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Chapter 411
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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
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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
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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
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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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The next morning.When Stellar woke up, she noticed the dark circles under Stephen’s eyes. He looked slightly worn out."Did you not sleep well last night?" she asked with concern. "Is your wound hurting?"Stephen didn’t answer.He couldn’t exactly admit he'd spent half the night watching her like some obsessed fool, too reluctant to close his eyes.So, he changed the subject. "There was a call earlier. The car’s been fixed. Once we pick it up, we can head back to Southport.""That’s great news!"Stellar lit up at once.After getting ready, the two of them stepped out of the room together.They had barely turned the corner when a shocked voice rang out."Stellar…"She turned around and was stunned to see Percy stepping out from the room across the hall.He was dressed in an expensive suit with a luxury watch on his wrist, looking every bit the picture of a polished executive."What are you doing here?" Stellar frowned instinctively.Did he follow her all the way here?"Why are you look
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"In my eyes, he’s not even worthy of being compared to you. He doesn't measure up to a single finger of yours. You’re worrying for nothing."Stephen raised an eyebrow, always quick to catch the key detail. "So, what you’re saying is, I matter to you?"Stellar cleared her throat. "It’s getting late. We should head back to Southport."She walked ahead before he could say more.Stephen followed, smiling as he caught up.Over an hour later, they arrived safely in Southport. Stephen had to return to the office—there were still loose ends to tie up from the project, and he needed to handle them personally.Meanwhile, Stellar followed the address her grandmother gave and arrived at Mary’s house.To her surprise, it was a traditional courtyard home.The place had an old-world charm. Weathered gray brick walls bore the marks of time, radiating a quiet strength. In the neat courtyard, potted green plants thrived in the soft morning light, adding a touch of life and calm.Just as she reached th
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 419
The couple’s faces darkened immediately.Wayne let out a sharp snort. "Hmph, that old snake Hank Yates has been trying to get in my way for years. Now that he’s caught wind of me being sick, he’s gotten even more arrogant.""Maybe because you’ve never been good enough to beat him in the first place," Mary shot back, not missing the chance to jab at him.Wayne grumbled, "That’s only because I never found a worthy successor."Just as it looked like the two were about to start bickering again, Stellar quickly stepped in."Wayne, Mary, how about we check out what’s going on first? I’ll go with you."That finally stopped the argument. The three of them headed toward the training hall.Inside the gym, the atmosphere was tense."So this is what your so-called Rising Cloud Academy has come to? A whole group of you can’t even take down one of my students!" A bearded man in his fifties stood at the center, his voice booming with mockery. "Then again, Wayne Warren is practically on his deathb
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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
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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
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“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
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"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,
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 423
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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 422
"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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 421
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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 420
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
