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Chapter 11
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CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 12
The days slipped by, each one blurring into the next, but Izzy found herself becoming increasingly aware of Liam. The air between them had changed since the night she’d overheard his late-night phone call, since she’d glimpsed that rare vulnerability hidden behind his polished exterior. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but now that she had, she couldn’t unsee what lay beneath his carefully controlled façade—a man bearing a heavy weight, who shouldered it alone.Her initial discomfort with their arrangement was still there, lingering in the background. But as they spent more time together—at events, at dinners, even in the quiet moments in the penthouse—her discomfort was becoming entangled with something else, something that felt unsettling and magnetic all at once.The first time she noticed the change was during a quiet evening after yet another high-society event. They returned home late, both exhausted. Liam had loosened his tie, his jacket slung over one shoulder, looking far more
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 13
For the first time in weeks, Izzy felt like her old self. She was sitting in a bustling downtown pub, surrounded by laughter, music, and the familiar energy of Chicago’s nightlife. Across from her, her best friend Lily was grinning, holding up her glass for a toast.“To new beginnings,” Lily said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Or, at least, to survival in the world of high society.”Izzy laughed, clinking her glass with Lily’s. “I’ll drink to that.”She took a long sip of her cocktail, the sweet, fizzy taste a refreshing change from the usual champagne and wine that seemed to flow endlessly at every event she’d attended with Liam. For a few hours, she felt free—free from the expectations, from the constant scrutiny, and from the unspoken tension simmering between her and her new husband.“So,” Lily leaned in, a smirk on her face. “How’s life as Mrs. Stone? Are you getting used to the glitz and glamour yet?”Izzy rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t help but smile. “It’s… complicat
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 14
Izzy was in her office at Stone Enterprises, absorbed in her latest design project. She had been grateful to Liam for helping her find a way to keep her career active within the confines of their arrangement. Being able to work on her designs in a private office within his company allowed her to feel a sense of purpose, something that grounded her amidst the complexities of her new life.She was so deep in her work that she didn’t hear the knock at her door until it opened. Looking up, she saw a familiar face, and her eyes widened in surprise and delight."Daniel!" she exclaimed, getting up from her desk.Daniel Grayson, an old friend from her college days, stepped in with a wide grin. He was a landscape architect who’d spent the last few years traveling for various projects around the world. Tall, with an easygoing smile and a twinkle in his eye, Daniel had always been one of her closest friends. They’d spent hours in college working side by side in the studio, challenging and inspir
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 15
It was a rare sunny afternoon in Chicago when Izzy received the invitation. A sleek black envelope, delivered directly to her desk at Stone Enterprises, bearing her name in elegant, looping script. Inside was a beautifully embossed card inviting Mrs. Isabella Stone to a charity luncheon hosted by the West Foundation—a name Izzy knew all too well from her occasional gossip tabloid readings. Sabrina West was a prominent socialite, the kind who seemed to exist only in the pages of high-society magazines and whispered stories of scandal and intrigue.Izzy knew Sabrina was part of Liam's past, a woman who had once stood beside him at countless events, always elegantly draped on his arm. The media had fawned over their relationship, and there had been endless speculation about their future together. Sabrina West was Liam’s longest and most serious relationship—until it ended abruptly. Izzy didn’t know the details, and she hadn’t asked, but she had sensed that whatever had happened between t
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 16
Izzy’s mind was still buzzing from her encounter with Sabrina. The woman had a way of getting under her skin, her words lingering long after their conversation had ended. The whole night, Sabrina’s thinly veiled insinuations echoed in Izzy’s thoughts, casting shadows over her confidence. Sabrina seemed so sure of herself, so certain of her claim on Liam, that it left Izzy with an unsettling question: Did Liam still care for her?The thought felt ridiculous, but Sabrina had planted it expertly, like a seed taking root. It didn’t help that Liam had been more distant than usual since that night. He had promised to talk to Sabrina, but he hadn’t mentioned it again, and Izzy had no idea if he’d actually followed through.It was the beginning of a shift she could feel—a shift Sabrina was clearly determined to nurture.The next few days, Sabrina’s presence seemed to be everywhere.Izzy was in her office at Stone Enterprises, going over designs for a new project, when the receptionist knocked
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 17
It was early in the morning, and Izzy was nursing a cup of coffee in the penthouse kitchen when Liam walked in, already dressed in a sharp gray suit and looking like he was ready to conquer the day. He moved with the same calm confidence he always did, yet today, there was an edge of urgency in his eyes.“Izzy,” he said, breaking her morning reverie. She looked up, meeting his gaze, trying to hide her surprise. Mornings weren’t usually a time for conversation between them; they kept to their own routines and left each other in peace. So his direct, focused attention now caught her off guard.“Yes?” she replied, setting her mug down and giving him her full attention.“I need you to accompany me out of the city for a conference,” he said, leaning against the kitchen counter, his gaze unwavering. “It’s a two-day event, and it would look better if we attended as a couple.”Izzy’s eyebrows shot up, both surprised and hesitant. “A conference? Do you really need me there? I thought… you usua
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 18
The next morning, the air in the suite felt thick and tense, as though last night’s unresolved emotions had settled into the walls, waiting to be confronted. Izzy woke early, alone in the bed, a dull ache in her chest as she remembered Liam leaving the room after their passionate but unfinished night. She lay there for a few moments, staring up at the ceiling, trying to sort through her feelings.She wanted him—she wanted him in a way that went beyond their contract, beyond the careful boundaries they’d set up between themselves. But Liam had made it clear that he wasn’t ready to let down his walls, and that stung. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep herself in this strange limbo, hovering between reality and pretense.With a sigh, she finally forced herself out of bed, pulling on a robe and heading into the main living area. To her surprise, she found Liam already awake, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the ocean. He was dressed in a white dress shi
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 19
Returning to Chicago from the conference felt like coming down from a dream. The sunny coastal air and the charged intimacy of the resort had been replaced by the gray, towering buildings and chilly winds of the city. But more than the scenery, it was the shift in Liam’s behavior that made Izzy feel like something important had been left behind on that beach.Liam had barely spoken to her on the flight home. He’d buried himself in his laptop, responding to emails and drafting plans for upcoming projects, his focus entirely elsewhere. Any attempt she’d made to start a conversation had been met with curt, polite responses that quickly fizzled into silence. He seemed wrapped in a protective shell, one she hadn’t seen in him before, and it left her feeling strangely abandoned, like a part of their connection had been severed.When they finally returned to the penthouse, he mumbled something about heading to the office and disappeared almost immediately, leaving her standing alone in the g
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CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 39
The morning sun streamed through the penthouse windows, casting golden light over the living room. Izzy sat curled up on the couch, a steaming cup of tea in her hands, staring absently at the cityscape outside. Despite the peace and quiet of the space, her mind was anything but calm.The previous night with Liam had been nothing short of transformative. For the first time in what felt like forever, she had let her guard down completely, letting herself be vulnerable in his arms. He had been everything she needed—comforting, loving, and steadfast. But as dawn broke and the day’s worries crept back in, Izzy was reminded of the storms still brewing around them.Ethan’s health was worsening. Noah and Sabrina’s schemes were escalating. And Maxwell’s shadow hung over everything like a dark cloud. It felt as though the weight of their worlds was pressing down on her, growing heavier with each passing moment.She heard the soft sound of Liam’s footsteps behind her, pulling her from her though
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 38
The penthouse was unusually quiet that night, the only sound coming from the soft hum of the city outside. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the living room, creating an atmosphere that felt both calming and heavy. Izzy stood by the window, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stared out at the sprawling Chicago skyline. Her mind was still with Ethan, replaying every word the doctor had said, every strained breath her brother had taken.She didn’t hear Liam approach until his hand gently rested on her shoulder.“Izzy,” he said softly, his voice filled with concern.She turned to look at him, and the tears she had been holding back all day finally spilled over. “I’m trying to stay strong, Liam,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “But I feel like I’m breaking.”Liam stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her. She collapsed against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder as he held her tightly. His warmth surrounded her, grounding her in a way she desperately ne
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 37
Izzy sat in the waiting room of Chicago Memorial Hospital, her knee bouncing anxiously as she gripped her phone in her lap. The sterile smell of antiseptic clung to the air, and the low hum of medical equipment buzzed faintly in the background. The room was quiet, save for the occasional shuffle of feet or murmured conversation, but inside her head, it was chaos.She hadn’t expected this call. She had just been finishing her coffee that morning, trying to focus on anything but the constant storm of tensions with Liam, when her phone had rung. It was Ethan’s doctor, his voice grave, telling her that Ethan’s condition had worsened overnight and that she needed to come to the hospital immediately.Her stomach twisted with guilt as she sat there, waiting for the doctor to give her an update. She had been so consumed with Liam—his family, their complicated relationship, and the battle for Stone Enterprises—that she hadn’t noticed how fragile Ethan had been during her recent visits. His leu
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 36
The tension in the penthouse was palpable, a suffocating heaviness that neither Izzy nor Liam seemed able to escape. It had been days since Maxwell’s sudden reappearance, and his presence loomed over their lives like an unshakable shadow. As if that wasn’t enough, Noah and Sabrina’s machinations had grown more aggressive, their attacks on both Liam’s professional and personal life becoming relentless.Izzy could see it in Liam’s eyes, the way his shoulders seemed perpetually tense, the way his jaw was constantly clenched. She could feel it in herself too—the growing doubts, the weight of secrets she hadn’t yet told him, and the rising fear that they were standing on the edge of a precipice.For days, they had barely spoken. Their conversations had been limited to quick exchanges about work or the basics of their routine, each too consumed by their own worries to reach out to the other. But beneath the silence, Izzy could feel the strain pulling them further apart, testing the fragile c
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 35
Chapter 35: Noah and Sabrina’s Plan IntensifiesIn the shadows of a high-end lounge in downtown Chicago, Noah Stone sat at a secluded table, casually nursing a glass of whiskey. The dim lighting reflected off his sharp, angular features, his smirk as smooth and calculating as ever. Across from him, Sabrina West swirled her martini, her green eyes glinting with satisfaction as she leaned in closer.“Liam’s unraveling,” Sabrina said, her voice smooth and confident. “Maxwell’s return has shaken him. And with everything else going on, it’s only a matter of time before he starts making mistakes.”Noah leaned back in his chair, the smirk widening. “Good. Let him fall apart. The more distracted he is, the easier it’ll be to push him out of the company. And once he’s gone, Stone Enterprises will be ripe for the taking.”Sabrina raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a sly smile. “Let’s not forget our other goal, Noah. Liam may be your brother, but for me, this is personal. I want to see his
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 34
The revelation of Maxwell Stone’s sudden reappearance had left Izzy shaken to her core. All this time, Liam had spoken of his father in the past tense, as though Maxwell’s death was a tragic chapter long since closed. Yet here Maxwell was, alive, breathing, and every bit as ruthless as the reputation he had left behind. How was this possible? How could a man who was supposed to be dead suddenly return, acting as though he had never been gone at all?The question gnawed at Izzy, consuming her thoughts as she tried to piece together the mystery. Maxwell’s return wasn’t just a surprise—it was a threat, both to her relationship with Liam and to the truths she had been working so hard to uncover.The next morning, Izzy waited until Liam left for the office. He had been quieter than usual after Maxwell’s visit, the tension in his shoulders betraying the emotional toll it had taken on him. She wanted to press him for answers, to ask if he had known that his father was alive, but the look in
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 33
The file had been tucked away in Liam’s office for days now, yet it might as well have been screaming at Izzy every time she walked past the room. She couldn’t unsee the damning evidence: the police report, the notes about the unresolved financial dispute, the mention of Maxwell’s name. The questions it raised had been clawing at her mind, growing louder with every passing day.She couldn’t ignore it anymore.Maxwell Stone had been in contact with her parents two days before their accident, and there had been allegations of vehicle tampering. If that was true—if Liam’s father had been involved in orchestrating their deaths—then the shadow of the Stone family reached far deeper than she’d imagined. The thought filled her with equal parts dread and fury.It wasn’t just about her parents anymore. It was about Liam, about the man she loved and the toxic legacy he was still trying to escape. If Maxwell had truly been responsible, Liam deserved to know the truth. And if Izzy didn’t uncover
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 32
Izzy sat at the breakfast table, absentmindedly stirring her coffee as she replayed last night’s conversation with Liam in her mind. His vulnerability, the way he had opened up about his father, and the depth of his struggle to separate himself from Maxwell’s shadow—it had all left her feeling closer to him, but also deeply troubled. She could sense that Liam was still haunted by his father’s influence, still grappling with the legacy Maxwell had left behind.But Maxwell was dead. Or at least, that was what she had thought.That afternoon, when she returned to the penthouse after a quick run to the nearby market, she was surprised to find Liam standing in the middle of the living room, his back tense, his gaze fixed on something—or rather, someone—standing in front of him.A tall, imposing man with graying hair and piercing blue eyes. His presence was commanding, almost overpowering, and the moment Izzy saw him, she knew exactly who he was.Maxwell Stone.Izzy froze, clutching her sho
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 31
Izzy sat curled up on the couch in the penthouse, her mind drifting in and out of the heavy silence. The weight of Sabrina’s ultimatum sat heavily on her shoulders, an inescapable burden that gnawed at her every moment. She had spent the day agonizing over her choices, torn between protecting Liam and shielding herself from a truth she wasn’t ready to confront. But now, as the evening shadows settled over the room, she felt hollow, unsure of what her next step should be.The sound of footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Liam walking toward her, his tie loosened, the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up, his expression weary. He seemed older somehow, as though the weight of his family’s legacy had finally taken its toll on him. She could see it in his eyes—the fatigue, the doubts, the struggle that he tried so hard to keep hidden from the world.He paused by the edge of the couch, his gaze softening as he took her in. “Hey,” he murmured, his voice low and gentle
