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Chapter 42
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 43
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—"
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 44
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The store attendant’s face went pale with shock. “C-Co-Founder?”She knew the boutique had two owners.One was the main investor.The other, the one who had built the brand’s reputation, was the designer behind it all, Rian.And Rian… was Stellar?But that wasn’t possible. Wasn’t she just some broke ex-girlfriend?The realization hit hard, leaving the attendant frozen in disbelief.The manager, finally noticing the strange atmosphere, took one look at Stellar’s expression, then at the stunned store attendant. After overhearing a few snippets of their argument, he immediately understood what had happened.His face darkened."You’re fired!"The words dropped like a hammer.The attendant’s face went deathly pale, and the entire store fell into dead silence.Margaret, standing nearby, was completely stunned.The woman she had just ridiculed, assuming she was nothing without Percy, was actually the co-owner of this boutique?And not just any co-owner, she was Rian.The very designer whose
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 50
The sales associate nodded and retrieved a bamboo-inspired hairpin. The design was sleek and sophisticated, with two finely carved bamboo leaves at the tip, giving it a realistic, almost lifelike appearance. Its vintage charm made it the perfect piece for an older woman.Stephen examined it closely. "This one. Wrap it up." There was something unique about her designs—an undeniable artistry. His grandmother would probably like it. …Meanwhile, after leaving the boutique, Stellar and Suzy strolled through the shopping district, planning to pick up a few more things. Just then, Suzy’s phone rang. "Hello—?" She listened for a moment, her expression shifting. After hanging up, she let out a sigh, looking disappointed. "My agent just called. I need to rush back for a last-minute shoot. I’m sorry, Stellar. I really wanted to have dinner with you tonight." Regret was written all over her face. "It’s fine. Work comes first.”She knew how hectic Suzy’s schedule was—filmin
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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
