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Chapter 52
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 53
The compliment felt even more genuine this time.Stellar, feeling a little embarrassed by the praise, quickly stood up and looped her arm through Mary’s."Alright, Mary, let’s go eat."The two of them walked downstairs, chatting and laughing, the atmosphere warm and lighthearted.The next day.Stellar headed to the university library to study.She needed to fully immerse herself in the research materials Victor gave her. Tomorrow, she would officially join the project team at the institute.But as she stepped into the library, she unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure by the window.Even in a room full of people, Stephen was impossible to miss.Sitting with perfect posture, he had an undeniable presence—calm, distant, and completely unapproachable.An aura that warned others to stay away.But Stellar, unaffected, walked straight toward him.Sensing movement, Stephen instinctively looked up, his gaze meeting hers.A second later, a small, elegantly wrapped box landed on the table in f
As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 54
Claude seemed to anticipate her hesitation. His warm, reassuring voice came through the phone again."Stellar, you’re living on your own now, and taking taxis all the time isn’t safe. I’d never feel at ease knowing that. Having your own car will make things much more convenient.“Besides, you’re the little princess of the Rivers family—you deserve to be spoiled. You don’t need to feel burdened by it."A wave of warmth flooded Stellar’s chest, a mix of happiness and bittersweet emotion swelling inside her."Thank you, Uncle Claude. I really love the gift."In the end, she didn’t refuse his kindness.Still, it would take some time for the car to be delivered, so the next morning, she set out on foot as usual.She had barely stepped outside the gates when she unexpectedly crossed paths with a familiar figure.Stephen.He had just exited the villa across the street.His car was already waiting by the entrance, and his assistant stood beside it, holding the door open for him.So… he lived
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In just half an hour, the group had settled into an easy dynamic."You’ve probably got a solid understanding of the project by now," Simon said, his tone calm and authoritative, carrying the natural leadership of a senior team member. "The first set of data needs to be processed soon. Let’s head to the lab and get started."Everyone stood up in agreement."Let’s go."Stellar followed them toward the lab.But as soon as they reached the entrance, they ran into a familiar face."Well, well, Stellar. Looks like you really did step in some luck. You actually made it into the institute," Alex sneered, though his eyes flashed with frustration.He had been waiting for the moment Stellar would be kicked out of school, hoping to pressure her into giving up her dignity and submitting to him.But now, that plan completely fell apart.Before Stellar could respond, Lilian shot back without hesitation."Sounds like you’re the one who got lucky. I still can’t figure out how you got chosen to stay at
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Her eyes gleamed with mockery and disdain, yet there was no surprise in them as if she always knew he was nothing but a fraud. Lilian and the others felt equally satisfied, their expressions filled with undisguised contempt as they looked at Alex. For a moment, his face burned red, as if he had just been slapped in public. Fury boiled inside him. Humiliated and enraged, he clenched his fists, ready to lunge forward and put Stellar in her place. But just then, a crisp, cool voice cut through the tension. "What’s all the commotion about?" Stephen strode over with unhurried steps, his tall frame casting an imposing presence. His sharp, sculpted features remained as cold as ever, his piercing gaze flicking over Alex with effortless indifference, as if he weren’t even worth acknowledging.Despite saying little, the sheer weight of his presence made Alex involuntarily shiver. The others exchanged glances, surprised. Some recognized him immediately, while others, knowing hi
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There was something undeniably condescending about her tone. Lilian, ever the optimist, might not have picked up on it. But Stellar’s smile faded as she finally looked Vivian in the eye. "Even without someone backing me up, I wouldn’t stand by and let anyone insult my mentor without doing something about it." She wasn’t one to stir up trouble. But that didn’t mean she was afraid of it. Vivian’s expression darkened. It was a direct jab—calling her out for standing on the sidelines and making snide remarks instead of taking action. Just as she opened her mouth to retort, Simon stepped in before things escalated. "Alright, that’s enough. Since Alex is out of the way, let’s get back to work. We need to run the data." With that, Nathan, who had been silent the entire time, turned and entered the lab without another word. Lilian quickly grabbed Stellar’s arm and followed. Despite her irritation, Vivian had no choice but to do the same. Simon was the last to enter, c
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Simon was always serious when it came to academics, and when he saw true talent, he never hesitated to give credit where it was due.Even Nathan, usually unreadable, had a flicker of admiration in his otherwise indifferent gaze.Vivian widened her eyes as she stepped forward, scanning the data carefully.It was flawless.No matter how hard she tried to find a flaw, there wasn’t a single mistake to nitpick.She was so confident just moments ago, insisting on switching tasks. And now, this data—so precise, so irrefutable—felt like the biggest slap in the face.Her expression twisted with discomfort."Well, no wonder. Geniuses really are built different," Lilian gushed, practically in awe, looking more and more like Stellar’s biggest fan.Vivian clenched her jaw, unable to stand the praise."To be fair, it’s probably thanks to Senior Ward’s teaching."It was a thinly veiled jab, implying Stellar’s skills weren’t her own but merely the product of someone else’s guidance.But this time, St
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"Everyone was talking about you two back then."All the way up to graduation, when you abruptly gave up further studies and followed him straight into Moore Enterprises. Everyone thought you were finally getting what you wanted—to become Mrs. Moore."A faint tension settled over the group.The way she framed it made it sound as if Stellar had abandoned her academic career just to chase after a wealthy man.Vivian paused for a couple of seconds before adding, as if just remembering something,"Oh, but I did hear recently that the Moore family's heir is engaged to the Harlow family’s heiress. Stellar, you wouldn’t happen to be…"She trailed off deliberately, then widened her eyes with feigned regret."Oh no, did I just say something I shouldn’t have?"Her expression was one of mock remorse, but the flicker of triumph in her lowered gaze gave her away.Everyone present already picked up on the unspoken implication.She was suggesting that Stellar only returned to school because Percy dump
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By the time dinner wrapped up, it was nearing 8 p.m. As Stellar and the others stepped out of the restaurant, they were met with a steady downpour. Most of them took a cab to get there. Since they all lived on campus, they planned to head back together, except for Stellar, who didn’t stay in the dorms. "You guys go ahead," she said quickly. "My place isn’t on the way. I’ll just call a ride on my own." Lilian hesitated, clearly worried. "Are you sure? I can wait with you—" "I’m feeling a little dizzy after drinking," Vivian cut in impatiently, rolling her eyes. "Can we just go? She’s a grown woman. I think she can manage calling a cab by herself." She bit down on the words “grown woman” with deliberate emphasis, her meaning clear. Stellar pressed her lips together, understanding the jab but choosing to ignore it. "But—" Lilian started, still reluctant. Stellar gave her a reassuring smile. "It’s fine. I’ll text you once I’m home." Only then did Lilian let out a smal
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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
