Semua Bab As the Fake Heiress Rose to Power, the CEO Falls Apart: Bab 541 - Bab 550

"You showing up every day is starting to draw attention. My coworkers all recognize you now," Stellar muttered, half-suspecting that Stephen was doing it on purpose—as some kind of subtle claim of territory.But Stephen remained stubborn. "I need to make sure you're safe. I won’t rest easy until I see you home every night."The look in his eyes—steady, dark, and deeply protective—made it impossible for her to say no.So, once again, she climbed obediently into the car. Still, she added, "Before we head back, I need to drop off a document for one of the club partners.""I’ll drive you there," Stephen said without missing a beat, one hand resting on the wheel like a full-time chauffeur who couldn’t be bothered by the detour.Stellar figured she’d treat him to a drink afterward as a thank-you.Half an hour later, they arrived at the club and took the elevator up to the fifth floor.She hadn’t yet confirmed which suite the partner was in, so she paused in the hallway to send a quick messa

That sealed it.Stellar was now certain Percy had staged the kidnapping himself.A glint of darkness flickered in Stephen’s eyes. “He’s more calculating than he lets on.”Still, something didn’t sit right with him.Would Percy really pull off something so easy to expose? Especially knowing both Keith and he were present that night? Would he really dare to go up against the Rivers, Sinclair, and Ward families all at once?Stephen hesitated, then tested the waters. “If the kidnapping had nothing to do with him… and he really was suffering badly from his injuries, would you go see him?”Stellar raised her wine glass again, took a slow sip, then replied, “I would. I’d even bring him a pile of supplements. But it would only be out of basic human decency. It wouldn’t mean I feel anything for him.”Relief softened Stephen’s features, his furrowed brow finally easing.She noticed the subtle shift in his expression and chuckled. “What, is the great Mr. Ward feeling insecure?”Stephen didn’t lo

Furious, Jason hurled his phone across the room. It shattered on impact, the screen splintering into pieces.A woman nearby rushed to him, gently patting his chest to calm him. “Mr. Fletcher, take it easy! Don’t let an outsider get to you like this. How is breaking the phone worth it?”Jason grabbed her wrist with a chilling glare. “Miss Sung, weren’t you Percy’s assistant? You heard the entire conversation just now. So, what—thinking of quitting with him?”“Ow, you’re hurting me.” May pouted, eyes misty and pitiful behind the rim of her removed glasses.“How could I possibly betray you? You’re my real boss. I was only assigned to work under him. I’ll do whatever you ask without hesitation.”Jason scoffed and let go of her hand, but his mood had clearly improved. “Smart girl. Now go get me a drink.”“Yes, Mr. Fletcher.” May offered a polished smile as she stood up, but the moment she turned away, the expression vanished.She slipped into the hallway, ducked into a quiet corner, and qu

“What do you mean you’re not the right person? The Rivers Corporation belongs to you. Even if it doesn’t go well, so what? "Just think of it as practice,” Claude said breezily, like messing up a project was no more serious than dropping a piece of cake.Stellar’s lips twitched, but in the end, she couldn’t argue with him. “Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”“That’s my girl,” Claude chuckled as he walked. “No pressure at all. Just treat it like a level in a game.”From where she stood, Stellar could see him stepping out of her villa across the street. His gaze swept forward—right in the direction of the window she was standing at.Her heart seized. Her brain screamed bad timing, but her body didn’t react fast enough.The next moment, a strong arm reached out and pulled her into a firm chest, completely shielding her from view.Her face pressed into the warmth of Stephen’s chest, his scent wrapping around her.“Huh?” Claude’s voice crackled through the speaker, laced with suspicion. “Did

The moment Stellar saw his face, a wave of disgust rose in her chest. All she could think of was how he had staged that entire ordeal to manipulate her. Her expression turned cold.“Does the Fletcher Group even have the capacity to take on a project this big?” she said, her voice laced with unmistakable sarcasm.She had since looked into the man Percy had spoken to on the phone in that private room—Jason, his so-called boss.She had expected it.Scum attracted scum. Two rotten men, hand in hand. She could hardly believe she’d ever even considered working with that company. The very thought now made her skin crawl.Percy looked caught off guard for a second, then quickly responded, “You’ve got it wrong. I left Fletcher Group.”He reached into his jacket and handed her a business card. “Today, I’m here as the CEO of LeapTech.”“LeapTech?” Stellar’s brows lifted slightly, clearly surprised.It was a rising star in the industry—one that had only emerged in the past year but had alread