Chapter
Anyone allowed to casually handle those prized books must be someone Victor held in high regard.
Although the man didn’t seem particularly welcoming, Stellar quickly composed herself, offering a polite smile.
and a small nod.
“Hello.”
The man closed the book with an audible snap, his legs moving as he stepped out of the shadows.
Now that he was no longer shrouded in light, the oppressive aura he carried became even more striking, a sharp intensity that seemed to pierce the air.
Stellar instinctively held her breath.
Who was this man?
Victor, who had just finished stuffing the knee warmers into a drawer, spoke up at the perfect moment.
“This is Stephen Ward. You two should get to know each other.”
The name immediately sparked recognition in Stellar’s mind. Her expression shifted to one of excitement. Stephen was three years her senior and someone Victor once called a once–in–a–generation genius.
It was him!
His groundbreaking contributions to the Bz project alone had earned her utmost respect.
“Hello, Senior.” She greeted him at once.
The man’s lips curved slightly into a faint smirk.
“Research relies on intellect and responsibility, not empty flattery or sweet talk. Even the smallest error in data could cost countless lives. If you’re not fully prepared, don’t bother coming.”
Though his words were harsh, Stellar found herself in complete agreement.
Aerospace projects were incredibly demanding; even the tiniest flaw, down to a single screw, could result in catastrophic, irreparable tragedies.
Bowing respectfully, she replied, “Thank you for the advice, Senior.”
For a brief moment, the man’s sharp eyes flickered with surprise.
But inwardly, he dismissed her..
She looks earnest and humble, but in a world corrupted by greed and ambition, could someone like her really remain so pure? Could she truly return to her original purpose?
After spending years with Percy, Stellar’s ability to read people’s emotions had become second nature.
She could clearly sense the man’s dislike for her–bordering on disdain.
Not wanting to provoke further hostility, she chose to let it go. Ending the conversation, she turned to Victor instead.
“Professor, I won’t interrupt you and my senior any longer About the B13 project…”
Victor raised a hand to stop her mid–sentence.
“That can wait,” he said, tapping a thick stack of documents on the corner of his desk.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 11
“This is for you. If you want to join the research institute, you’ll have to pass the assessment. If you can’t pass, there’s nothing I can do for you.
Stellar’s expression brightened at his words.
She hadn’t expected her mentor to agree outright. No matter how brilliant her past accomplishments were, she had been out of the field for years.
For Victor to say this was already a tremendous opportunity
As her eyes scanned the familiar technical terms on the docoments, her entire face lit up with excitement.
“Alright, I’ll head out now,” she said cheerfully, gathering the stack of papers. After bidding the two men goodbye, she left without lingering or asking for anything further.
Stephen was slightly surprised. Remembering the expression on her face when she first saw those documents, he couldn’t help but comment, “I’ll be part of the assessment review,”
Victor, busy happily fiddling with the knee warmers in his drawer, laughed at the remark.
“Afraid I’ll cheat for her?”
“Not exactly,” Stephen replied coolly. “I just want to see where someone who’s been out of the game for years finds that kind of confidence.”
Outside the research institute, Stellar noticed it was still early. She decided not to call Claude just yet, planning instead to take a taxi home, review the materials, and head out again around dinnertime.
But as she walked out of the campus gates, a speeding sports car nearly ran into her..
The documents in her arms were scattered across the ground.
Too startled to see who it was, she immediately crouched down to gather the papers.
Just then, a pair of high–end leather boots, clearly made for a woman, appeared in her line of sight.
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
+25 BONUS
Yvonne stood there, dressed like a peacock in full display, her outfit dripping with gold and jewels, flaunting her wealth and superiority. Her voice carried an air of unrestrained arrogance.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Stellar Rivers, the illustrious representative of Riverside Corporation who just signed a deal with Brighton Group. What’s this? Picking up trash outside a school now?”
She smirked, lifting her foot to step on one of Stellar’s scattered books.
Ha! So, what if Percy didn’t like her? He was still going to obediently get engaged to her.
Every time Yvonne complained to her parents about her frustrations, they coddled her endlessly. Not only did they pressure her uncle to invest an extra two million dollars into her latest film, but they also arranged a dinner meeting with the Moore family tonight at an upscale restaurant to finalize the engagement date.
Stellar’s gaze turned cold as she looked up at Yvonne.
“Move.”
“And if I don’t? What can you do about it?” Yvonne sneered towering over Stellar with undisguised jealousy in her eyes.
She despised the girl before her. How could someone from such a lowly background have a face so breathtakingly beautiful?
She already knew Stellar hadn’t been convicted of stealing company data. Instead, she was protected by Shane and even managed to humiliate Percy,
What else could it be if not sleeping her way to the top?
“Stellar, you’ve really perfected the art of hopping beds. You dumped Percy and went straight into Shane Howe’s arms, huh? I wonder if that man who picked you up after the banquet knows about this?”
Stellar shoved Yvonne aside, picked up her book, and stood fall.
“Only someone with a filthy heart and mind like yours would assume the whole world stoops as low as you do. Maybe try reading a book for once, Miss Harlow.”
The memory of being called a “social–climbing Cinderella at the gala flashed through Yvonne’s mind, reigniting her fury. She raised her hand to slap Stellar, but Stellar was quicker.
Smack!
But the sound of the slap didn’t come from Stellar.
Instead, it was her face that stung. And the one who slapped her wasn’t Yvonne.
Even though she thought she had moved on, seeing the man standing protectively in front of Yvonne and glaring at her sent a sharp, uncontrollable pain through Stellar’s heart.
It was Jonathan Brook–Yvonne’s maternal uncle.
The same man she once called “Uncle” for eighteen years.
If it had been anyone else, she wouldn’t have felt this hurt.
But Jonathan was different. Although she addressed him as her uncle, he was only four years older than her.
From a young age, he treated her exceptionally well. Before learning that she was not the true heiress, he was the
+25 BONUS
Chapter 12
kind of uncle who doted on her endlessly. He was even better to her than Yvonne’s own mother.
Once, when she fell into an icy river as a child, it was Jonathan who risked his life to save her. He injured his leg in the process, leaving him with a condition that caused pain whenever it rained or turned cold.
But ever since Yvonne returned, everything seemed to change.
“Stellar Rivers, you’ve really grown bold, daring to lay a hand on Yvonne!” Jonathan reprimanded harshly, his gaze full of hatred toward her.
He then turned to Yvonne with a face full of concern.
“Yvonne, are you alright?”
Yvonne’s eyes immediately reddened, as though she had suffered a great grievance.
“Uncle, I was only trying to show some concern for Stellar. After all, she used to be part of the Harlow family. But instead, she insulted me, called me meddlesome, said I was a country bumpkin with no class, and that my head was empty, telling me to read more books.”
As soon as Yvonne finished speaking, Jonathan’s anger flared. He turned to Stellar and stared her down, speaking slowly and deliberately.
“Stellar, do you even know why you had the chance to study? If it weren’t for you taking Yvonne’s place, forcing her to grow up in an orphanage and suffer hardships, unable to even go to school, do you think you’d have gotten, that privilege? As someone who benefited, you dare to flaunt it and bully the real victim? You disgust me!”
Stellar’s heart clenched.
Even though she had anticipated harsh words, hearing them still cut deeply.
He hadn’t even bothered to figure out the truth, yet he unhesitatingly believed Yvonne’s twisted story.
But she was used to this by now.
Stella let out a cold laugh, her tone indifferent.“She started it.”
“You’re still making excuses!” Jonathan snapped, his disbelief evident as he aggressively demanded, “Apologize to Yvonne immediately, or don’t ever think of calling me your uncle again!”
His face was as cold as ice, and his gaze held no trace of warmth as he stared her down.
Beside him, Yvonne shot Stellar a smug, taunting look, her satisfaction practically dripping from her expression.
Stellar lowered her gaze quietly.
She thought, “Digging out a festering wound might be excruciating, but some pain can’t be avoided forever.”
Her heart ached to the point of numbness, but after a brief pause, she forced herself to endure it.
She raised her head, her eyes now calm and detached.
“Mr. Brook, have you forgotten? We’re no longer related. After that incident, you ceased being my uncle. So, there’s no need to discuss whether I can call you that anymore.”
at Yvonne.
She deliberately used a formal title to create distance between them and even glanced
The mention of that incident made Yvonne’s heart skip a beat with guilt, but so what? Stellar had no evidence.
Jonathan was momentarily stunned. For a second, through those strikingly beautiful eyes, he seemed to see the little girl who used to follow him around, calling him “Unde Jon, Uncle Jon,” flashing him innocent, affectionate
+25 BONUS
Chapter 12
smiles.
But now, that face held no trace of joy.
Thinking of that incident, a flicker of pain flashed in his eyes, but he quickly buried it beneath an angry scowl.
“You-!”
Stellar’s gaze remained steady, her voice calm and unwavering as she stated, “With that slap, we’ve severed all ties. From now on, I owe you nothing, Mr. Brook.”
Then, her eyes turned cold as they landed on Yvonne.
“And as for that incident, I’ve said before–one day, the truth will come to light.”
With that, she stepped past them and walked away without looking back
Yvonne and Jonathan stood frozen in place.
Yvonne’s expression turned anxious. She hadn’t expected Stellar to hold such a grudge or to be so ruthless as to truly sever ties with Jonathan.
Still, she knew Jonathan held a unique place in Stellar’s heart. If he didn’t, she wouldn’t have restrained herself from striking back just now.
Yvonne wouldn’t believe Stellar had let him go.
“Uncle,” Yvonne called out, her eyes red with tears. “She dared to threaten me! You know how she slandered me back then. You have to stand up for me!”
Tears began streaming down her face as she spoke, each drop a calculated part of her act.
Jonathan snapped back to his senses at her display, his brows furrowing deeply.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get justice.”
Stellar was just an orphan and abandoned by Percy. There was no way she could truly cut ties with them. She was just putting up a front.
Yvonne’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she quickly put on a docile expression, meekly saying, “Thank you, Uncle. You’re the best.”
Meanwhile, Stellar had barely walked a short distance before she ran into Claude, who came to pick her up for
dinner.
She looked surprised. “Uncle Claude, I didn’t even call you yet. Why are you here?”
Claude gestured for her to get in the car, smiling lightly. “I happened to be passing by, so I thought I’d wait for you. What a coincidence. I found you before you even called.”
But his expression shifted the moment he noticed the faint red mark on her face. His smile vanished, replaced by a sharp, concerned look.
“Stellar, what happened to your face?”
Her own expression darkened for a moment before she quickly masked it, not wanting Claude to worry. “It’s nothing. I just bumped into something by accident.”
“Bumped into something?”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 12
Claude’s gaze turned piercing. He wasn’t foolish; one look and he
ld tell someone had slapped her. He also knew she’d been visiting her professor, and from his research, that old man wasn’t the type to lay a hand on her.
Which meant…
At that moment, his peripheral vision caught two figures emerging from the campus gates. His eyes narrowed instantly, his expression darkening.
