Chapter 7

Although Claude was always gentle and warm in front of Stellar, he was, after all, the current CEO of Riverside Corporation. His commanding presence was unmatched, and now, tinged with anger, it was downright intimidating.

The sheer force of his aura made Percy’s heart skip a beat, but he stubbornly refused to back down as he stared at Stellar.

“Sir, there’s clearly been a misunderstanding. Miss Rivers belongs to me.”

He even considered saying that Stellar was no more than a pet he raised, convinced that no matter who this man was, no one would treasure something discarded as worthless.

But before the words could leave his mouth, the man in front of him let out a cold laugh.

“You? You’re not even worthy.”

The single, cutting sentence shattered what little composure Percy had left. His face turned an ugly shade of red and purple.

Stellar, who hadn’t eaten and already had a few drinks, felt her stomach twist even more at the thought of Percy and the cloying scent of perfume that lingered on him. She had no interest in continuing this pointless argument or explaining who the man beside her truly was.

Her already captivating eyes shimmered from the alcohol, and the faint flush on her cheeks only made her more stunning. Yet, the icy indifference in her gaze was impossible to miss as she stared directly at Percy.

With a mocking laugh, she said, “Mr. Moore, I believe we’ve said everything there is to say. We’ve parted ways, so let’s leave it at that and move on with our lives.”

Without waiting for his response, she grabbed Claude’s arm and walked away.

Percy stood frozen, momentarily stunned.

By the time he snapped out of it, all he could see was Stellar being carefully ushered into the sleek luxury car waiting at the hotel entrance. Claude shielded her as if she were a treasure too precious to touch.

In that instant, it felt like a knife had carved a hole in Percy’s chest. His mind swirled with images of Stellar’s breathtaking face and her cold, decisive demeanor.

For the first time, it truly hit him—was she really going to leave him for good?

As he stood there, grappling with the realization, Yvonne, who had been watching the scene unfold from a distance, finally approached.

With no one else around, she didn’t bother pretending.

“Percy,” she said with feigned concern. “Is Stellar seeing someone else behind your back?”

Percy turned his head and shot her a cold, sharp glare.

In truth, Percy had met with Yvonne in private before. He hadn’t denied the talk of an engagement, but he had never explicitly agreed to marry her, either.

A flicker of displeasure flashed through Yvonne’s eyes as she deliberately stoked the flames.

"She’s been living off you, taking your resources, only to turn around and betray you. Percy, you can’t afford to be soft on her. Do you really think Stellar could have closed that deal without Moore Enterprises’ proposal?"

Her words hit their mark, and Percy’s expression darkened instantly.

She was right. The collaboration with Brighton Group was something he had been preparing for a long time. While he hadn’t entrusted it to Stellar, she must have caught wind of it.

With all her years of experience at the company, she certainly had the means to access every document and proposal Moore Enterprises had on file. Without those resources, there was no way she could have landed the deal on her own!

“Stellar, you stole Moore Enterprises’ confidential information!” Percy thought.

It felt like a dam broke inside him, and Percy finally had something to channel his anger into. His teeth clenched as fury surged through him.

“Just wait until the compliance team and legal department come after you. Let’s see who can protect you then. If you won’t behave, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Percy thought.

Seeing her scheme work, Yvonne was overjoyed.

“Percy, after the trouble she’s caused, you can’t keep letting your feelings for her hold you back.”

She reached out to take his arm, her luxurious perfume wafting heavily around her. But as the scent filled his senses, Percy was suddenly reminded of Stellar’s light, elegant fragrance—subtle and comforting.

Feeling irritated, he pulled his arm away from Yvonne’s grasp.

“I have other matters to attend to,” he said coldly, turning to leave.

From start to finish, he didn’t spare Yvonne a single glance.

…

In the back seat of the Cayenne, Stellar sat with a slightly downcast expression.

“Still can’t forget him?” Claude sighed and handed her a cup of warm water.

“No, it’s not that. I just feel unsettled,” Stellar replied as she took the cup, forcing a faint smile.

Claude felt a pang of heartache and reached out to gently ruffle her hair.

“Our Stellar isn’t made of stone. Feeling upset is perfectly normal. Since you helped me so much today. Tell me, what do you want? Just say the word.”

Stellar quickly shook her head, recalling the endless clothes and jewelry in the villa.

“I don’t need anything. This collaboration between Riverside Corporation and Brighton Group has opened up a new market for Riverside. To meet the technical demands, we might need another round of investment from you, but I promise it will yield returns quickly.”

Claude smiled indulgently and tapped her nose affectionately.

“Have I ever told you that your three uncles and I are all adopted?”

“Why bring that up?” Stellar frowned slightly, visibly uncomfortable.

Blood ties were important, but she didn’t believe family should be measured by such things. If only the Harlow family hadn’t been so ruthless…

“My point is, everything in the Rivers family is yours. You are the sole, rightful heir.”

Claude’s calm, steady voice interrupted Stellar’s wandering thoughts.

“What do you mean by that? Are you leaving?” she asked in surprise, instinctively grabbing his wrist tightly, her grip full of tension.

She couldn’t help but think back to being abandoned when Yvonne returned. Would the Rivers family cast her aside too?

Her wrist, still swollen and red despite the ointment, caught Claude’s eye. His heart ached painfully at the sight.

His voice softened even more.

“Of course, we won’t leave. The four of us, along with your grandparents, will always be by your side until the end of our lives.

“What I meant is that everything in the Rivers family has always been yours. So, no matter how much we invest, it’s up to you. You don’t need to promise anything.”

The unexpected warmth and reassurance made Stellar’s nose sting with emotion. Wrapped in such profound love, it felt as if nothing in the world could truly scare her.

When they returned to the estate, even though Stellar repeatedly insisted she didn’t need anything, Claude had already arranged for a team of designers, lawyers, and other professionals to surround her. Measurements were taken, documents signed—it was a whirlwind of activity before they finally let her go.

“Uncle, isn’t this enough by now?” Stellar slumped onto the sofa, feeling more exhausted than she would after attending a formal banquet.

“This is just the beginning. You’ll need to get used to it,” Claude replied, handing her a plate of freshly cut fruit. “Oh, by the way, the Wards have already learned that you’ve returned to the family. About the engagement between our families—”

“What engagement?” Stellar choked, sitting up straight.

Claude quickly clarified, “The Wards and the Rivers have been family friends for generations. This engagement was arranged before you were born. But after you went missing, no one brought it up again. Now that you’ve been found…”

Before he could finish, Stellar interrupted him.

“I don’t want to get married.”

Fresh out of a failed relationship, she had no desire to get involved in something as complicated and draining as marriage.

Besides, was Claude sure the Wards even knew her current situation? She was far from a socialite or heiress. Her tarnished reputation and lack of upbringing in the Rivers family weren’t exactly selling points.

Claude chuckled but didn’t press the matter.

“Alright, if our Stellar doesn’t want to get married, then she won’t.”

Though the engagement would have been a great match, the Rivers family had never needed alliances through marriage. For them, Stellar’s happiness was the only thing that mattered.