Back when Stellar was around, this had never happened. "Percy…" Chris hesitated for a moment before speaking, his tone casual yet deliberate. "It’s been a while since we’ve seen Stellar, hasn’t it? Is she still mad at you?" For the first time, he dared to mention Stellar when she wasn’t around. The moment Percy heard her name, his expression turned thunderous. With a sharp motion, he slammed his glass onto the table, his voice laced with fury. "I told you—don’t ever mention that woman in front of me again! And—" His bloodshot eyes swept across the room, locking onto each of his so-called friends. "From this day on, she and I are enemies. Anyone who dares speak up for her is going against me!" A heavy silence fell over the room. Chris frowned. He heard that Percy’s recent arrest had something to do with Stellar, and while he didn’t understand why she would do such a thing, openly declaring her an enemy seemed extreme. The woman had no background and real connecti
Wanting to maintain a polished image in front of Percy’s friends, Yvonne took extra care with her appearance. She applied flawless makeup, chose an elegant outfit, and carried herself with the perfect blend of grace and sophistication."Apologies for being late," she said with a warm smile, addressing the group."Good evening, Miss Harlow," someone greeted politely."Miss Harlow? What are you talking about? She’s going to be the future Mrs. Moore! We should start calling her properly." "Oh, right! Good evening, Mrs. Moore! Sorry for the trouble!"Percy’s friends were quick to adapt, playing their roles well.Yvonne gave a modest nod, satisfied with their respect.But the moment the sound of the woman footsteps reached Percy’s drunken ears, his hazy eyes suddenly snapped open.Through his blurred vision, he saw a graceful figure approaching, her voice soft and patient."Percy, let’s go home."A familiar and comforting fragrance surrounded him, and without thinking, he assumed it was
"Stellar!"The first face that flashed through Percy’s mind was hers, and the mere thought of her name made him grit his teeth in anger.But soon, the hazy memories from last night started coming back.Towards the end… it wasn’t Stellar who took him away.It was Yvonne.And yet, she actually dumped him on the side of the road and left him there?At that moment, his disgust for Yvonne deepened even further.Furious, he stormed away from the scene.…Meanwhile, on the other side of town.Stellar spent her entire day at the research institute, buried in her latest experiment.For once, no one had caused trouble for her, and she enjoyed a rare, peaceful day.Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang."Babe, I finally wrapped things up on my end. How about a dinner date?"Suzy’s lazy, sultry voice carried an irresistible charm.Stellar couldn’t help but smile, her tone softer than usual."Sure! Where are we meeting?"Suzy rattled off an address.Stellar paused for a second but agreed w
"You haven't seen this yet? Well, I guarantee it’ll make your day!"Suzy, grinning with excitement, shoved her phone in front of Stellar.On the screen, a shaky, handheld video played—a clip taken by a bystander.In the video, Percy was a complete mess. His clothes were disheveled, his face twisted in rage as he stumbled out of a roadside flower bed. His expression darkened even further when he realized his surroundings, and as he yanked up his pants, he roared at the onlookers, "Get the hell away from me!"Suzy burst into laughter, wiping away tears. "Oh my god! This scumbag went from living in luxury to literally waking up in the streets. Talk about karma! Serves him right after the way he treated you."If this had been in the past, Stellar might have felt something—anger, sadness, even pity.But now, seeing Percy like this?She felt nothing."Whatever happens to him isn’t my concern anymore," she said calmly.As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward the entrance, where a tall, famil
Stephen thought for a moment before saying, "I’ll also have a mushroom soup."Noticing there wasn’t a soup dish on the table, he figured it would balance the meal.Even Lily looked surprised this time."You two really have similar tastes! Miss Rivers actually ordered that earlier—it hasn’t even arrived yet. What are the odds?"Her words made Stellar feel a little awkward. She quickly shoved the menu into Lily’s hands."Madam Bailey, I’m starving. Hurry up and get the food going!"Lily chuckled knowingly but didn’t say anything more as she walked off, leaving Stellar and Stephen sitting across from each other in an unexpectedly quiet moment.The atmosphere between them turned… oddly subtle.Suzy, on the other hand, was thoroughly entertained.She cleared her throat dramatically before grinning."You know, they say that if you want to test compatibility in a relationship, just see if two people can enjoy the same meals. By that standard, you two are practically a match made in heaven!"
Outside the Bailey’s Bistro, Percy arrived at the restaurant in a foul mood.Just as he was about to push open the door, his eyes landed on a familiar figure through the glass.Stellar sat by the window, quietly enjoying her meal, a light, unrestrained happiness dancing across her features.For a moment, Percy froze.He remembered this place—the flavors of its dishes.Stellar had always loved coming here. But he had dismissed it as low-class, unworthy of her, and forbade her from eating here.Yet because of her love for Southport cuisine, she learned to cook it herself over timeAnd in doing so, she had spoiled him too.Now, without her meals, nothing else satisfied his palate.That was why he thought of coming here today.But he hadn't expected to see this.Stellar sitting inside, enjoying her meal with another man.A tall, strikingly handsome man.An unfamiliar sense of irritation coiled in Percy’s chest, sharp and suffocating.He hesitated, a sudden wave of unease washing over him.
"Is this how the rich trample over ordinary people? Picking fights, assaulting the elderly, and passing out drunk in public—no dignity, no class, no morals. Absolute scum of society. A disgrace. Companies like his shouldn’t even be allowed to go public!""Blacklist him! I can’t even stand to look at this mess anymore."Scrolling down, the next trending headline was even worse—Moore Enterprises’ stock had plummeted."Look at the disaster you’ve caused!" William seethed, his face red with fury as he slammed his hand against the desk. "You’ve ignited public outrage! While I’ve been working around the clock to clean up your mess, you have the nerve to talk about calling off the engagement?!"His voice thundered through the office, his rage barely contained."Do you see it now? If you don’t go through with the Harlow engagement, our entire family is finished!“Effective immediately, we’re announcing the engagement party. I’ve already instructed PR to start damage control, and you—" His e
Percy’s face twitched in disbelief.He hadn’t even confronted Yvonne for abandoning him in a damn flower bed, humiliating him in front of the entire city, yet she had the audacity to start nitpicking him?For a split second, he wanted to slap some sense into her.But at the last moment, he clenched his fist and swallowed his anger."It won’t happen again.”Only then did Yvonne tilt her chin up smugly and step into the car with an air of superiority.The entire ride was suffocatingly silent.Percy had no desire to talk to her, and she seemed perfectly content admiring her reflection in the mirror.By the time they arrived at the Moore estate, he felt like he had endured a full hour of torture.Yvonne, however, wasted no time slipping her arm through his as they walked inside.Margaret was already waiting in the foyer, elegantly dressed as she stepped forward to greet them.Her gaze swept over Yvonne’s outfit, and for the briefest moment, her expression stiffened.Good Lord.What kind of
Message after message, all of them were overly affectionate displays of love.From the details in the photos, the chat records, and the familiar username, Stellar quickly figured out the account belonged to Janet.So, the reason Stephen had been in such a bind, spending so long helping her pick a script was it all for Janet?The thought stung more than she expected.But then, she remembered the misunderstanding caused by Janet not long ago.She still felt it wasn't fair to jump to conclusions. Stephen deserved her trust.With that in mind, she opened messenger and made a video call.Stephen picked up the call shortly after."Stellar, what’s wrong?"Stephen seemed to notice her shift in mood right away."I... there’s something I wanted to ask you..." She paused, noticing the scenery shifting behind him. "Hold on, are you in a car? Where are you going?""I'm just checking on something. I’ll be back soon. What did you want to talk about?"After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Have yo
Unfortunately, Janet agreed with her mother."I’ve said it all along—the Rivers family never saw us as their own. At least now you’re finally seeing their true colors. “But Mom, there’s no need to be upset anymore. We don’t need to rely on them."Her tone was firm and resolute."If not the Rivers, then who? You know your father’s limited abilities. With the company in its current state, what else can we do..." Layla muttered, already regretting marrying such a useless man."Mom, you still have me!" Janet’s eyes lit up. "To tell you the truth, I’ve already gotten close to Stephen Ward.""What did you say?" Layla blinked, unsure if she’d heard correctly. "You mean the heir to the Ward family?""That’s right. Things between us aren’t ordinary anymore. I told him I wanted to become a director, and he immediately promised to give me the best resources. “It won’t be long before I win him over completely. Once that happens, he’ll help the Cole family out of this mess and bring us more ben
She had only learned about her family situation from her mother after returning to Southport this time. If they couldn’t find a way to turn things around soon, the Cole family would be finished.Janet had to start planning for herself. But on the other end of the line, it suddenly went silent. Just as Janet grew anxious, Stephen’s deep voice finally came through. But he brought up something else entirely. "Janet, tell me, were you really the girl who saved me back then?" Janet’s heart skipped a beat, and she nearly dropped her phone. Her expression turned flustered, but thankfully, he couldn’t see her face through the screen. "Of course I was! Isn’t the pendant the best proof? Stephen, why would you suddenly ask that? Did someone say something to you?" She tried to sound hurt. "Is that so? But you don’t remember anything about saving me." Stephen’s tone was calm, almost testing her—though it also sounded like an offhand remark. "That’s because of the aftereffects f
When Stellar came downstairs in fresh clothes, Stephen was just finishing up a call in the living room.She walked toward him, planning to share what had just come to mind, but paused when she realized he was on a work call.“A script?” he was saying.“Yes, Mr. Ward,” came the voice of the development director on the other end. “We’ve just reviewed last quarter’s report from the film division—it exceeded projections by a wide margin. “If we continue selecting strong scripts and hiring top-tier actors, this production model could take the company even further.”“So, you want me to choose?” Stephen asked.“Yes, I’ve received several promising scripts and we’re ready to move forward with a major production. “But I’m struggling to narrow down the best one. I’d really appreciate your judgment on this.”“Got it. I’ll come by shortly,” Stephen replied, ending the call.He turned to see Stellar approaching. “Something on your mind?”Then, as if struck by inspiration, his eyes lit up. “Star
Stellar turned around, puzzled, and met a pair of eyes filled with emotion so intense it felt like it might swallow her whole.The weight of it hit her all at once. “What’s wrong?”“Stellar, Promise me... no matter what happens, no matter the situation, don’t ever risk your life like that again. Please,” Stephen said, his voice rough, heavy with something deeper. In that moment, she understood. Her expression softened as she stepped closer, her tone gentle, almost coaxing. “I only had the courage to jump in because I knew you were there. “You’re the reason I felt safe. You’re my biggest sense of security.”The words, light and sincere, hit Stephen right in the chest.It was like a quiet confession that reached the softest part of him.He let out a helpless breath and smiled, brushing the damp strands of hair from her forehead. “Let’s get you changed. You’re completely…”Soaked.He didn’t finish the sentence.His gaze had fallen to her chest, where a familiar emerald pendant hung fro
"Mary, Wayne, we’ve decided that we’d like you to be our mentors and carry on your legacy. “Martial arts may not be our full-time focus, and we won’t be able to devote ourselves to it completely... but if you're willing to accept that, please take this as a symbol of our commitment."Both of them had made the same decision.The older couple exchanged a glance, visibly moved.With successors finally in place, they had a renewed sense of purpose. With time, they were confident the two would come to love martial arts just as deeply as they did.“I couldn’t ask for better students,” Wayne said with a wide grin. “Alright, enough with the bowing.”Mary chuckled. "Honestly, it’s starting to feel like a wedding ceremony."Stellar flushed and quickly stood straight.The four of them chatted warmly, already discussing plans for the trip back. After some thought, Wayne made his decision."This time, I’ll head back to the city with you two for a while. It’s been ages since I visited the Mr. and
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