Chapter 10

Stellar’s eyes flickered subtly.

She had expected this outcome.

But with business opportunities knocking on her door, there was no reason to turn them away. She offered a graceful smile.

“No problem, but I have some matters to handle right now. Let’s discuss this later.”

Nicholas didn’t press further, nodding with satisfaction before cheerfully walking away. As he left, he threw a parting remark at Percy.

“Mr. Moore, since the contract has expired, we’ll have to see if there’s another chance to collaborate in the future.”

The implication was clear: there would be no renewal.

Percy was so furious he could barely contain himself.

He hadn’t anticipated that Stellar truly had the capability to pull this off—humiliating him at Brighton Group and even stealing away one of Moore Enterprises’ key partners.

Staying any longer would only worsen the embarrassment, so he reluctantly signaled to his team.

“We’re leaving.”

But before he could take another step, Shane chuckled lightly.

“Mr. Moore, do you think this is a marketplace? You’re supposed to be a man of status, yet your words hold no integrity. Is this how Moore Enterprises typically operates?”

In business, reputation and trust were everything.

Percy knew he had been rash today, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to back down.

Clenching his fists tightly, the veins on his forehead bulged with suppressed rage.

He waited, hoping Stellar would step in to defuse the situation, but she remained silent.

Fine.

Whatever.

Turning sharply, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her briefly before shifting to Shane.

“My personal matters with her will be dealt with behind closed doors. There’s no need for your concern, Mr. Howe.”

With that, he strode out of the room. His back was straight, but the murmured whispers from the onlookers stung deeply, leaving his pride in tatters.

Stellar didn’t stop him, nor did she push for a resolution.

Instead, she sincerely apologized to Shane and the others for the disruption.

“I’m truly sorry for causing trouble for everyone.”

Shane could tell that Stellar wasn’t as unshaken as she appeared. Percy’s actions had undoubtedly left their mark on her, even if she tried not to show it.

Last night, Shane had indeed asked someone to investigate her background.

While learning about her past connection with Percy initially disappointed him for a brief moment, it was quickly overshadowed by his admiration for her talent.

And after spending time working with her, he trusted what he saw with his own eyes.

If Percy failed to appreciate her, that was his loss—a blindness of his own making.

Without addressing the matter further, Shane simply said, “Then let me say it again—Miss Rivers, it’s a pleasure working with you.”

Stellar paused, surprised for a moment, then smiled brightly.

As expected of Brighton Group’s director—his poise and demeanor were truly impeccable.

…

Percy sped back to his villa, his car tearing through the streets as if mirroring his foul mood.

His dark expression was so menacing that the household staff didn’t dare to breathe loudly.

The moment he stepped into the living room, he was greeted by the sight of Yvonne leisurely sipping coffee, her casual demeanor further irritating him.

“Who let you in?”

Yvonne’s face faltered briefly before she quickly rose, her voice soft and coquettish.

“Percy, I was just worried about you. How did things go? Did that woman, Stellar, finally confess?”

If she hadn’t brought it up, Percy might have let it slide. But her question instantly brought the day’s humiliation flooding back, and in a flash of anger, he hurled the coffee cup to the floor.

“Get out.”

Yvonne’s temper flared at his outburst.

The two families were bound by an engagement. While the Harlow family wasn’t as powerful as the Moore family, Yvonne was still the Harlow family’s heiress. What gave Percy the right to treat her this way?

“Percy, what is the meaning of this? I’m only trying to look out for you. Why are you taking your anger out on me?”

But Percy’s mind was already consumed with blame. If it weren’t for Yvonne’s constant whispers and reminders, he wouldn’t have suspected Stellar of stealing company secrets in the first place.

Unable to restrain himself, he suddenly grabbed Yvonne by the neck.

“We’re not married yet. My business is none of your concern. Get out.”

Terrified, Yvonne eventually stormed off, her face red with fury.

Once inside her car, she slammed her fists against the steering wheel in frustration.

Damn that Stellar!

After driving Yvonne away, Percy yanked his tie loose and collapsed onto the sofa, frustration radiating off him.

For reasons he couldn’t explain, fragmented memories began flashing through his mind.

It was true. Several of the company’s previous deals had relied on Stellar’s efforts. There were times when her guidance was critical to the technical department, pushing Moore Enterprises to the forefront of the industry and ensuring a steady flow of orders.

When had he started taking her for granted, disregarding her completely?

A wave of despair washed over him.

Finally, he grabbed his phone and dialed Stellar’s number.

Forget it. If she would just come back, he could forgive everything.

“The number you have dialed is no longer in service...”

His jaw clenched as he angrily threw the phone onto the sofa.

She had blocked him.

After sitting in silence for a moment, he picked up the phone again and opened his messaging app. For the first time, he sent her a message.

“Stop playing games. Come back, and we’ll forget all of this. If you don’t, don’t ever think about coming back again.”

He pressed send.

The red exclamation mark that followed his message sent Percy’s emotions spiraling out of control.

Like an enraged lion, he barked at one of the house staff to hand over their phone. He tried calling Stella again.

“Hello, who is this?”

Her voice was crisp and melodious, clearly in high spirits.

“Stellar, you—”

“Beep, beep.”

The disconnected tone blared in his ear. She hung up the moment she heard his voice.

He tried calling again, only to find the number blocked once more.

The repeated rejection felt like a series of stinging slaps across his face. Enraged, he hurled the phone into a nearby planter, shattering it into countless pieces.

The house staff looked on in terror. It was his brand-new phone.

With no outlet for his fury, Percy ended up drinking himself into a stupor at a bar.

When Xavier arrived, he found Percy attempting to open a bottle of high-proof liquor. Xavier hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to stop him.

“Enough. Don’t drink anymore.”

But Percy shoved him aside, falling back onto the sofa in the process. His black shirt was missing two buttons, his tie hung askew, and his jacket was crumpled beyond recognition. The once-proud image of a polished gentleman was nowhere to be seen.

“Percy, you still care about Stellar, don’t you?”

Before he could finish, Percy waved him off with a dismissive gesture, cutting him off.

“Xavier, I didn’t call you here to lecture me. You’re a lawyer and my friend. Stellar cost me the deal with Brighton Group, and she still refuses to admit she stole Moore Enterprises’ proposal. I want you to sue her and drag her through the courts until she’s on her knees begging for forgiveness.”

Xavier hadn’t grown up in Percy’s social circle. While Percy’s friends were all wealthy heirs, Xavier came from an ordinary family. They were classmates in high school, and later, Xavier studied law.

After graduating, they crossed paths by chance, and Percy started relying on him for legal matters. Over time, Percy’s friends also sought Xavier’s help, and he became a regular in their circle.

Yet deep down, Percy always felt that Xavier was different from the rest of them. There was an innate pride in the way Xavier spoke to him as if he stood above it all.

Seeing that Percy showed no signs of reflection, Xavier’s gaze turned cold.

“Percy, the truth is, you’ve been spoiled by Stellar. For years, she’s been the one running around, fixing everything for you, while you stayed in your comfort zone, doing whatever you pleased. But you never learned to value her.”

Percy wasn’t listening. Just as he was about to lose his temper, his phone rang on the table.

A smug smile spread across his face.

“It must be Stellar, begging me to come home. That woman can’t survive without me.”

Xavier handed him the phone, shattering Percy’s delusion.

“It’s your father.”