"But with so many fools doubting her, even if we believe in her, it won’t be enough to convince everyone," Victor said, his expression clouded with frustration."That’s easy," Stephen replied, raising an eyebrow. "Activate Plan B."…Back in the exam hall, the instructor was caught in the middle of a growing crisis, unsure of how to handle the situation.Just then, someone entered from the doorway, handing him a fresh exam paper along with a whispered message.The instructor let out a quiet sigh of relief, nodded, and turned back to the class."Everyone, quiet down," he announced as he stepped onto the podium, placing the paper on the desk with a firm slap."Since so many of you are questioning whether Miss Rivers cheated, but lack any real proof, we’ll settle this with another test. “This new set of five advanced questions has been created just now by Victor Stone and Stephen Ward. If she can answer them, that should be enough proof for everyone. What do you say?"The room fell into
The moment the words fell, the entire room turned their furious gazes toward Camille.Thinking about how they got led around by the nose once again, they felt utterly humiliated.And it was all because of Camille.Her face went deathly pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead. “N-no, that’s not true…”The sharpness in their eyes was like a blade against her throat, making her shrink back in fear."Camille Dawson!"Even the professor had reached the limit of their patience this time."As a student, you not only participated in cheating but also tried to frame someone else. Your actions are utterly disgraceful!"Without mercy, the professor declared, “I will report this to the school. You can wait for the disciplinary action!”At that moment, Camille felt as if lightning had struck her.Disciplinary action—she knew exactly what that meant.Years of hard work and dedication, completely destroyed in an instant.Her world came crashing down.…The exam was finally over.Stellar left the cla
He pushed a stack of documents across the desk. "Take these and go over them as soon as possible. Once you officially join the team, don’t slow everyone down." Stellar knew he was all bark and no bite. A smile tugged at her lips as she obediently took the files. "Professor, I’ll give it my all. I won’t embarrass you." …Meanwhile, Yvonne was lounging at home, sipping afternoon tea, waiting for good news from the school. As long as Stellar failed the exam and couldn’t get into Victor’s project team, the partnership with Riverfront Corporation would fall through. That would give the Harlow and Moore families a greater advantage. More importantly, she could finally give her father a satisfactory answer and she wouldn’t have to put up with Percy anymore. Just as she was relishing the thought of Stellar’s downfall, her phone rang. Seeing Camille’s name on the screen, Yvonne’s eyes lit up. A smirk curled on her lips as she answered. "So? What took you so long to call—"
Stellar had no idea what Yvonne was plotting. But even if she did, she would deal with it as it came. Joining the research team made all the effort of the past two weeks worth it. As she stepped out of the school in high spirits, her phone suddenly rang. It was a number she hadn’t seen in a while. "Miss Rivers, if I don’t call you first, are you never going to reach out to me? Heartless little thing." A woman’s lazy yet slightly aggrieved voice came through the speaker. It was her best friend, Suzy Walsh. The one person who, despite all the rumors and gossip, stuck by her side these past two years. The only one who genuinely cared about her and put her feelings first. But a while ago, they had argued over Percy, and things had been tense ever since. Between the cold war and Stellar’s packed schedule, she had completely forgotten to reach out. Now, hearing Suzy’s voice again, a softness crept into her expression. "Where are you? I’ll come find you." "That’s mo
This time, Suzy was set to star in a major production called “Whispers of Ivory and Shadow.” For some reason, when Stellar first heard the title, it felt oddly familiar. But she didn’t think much of it. Midway through the evening, she stepped out to use the restroom. On her way back, she unexpectedly ran into Xavier. Unlike Percy’s other friends, who always looked down on her with disdain, was different. He always treated her with respect, never mocking or belittling her like the rest. So, when she caught him staring, she remained calm and greeted him politely. To her surprise, he blocked her path, hesitating as if he had something to say. She frowned slightly. "Do you need something?" "You really broke up with Percy?" Xavier asked. She didn’t deny it. "Yeah." He studied her face for a long moment, then finally spoke again. "Percy’s planning to sue you. He says he’s going to drag your name through the mud." Stellar didn’t even flinch. "Let him." Her voice w
Chris finally realized Xavier was serious, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?" But almost immediately, his shock morphed into mockery. "Or maybe the price just isn’t high enough for you. Fine, name it, how much will it take to get you on board? A hundred thousand dollars?" Xavier’s expression remained ice-cold. "There isn’t a price." He wasn’t going to sell his conscience just to help cover up their mess. Chris let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh. "Well, aren’t you noble? Acting all righteous now, like you’re better than the rest of us." Then, as if a sudden realization struck him, his eyes flickered with amusement. "Wait a second… don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for Stellar. Is that why you’re so eager to distance yourself from us?" The second the words left his mouth, Chris realized he might have overstepped. He just came from the private room where they learned that not only had Stellar refused to crawl back to Percy, but she had actuall
After finishing their meal, Stellar led Suzy to their destination. It wasn’t a high-end shopping mall or a luxury boutique but a small, tucked-away shop in a quiet alley. The storefront had a classical charm, and the moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by a minimalist yet elegant interior. It was a hair accessory boutique. Ornate hairpins and combs were displayed on wooden shelves, each piece carefully arranged. But what truly stood out was the jaw-dropping price tags. Stellar pulled Suzy straight to the back of the store, stopping in front of an emerald-green hairpin. "Take a look at this one." Having spent years in the entertainment industry, Suzy had developed an eye for luxury. At first glance, the design seemed understated, yet the craftsmanship was anything but simple—bold yet timeless, its intricate details drawing her in. Her gaze swept over it, then dropped to the small nameplate below. The moment she saw the designer’s name, she nearly jumped in
Margaret put on a patient, almost motherly expression as she spoke, as if offering heartfelt advice. But after the first couple of words, any pretense of kindness disappeared, leaving only arrogance beneath the surface. The condescending smile and patronizing tone were all too obvious. However, Stellar simply smiled. She reached out and grabbed Suzy’s wrist, stopping her before she could explode. With a quick glance, she signaled her to hold back. As a public figure, Suzy couldn’t afford a scene. If word got out that she was caught arguing in a boutique, the damage to her reputation would bring her more trouble than it was worth. A second later, Stellar’s voice turned cold. "That won’t be necessary." Without sparing Margaret another glance, she turned to the store attendant and said politely, "Please take this hairpin down for us." But the attendant didn’t move. By now, she had pieced together the situation. From the looks of it, these two weren’t wealthy custom
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
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
“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
“Um…” Stellar looked flustered. “I forgot to bring my clothes, so I borrowed your bathrobe. Sorry about that.”“It’s fine.” Stephen didn’t realize how hoarse his voice sounded until the words were already out.“I’ll just head back to my room then…”She turned to leave, but just as she took a step, a flash of lightning split across the sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder.The lights cut out in an instant, plunging the room into darkness.“Ah!” Stellar flinched and stumbled forward, instinctively crashing into him, her body pressed tightly against his chest.She was warm, soft, still smelling faintly of shower gel—the subtle, clean scent wrapping around him. For a moment, Stephen’s thoughts scattered.But when he felt her trembling, instinct took over. He wrapped his arms around her without thinking. “Don’t worry. It’s probably just a power outage.”His voice, low and gentle, carried a soothing calm that helped ease her tension.Just as she began to relax, another crack of thu
"Of course, no problem at all!""Take your time, there's no rush."The couple smiled warmly, their expressions full of quiet joy. With the perfect successors in sight, both seemed genuinely pleased.Mary even chimed in with a suggestion, “Mr. Ward, why don’t you stay for dinner tonight?”“Thank you, Mary. I’d be happy to,” Stephen replied with a courteous smile.But after dinner, a light drizzle began to fall outside. At first, no one paid it any mind.Then the drizzle turned into a downpour, rain lashing against the windows as flashes of lightning split the sky.Stephen was getting ready to leave, but the sudden turn in weather made Stellar hesitate. “Why don’t you stay the night? It’s not safe to drive in this storm.”They had already shared a room once before, so she didn’t see any reason to fuss over it.Stephen glanced toward Mary and Wayne, hesitating.“You should stay, Stephen,” Wayne urged. “We’ve got plenty of guest rooms here at the courtyard house.”“Well, if you insist,
Wayne stood off to the side, a little taken aback.The man in front of him looked every bit the part of a well-bred heir—polished suit, refined demeanor. And yet, he knew how to fight?“You sure you want to spar with me?”Stephen looked mildly surprised by her challenge.“Why not? Afraid you’ll lose?” Stellar raised a brow, a glint of mischief flashing in her eyes. “Relax, even if you do, I won’t tell anyone. Your secret’s safe with me.”He knew she was baiting him, but he still took the hook with a smirk. “Alright then, let’s see what you’ve got.”Stephen shrugged off his coat and hung it nearby, left in a crisp white dress shirt. With effortless precision, he rolled up his sleeves, his fingers moving with a fluid grace that was oddly captivating.Stellar gave her head a shake, forcing out the sudden thoughts that slipped in.“Ready... go!”She lunged forward, a sharp punch aimed straight at his face, but Stephen sidestepped neatly, twisting his body as his open hand shot out to gr
"I never agreed to any of this. You made the arrangements on your own, so you should be the one to deal with the fallout. I'm not going."His tone was firm, and it instantly darkened Grace’s expression. “Stephen!”He'd always been cold toward her, but he had never flat-out embarrassed her like this.Suddenly, her thoughts turned to the woman she’d seen hidden away in his villa last time. Her gaze turned sharp.“It’s that woman, isn’t it? She’s the one filling your head with nonsense! I’m telling you now—I will never approve of that relationship!”Stephen, however, remained unfazed.He'd never had a close relationship with his parents. He didn’t care what they thought back then, and he didn’t now.“Then wait for Grandfather to return and ask him what he thinks.”Lately, Marcus had been overseas, traveling the world with his wife, and likely wouldn’t be back anytime soon.“You’re using your grandfather to pressure me now?”Grace let out a cold laugh. “Do you really think he’d accept ju
After watching the demonstration, Stellar quickly memorized it. She took a deep breath with her eyes closed, then opened them again, her gaze sharp. Moving step by step, she repeated the moves with precision.Wayne, who had been watching from the side, was dumbfounded.She wasn’t just mimicking the movements—her strength and control were spot on, powerful and exact.Everything Mary bragged about turned out to be true.In fact, it was even more impressive than she’d claimed.“She’s a natural martial arts prodigy!”Wayne’s eyes lit up as he grew even more excited. “Stellar, let me be your official mentor! Carry on my legacy! I’ll teach you everything I know, every move from my school—what do you say?”Before Stellar could respond, Mary exploded, “You shameless old man! She’s the one I picked as my apprentice! Who do you think you are?”“Don’t get cocky, you old hag! It’s up to Miss Stellar to decide which school she wants to follow. For all you know, she might prefer mine!” Wayne refus
Mary was about to punch Hulk square in the face, fists clenched in fury at the way he’d just humiliated Stellar.But before she could move, Stellar stepped forward and gently patted her shoulder, calming her down. Then she turned to face the other side and spoke, her voice steady."You want to fight me? Fine. But I have one condition—it has to be an official match. “If your side loses, I want a public apology. And I want a banner that reads: 'Ironclad Academy lost to Rising Cloud Academy and left in disgrace.' “From that moment on, you stay away from us permanently."Her words left Mary and the others stunned."Listen to this one!" Hank barked out a laugh like he’d just heard the world’s best joke. "You really think you can take us down, little girl?"Stellar raised an eyebrow, a cool smirk tugging at her lips. "What, are you scared?""Who’s scared?" Hulk snapped, instantly provoked. "You want a fight? You’ve got one! But if you lose, you’ll get on your knees, bow your head, and d