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Chapter 44
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 45
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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 46
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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 47
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
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 49
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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"I've already called the police. There are surveillance cameras here. This was an attempted assault. She won’t get away with it."The familiar voice caught Stellar off guard.She looked up, finally seeing the person who had saved her.Stephen?He was the one who pulled her out of danger?Her lips pressed together slightly, an unfamiliar feeling settling in her chest.He always seemed indifferent toward her, never particularly impressed with her in class.Yet just now, without hesitation, he risked himself to save her.Maybe… Stephen wasn’t as cold as he seemed.Meanwhile, Camille went pale at the mention of the police.Terror finally dawned on her."No! Don’t call the cops!"Camille scrambled forward, half-kneeling on the pavement, grabbing onto the hem of Stellar’s clothes.Tears welled in her eyes."I swear, I wasn’t trying to kill you! I just… just wanted to hurt you a little! If the police get involved, I’m done for! I’ll lose everything!"Desperation dripped from her voice as she
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 52
Stellar froze for a moment, her gaze falling on the broken hairpin lying on the ground.She recognized it immediately.Stephen hesitated as well, reaching down to pick it up but she was faster."This is mine."She examined the fractured piece, noting the clean break."It’s broken."It must have happened during the fall when he shielded her.Blinking in surprise, she processed the thought—Stephen had bought one of her designs?Was it just a coincidence? Or was he at the boutique earlier too?Either way, the hairpin was damaged, and she felt responsible.After a brief pause, she spoke with quiet seriousness."It looks like the fall cracked it. If you don’t mind, I can repair it for you. Or, if you'd prefer, I can replace it with a new one."She would consider it her way of making up for today.Her clear, earnest gaze held no ulterior motives, only genuine sincerity.Stephen was momentarily at a loss for words.But he knew she had the skills to fix it.After a brief pause, he nodded.A sm
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 452
"Stellar, I really need to thank you." Autumn’s tone was sincere. "There’s no need for that, Autumn. I just did what anyone should’ve done." Stellar couldn’t explain it, but something about Autumn made her feel warm, almost protective. "Stellar…" Just then, Laurence approached from the side. Autumn turned instinctively at the sound of his voice. The moment their eyes met, both froze. That strange sense of familiarity surged again in Laurence’s chest. The closer he got, the stronger it felt. Stellar quickly stepped forward and took his arm. "Grandpa, let me introduce you."This is Ms. Autumn Lane, Keith’s aunt—the one I told you about. She’s always been kind to me. She even gave me an emerald pendant as a welcome gift when we first met!"Autumn, this is my grandfather." Autumn was the first to snap out of it, pushing aside the strange feeling in her chest. "Mr. Rivers, it’s an honor. I’ve heard so much about you. I really appreciate you taking the time to help ide
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The manager turned to her in shock, clearly about to say something, but Keith stopped him with a single look."You’ve got some sense, I’ll give you that. At least you know I’m not someone you can afford to offend." The wealthy woman sneered smugly, then barked at the manager, "Well? Hurry up and get these things packed for me!"The manager looked troubled, but before he could respond, Stellar spoke up with a cheerful smile. "Ma’am, you can take them, sure, but we’ll need your signature and fingerprints first. These three antiques are each worth over two million. “If it turns out someone took them without the owner’s permission, it’ll go straight to court. And that’s a serious offense—major fraud with a possibly of a life sentence."Her tone was breezy, but the words sent a chill down the woman’s spine. "Wh-What are you trying to say? Are you threatening me?""Oh no, not threatening. Just stating the facts. If you’ve got the owner's permission, there’s nothing to worry about, right?"
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 450
"This is…" Laurence’s eyes lit up instantly. He leaned in, examining the piece carefully for a long moment before exclaiming, "This piece is from the early 1700s—right around the time of the Baroque period. I remember coming across it in historical archives..."Once the topic turned to his area of expertise, Laurence became animated, his voice filled with energy as he explained.A small crowd began to gather, drawn by his enthusiasm and deep knowledge.Stellar, who actually recognized many of the antiques herself, chose to play along, feigning curiosity. When Laurence finished, she pointed to another item. "What about this one, Grandpa?"He turned and his eyes lit up even more. "That’s an artifact from the early medieval period, likely from the 8th or 9th century. It’s absolutely priceless."He launched into another detailed explanation.Stellar kept the conversation going, asking thoughtful questions one after another, giving Laurence the chance to fully shine. Applause broke
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When they stepped out of the car, Keith was already waiting outside.Guests coming and going couldn't help but glance his way—tall, poised, and impeccably dressed, he was instantly recognizable. Several people greeted him with polite smiles and nods.Keith returned the gestures with a cool, distant air, his smile polite but faint.But the moment he spotted Stellar and Laurence, a flicker of warmth lit up his eyes. Cutting through the crowd, he greeted them with uncharacteristic enthusiasm."Mr. Rivers, Stellar, you're here! Come on, I’ll take you inside."Guests nearby were visibly surprised by his sudden shift in demeanor, their curious gazes drifting to Stellar and her grandfather.Their composure and presence were impossible to miss.A few who had previously met Laurence found themselves stunned.Could the Rivers and Sinclair families be tying the knot soon?Unaware of the speculation swirling around them, Stellar followed Keith inside with her grandfather.The moment she stepped
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 448
Though a little disappointed, Keith didn’t push further. "Then let me give you a ride home.""No need, Mr. Sinclair. With me here, I’ll make sure Stellar gets home safely,” Stephen finally spoke, his voice cool and composed. "Yeah, we’re heading in the same direction anyway. No need to trouble you," Stellar added with a polite smile.Keith clenched his fists slightly, frustration flashing through him.Damn Stephen. The only reason he got this far was because he made the first move.Keith had even considered moving closer to Stellar’s neighborhood. But he’d held back, worried it might come off as too deliberate and push her further away instead. It was not worth the risk.In the end, he gave a casual wave and turned to walk away, doing his best to play it cool.It was fine. They’d be seeing each other again soon anyway.…After Keith left, Stellar and Stephen got into the car. On the ride back, Stephen finally broke the silence."You’re being too nice to him."Stellar blinked a
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Now that the truth was out, netizens finally saw the full picture and reacted with outrage and clarity:"No wonder I thought the book was just average, but everyone online was hyping it like crazy. Turns out, it was all bots!""I left one comment about the poor plot logic and got attacked by a swarm of fake accounts. I thought I poked a hornet’s nest—turns out they were just panicking.""Compared to that, After Dawn is gripping, suspenseful, and logically tight. Star Luna really is in a league of her own and always has been.""I went to her signing today—she’s even more stunning in person! Smart, talented, and graceful… no wonder people are jealous."The entire incident ended up boosting Stellar’s reputation. Support flooded in, and even readers who hadn’t been interested in this genre started checking out her novel, only to find themselves completely hooked.In no time, After Dawn soared to the top of the site’s trending chart.As for Tori, the one who orchestrated the sabotage from
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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
