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Chapter 82
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As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart Chapter 83
"I'm just excited Think about it—you almost let your talent go to waste! Luckily, you came to your senses. “Don't worry, I’ll personally help you apply for a patent on this research. The world needs to know that this achievement belongs to you." Though the project was a team effort, Stellar was undoubtedly the driving force behind it. She had led the entire process from start to finish. Victor’s enthusiasm was unmistakable—he truly cherished and valued talent. Stellar felt a wave of emotion swell in her chest. "Thank you, Professor. This time, I won’t let you down." This newly developed material was exactly what she promised for Shane’s project enhancement. With the results in hand, the contract negotiations should be finalized soon. …Early the next morning, Stellar called Shane and arranged to meet at the Brighton Group’s office. During the meeting, she provided him with a portion of the material. Though the patent application was still in progress, the feasibility
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Stellar paused for a moment, sensing an unusual warmth in Shane’s demeanor. A strange feeling crept up on her—it almost felt like… a date. But she quickly brushed the thought aside, telling herself she was overthinking it. Lowering her gaze to the menu, she raised a brow in mild surprise. "The dish names are definitely unique. I’ll go with ‘Veiled Blossoms in Mist,’ ‘Crisp Emerald Leaves,’ and this one—‘White Truffle Delight.’ That should be good. You can pick the rest." She passed him the menu. Shane glanced at it briefly before adding, "I’ll include one more—‘A Worthy Pursuit.’ The name has quite the meaning behind it, don’t you think?" As he spoke, his gaze lingered on her, his deep-set eyes carrying a touch of intrigue. Stellar’s mind immediately recalled an old line of poetry: “A true gentleman seeks a worthy match, drawn to beauty and grace.”Her chest tightened slightly. Was she reading too much into this again? "It sounds… fine," she said vaguely, not wanting
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It was the first real setback she had ever encountered in her life. Stellar was still courteous enough to spare his pride. "This dish is actually pretty good, Mr. Howe. You should try it too." Although the price was steep, the taste was undeniably fresher and more flavorful than other restaurants. Shane assumed she was just being nice, but after taking a couple of bites, he had to admit it was indeed delicious. His emotions were a rollercoaster—soaring one moment and sinking the next.Determined to regain his footing, he shifted the conversation back. "We were just talking about relationships. Miss Rivers, do you have anyone special in your life right now?" Stellar’s hand paused for a moment. She knew she wouldn't be able to avoid this. From all the subtle gestures and careful probing earlier, she had already guessed that Shane was interested in her. He wasn’t just treating her as a friend—he wanted something more. She decided to be straightforward. "No, I don't." Sha
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He looked at the young woman in front of him, the admiration in his eyes deepening."Hmm, I have no doubt in your abilities, Miss Rivers. But there’s no need to be so formal—just call me by my name.""Alright, then you can call me Stellar. I’ll be heading off now."She waved at him and quickly walked away.Shane watched her retreating figure, unable to tear his gaze away for a long moment.A storm of emotions swirled inside him, an unshakable frustration lingering in his chest.Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and called Stephen."Hey, got time tonight? Even if you don’t, make some. Considering I just landed you a major deal, the least you can do is come have a drink with me."There was a rare hint of dejection in his tone.Stephen paused, setting his pen down before teasing, "What’s this? Did you just get your heart broken?"The other end of the line fell into an awkward silence.A few seconds later, Shane huffed, clearly annoyed."Are you coming or not?"Now, Stephen was g
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"I've already said—I won’t accept an arranged marriage. I’ll put an end to it." Stephen's tone turned colder, and for a brief moment, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. It was obvious that he had nothing but disdain for the idea of a forced engagement. Sensing his displeasure, Shane quickly backed off from the subject and changed the topic. "Alright, let’s not talk about your love life. Help me out instead. I don’t want to give up on her just yet. What do you think I should do?" For once, his expression was completely serious. Stephen could tell he wasn’t joking around this time. Dropping his usual sarcasm, he responded in a calm, matter-of-fact tone. "Gift her something. Women love grand romantic gestures. If you want a real chance, you need to be prepared." Shane nodded in agreement, not the least bit bothered by the fact that he was taking relationship advice from a man who had never been in one himself. In fact, he thought Stephen made a lot of sense. "Wait—" A
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"No need to trouble yourself. I can take the elevator on my own." Stellar almost felt like all of this was a bit too over-the-top. She accepted the access card, and as soon as she stepped toward the elevator, the doors slid open for her. Stepping inside, she let her thoughts wander. What kind of person was Brighton Group’s CEO? Was he tall? Short? Given that he had built an empire in just a few years and gathered some of the best talents under his wing, she figured he was probably a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. At that age, he was likely past his prime—maybe even overweight, sporting a beer belly and thinning hair. No matter what, she had to remain respectful and professional. First impressions were everything. As she mentally prepared herself, the elevator doors quietly closed. Meanwhile, on the top floor— Shane tugged at his bow tie, his legs bouncing with restless energy as he sat on the edge of his seat. "Stephen, are you sure this plan is going t
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"Wait!"Stephen’s gaze darkened slightly as realization set in.A memory surfaced—the fleeting glimpse he’d caught of a familiar figure in the elevator that day.At the time, he’d assumed it was a mistake. It clearly wasn’t.Pressing his lips together, he felt an unfamiliar sensation stir within him.So, she was the one who had Shane completely enthralled?His brows furrowed slightly, but he still wanted to confirm it."You’re here to meet Brighton Group’s CEO?"Stellar turned at his words, a sudden, almost absurd thought flashing through her mind."Wait… don’t tell me you’re—"Stephen gave a small nod.The middle-aged executive she had imagined, the balding, beer-bellied businessman, had just been replaced by none other than her senior from university?Her brain momentarily short-circuited.Stephen let out a quiet sigh. He should have figured this out sooner.So, she was the brilliant mind behind the CM material.And the very same person working with Riverside Corporation all this ti
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She wasn’t exactly a stranger to praise. But hearing Stephen, now speaking as Brighton Group’s CEO, praise her work as a business partner left Stellar feeling unexpectedly self-conscious."Well, I should be thanking you, Senior. If you hadn’t let me use your lab, I wouldn’t have been able to complete the upgrades so smoothly. I’d say this was a win-win for both of us." She looked up at him, eyes bright with sincerity. "It’s an honor to work with you." A faint smile brushed Stephen’s lips. Shane, watching from the sidelines, caught it all too clearly. And in that instant, whatever hope he had been clinging to was completely crushed. He had never seen Stephen look at a woman like that before. At this point, he was almost certain that Stellar was the junior Stephen mentioned.A sharp pang of realization hit him, draining the color from his face. Had he just fallen for… his best friend’s woman? His entire expression collapsed. But the two of them remained oblivious, dee
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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?"
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"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
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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
