ve received several promising scripts and we’re ready to move forward with a major production. “But I’m struggling to narrow down the best one. I’d really appreciate your judgment on this.”“Got it. I’ll come by shortly,” Stephen replied, ending the call.He turned to see Stellar approaching. “Something on your mind?”Then, as if struck by inspiration, his eyes lit up. “Star
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 430
Stellar turned around, puzzled, and met a pair of eyes filled with emotion so intense it felt like it might swallow her whole.The weight of it hit her all at once. “What’s wrong?”“Stellar, Promise me... no matter what happens, no matter the situation, don’t ever risk your life like that again. Please,” Stephen said, his voice rough, heavy with something deeper. In that moment, she understood. Her expression softened as she stepped closer, her tone gentle, almost coaxing. “I only had the courage to jump in because I knew you were there. “You’re the reason I felt safe. You’re my biggest sense of security.”The words, light and sincere, hit Stephen right in the chest.It was like a quiet confession that reached the softest part of him.He let out a helpless breath and smiled, brushing the damp strands of hair from her forehead. “Let’s get you changed. You’re completely…”Soaked.He didn’t finish the sentence.His gaze had fallen to her chest, where a familiar emerald pendant hung fro
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 429
"Mary, Wayne, we’ve decided that we’d like you to be our mentors and carry on your legacy. “Martial arts may not be our full-time focus, and we won’t be able to devote ourselves to it completely... but if you're willing to accept that, please take this as a symbol of our commitment."Both of them had made the same decision.The older couple exchanged a glance, visibly moved.With successors finally in place, they had a renewed sense of purpose. With time, they were confident the two would come to love martial arts just as deeply as they did.“I couldn’t ask for better students,” Wayne said with a wide grin. “Alright, enough with the bowing.”Mary chuckled. "Honestly, it’s starting to feel like a wedding ceremony."Stellar flushed and quickly stood straight.The four of them chatted warmly, already discussing plans for the trip back. After some thought, Wayne made his decision."This time, I’ll head back to the city with you two for a while. It’s been ages since I visited the Mr. and
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 428
Lillie’s manner was polite, her words respectful, with no hint of provocation.Still, Stellar felt a flicker of unease stir in her chest.“The second match—ready, go!”At the sound of the whistle, Lillie made the first move, launching herself forward.Stellar reacted instantly, meeting her head-on. The two quickly locked into a rapid exchange of strikes and counters.To most observers, the fight looked evenly matched. But Stellar picked up on something others might have missed—every one of Lillie’s moves was calculated, ruthless, aimed with precision at the most vulnerable points of her body.A single mistake could lead to serious injury.Thankfully, Stellar’s reflexes were sharp. She dodged every blow by the skin of her teeth, her movements agile and fluid.Dozens of moves passed in quick succession, the two appearing evenly matched.But soon, Lillie began to falter. Her breathing grew labored while Stellar remained steady, her rhythm controlled, her energy barely flagging. The b
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 427
Hank wore the smug expression of a man who thought he’d already won. “She agreed to the match. “She can back down now if she wants, but you have to hand over your academy, and maybe I’ll consider letting her walk away.”“Not a chance,” Stellar cut in before Wayne could speak. “I don’t care who I’m up against—bring it on.”“Well said. Gotta admire that spirit.”The match was about to begin.In the first round, Stellar stepped onto the platform opposite Hulk.He cracked his knuckles and looked her over with a leering grin. “Tell you what, sweetheart—bow your head and call me a darling, and maybe I’ll go easy on you.”Stellar gave a low chuckle, eyes glinting with mischief. “Call me ‘Queen,’ and I might let you walk away with a couple teeth still intact.”Hulk’s face twisted in rage, a vein popping along his temple. “You’re dead meat!”The whistle blew.His eyes narrowed, and with a growl, he lunged, throwing a vicious punch straight at her face.It was fast and brutal.If the punch lan
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 426
“Miss, are you awake?”Stellar slowly blinked her eyes open, still groggy, only to be met with a close-up view of a man's strikingly handsome face.“Aah…!”She screamed instinctively, jerking upright and startling Stephen awake beside her.From outside the door, Mary’s worried voice called out, “Miss Stellar? What happened? Are you alright?”The doorknob rattled.Mary was seconds from walking in and Stellar panicked.“It’s fine, Mary!” Stellar blurted out in a rush. “I just thought I saw a cockroach—false alarm! Don’t come in, I’m getting dressed!”She got it all out in one breath.Mary paused. “Oh… alright, then.”Only when the doorknob stilled did Stellar finally exhale in relief. She turned and found Stephen watching her with an amused smile.He lay on his side, effortlessly handsome, looking far too comfortable for someone who had just narrowly avoided being caught in such a compromising situation.Stellar’s eye twitched.“I’ll leave you to change then. Breakfast is ready. I’ll g
