Chapter 91
On the drive back, Stellar gazed out the window, her mind drifting over the night’s events while the driver navigated the road in
silence.
The whole situation felt almost too coincidental–like fate had orchestrated it all a little too perfectly.
Brighton Group’s mysterious CEO turned out to be Stephen, her senior from university, and now, he was her business partner.
“I didn’t expect you to be the one behind Riverside Corporation,” Stephen suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
you!
“Do you know its background?”
His question pulled Stellar from her thoughts.
Feeling a little lightheaded, maybe from the wine, her voice carried a hint of languid ease. “Background?”
“Hmm.”
Stephen’s fingers tapped idly against his knee as he spoke, his tone calm and measured.
“From what I know, Riverside may seem like a small firm, but behind it stands the Harlow family from Southport. Do you know
much about them?”
A wave of shock rippled through Stellar’s heart.
Claude had assured her they went to great lengths to keep that information hidden–no outsiders were supposed to know.
Yet Stephen seemed far more informed than she expected.
She glanced at him, his sharp, chiseled features illuminated in fleeting flashes by the city’s neon lights.
After a brief hesitation, she chose her words carefully.
“I… don’t really know much about that.”
She wasn’t sure what Stephen’s connection to the Harlow family was, and she didn’t want to risk dragging her uncle into
anything unnecessary.
So, she played it vague.
Stephen only asked out of curiosity.
He hadn’t actually considered any link between her and the Harlow family.
Seeing her response, he didn’t press further, simply assuming that Riverside was just a job she took after leaving the Moore
family.
Before long, the car pulled up in front of her villa.
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Chapter BL
“Your talent has a lot of room to grow. If you ever run into trouble, you can always come to me for help.”
For once, Stephen took the initiative to offer his support.
Stellar flashed a warm, amused smile. “I will, Senior. Don’t worry.”
When she walked through the door, the clock hadn’t even struck nine yet.
“Miss Stellar, you’re back.”
Mary stepped forward to take Stellar’s coat, catching the faint scent of wine lingering on her.
Without a word, she headed to the kitchen and quickly prepared a cup of ginger tea to help sober her up.
Her care was always quiet, woven into the smallest of gestures.
“Thank you, Mary,” Stellar said with a warm smile,
The simple act filled her with a comforting sense of warmth.
After drinking the tea, the haze of alcohol faded significantly.
“Mary, let’s continue my training tonight! I feel like I need to move around a bit.”
Mary’s lips curled into a small smile. “Of course. You really are dedicated, miss.”
And she loved that about her.
The two of them headed upstairs to the training room.
Maybe it was the whirlwind of emotions from earlier, but Stellar felt more energized than usual.
Her movements were sharper, faster, and more precise.
In just half an hour, she had noticeably improved.
One day, she thought, she’d be as skilled as Mary–able to take someone down without leaving a single mark.
“You’re amazing, miss! Once you’ve mastered this technique, you’ll be able to defend yourself with ease,” Mary praised without hesitation.
She truly had talent. If her husband knew what an incredible student he took under her wing, he would be beyond thrilled.
Stellar wiped the sweat from her brow, feeling the burn in her muscles.
“That’s enough for tonight. I’ll take a shower.”
After washing away the exhaustion of the day, she slipped into bed early, letting sleep take her.
Over the next few days, whenever Stellar had free time outside of the research institute, she spent it at Élan Atelier, personally crafting gifts for her grandparents.
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As one of the co–owners, she had a private workshop set up just for her, fully stocked with every tool and material she could
possibly need.
The progress was coming along nicely–it wouldn’t be long before the gifts were finished.
While everything on Stellar’s end was smooth sailing, Percy, on the other hand, was drowning in chaos.
For days, his life had been nothing short of a nightmare.
On one hand, he was being forced to start planning his engagement.
Yvonne was as vain and materialistic as she was obsessed with appearances–everything had to be extravagant, over–the–top, and absolutely perfect.
The venue had to be the most luxurious in the city.
The gown had to be a custom–designed masterpiece from a top couture house.
Even the wedding band had to be a world–renowned orchestra flown in for the occasion.
On top of that, she nitpicked every little detail.
The floral arrangements? Only vibrant roses.
The wine? Only the rarest and most exclusive vintages.
