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Chapter 18
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2024-11-01 22:59:10Related chapters
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 The sunny coastal air and the charged intimacy of the resort had been replaced by the gray, towering buildings and chilly winds of the city.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
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 20
Liam’s life had always been about control. Control over his business, over his emotions, over the delicate threads that held his world together. But lately, everything seemed to be slipping through his fingers. The day he returned from the conference with Izzy, he could feel the balance of his world shifting, tipping dangerously between his responsibilities to the company and the feelings he’d promised himself he wouldn’t let develop.But he didn’t have the luxury of time to sort through his emotions. Trouble was brewing within Stone Enterprises, and he could feel it—like a storm gathering on the horizon. His uncle, Victor, had been circling for months, dropping subtle hints about “business stability” and the importance of a “strong, single leader” at the helm. And now, with the board becoming restless and Liam’s own focus splintered, Victor seemed poised to strike.It all came to a head during a high-stakes board meeting a week after they returned from the conference. Liam sat at the
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 21
The days following the board meeting were tense and complicated. Izzy found herself in a state of emotional turmoil, caught between the attraction that had been simmering between her and Liam and the painful reminder that their marriage was, ultimately, just a business arrangement.She had stood beside him in that boardroom, defended him in front of his uncle and the entire board, and had felt more like his true partner in that moment than she’d ever felt before. For a few minutes, it was as if they were fighting for something together, something real. But then, later, when they were alone, his distance returned, reminding her that maybe she was just a convenient pawn in this complicated game he was playing with his family.Each time she saw him around the penthouse, his focus buried in work or his mind somewhere she couldn’t follow, the sting of their limitations pressed deeper. He was charming, confident, strong—everything she could’ve wanted in a partner. But she couldn’t ignore th
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 22
Izzy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of emotions, memories, and unanswered questions, all centering around one person. Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Liam—his intense gaze, his lingering touch, his presence that filled the room even when he wasn’t there. It was as if he had taken root in her heart, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake him loose.She heard a soft knock on her bedroom door, pulling her from her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat as she realized who it must be."Liam?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.The door opened, and he stepped into the room, his face shadowed in the dim light. His gaze met hers, dark and intense, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other, the silence between them thick with everything they hadn’t said."Izzy," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep pretending that
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 23
Liam was in his office at Stone Enterprises, seated behind his large mahogany desk, his fingers steepled as he stared at a pile of documents. The board meeting earlier that morning had been tense, with whispers of uncertainty about his leadership and veiled suggestions that he might consider bringing in "additional support." He knew it was his uncle Victor’s doing, stirring up doubt and unease within the board, but he hadn’t expected his uncle to be quite this relentless.With a sigh, he leaned back, rubbing a hand over his face. He couldn’t afford any distractions—not now, when the company was at a critical juncture and he was juggling so many pieces at once. And yet, even as he tried to focus on the business, his mind kept drifting back to Izzy. The night they’d shared had left him feeling raw, open, and deeply unsettled, but in a way that was also thrilling. For the first time in his life, he felt like he’d truly let someone in, let them see him without the armor he’d always worn.
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 24
It had been a tense few days since Noah’s unexpected return. The air in the penthouse felt heavier, like a storm was about to break, and Izzy couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Liam had been even more distant than usual, his brow constantly furrowed, his jaw set in a way that told her he was carrying a weight he hadn’t shared with her. But despite her efforts to get him to open up, he remained closed off, his usual walls reinforced.Late one night, unable to sleep, Izzy found herself wandering into the hallway near Liam’s office. She was about to turn back when she heard voices drifting from the room—low, intense, and unmistakably Liam’s. Curiosity piqued, she stepped closer, hiding just out of view, pressing herself against the wall as she listened.“Noah, you can’t keep doing this,” Liam’s voice was sharp, controlled but edged with anger. “You come back after all these years, stirring up trouble, aligning yourself with Victor, and you think I’m just going
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 25
It was late in the evening, and the elegant, dimly lit lounge buzzed with quiet chatter and the clinking of glasses. Sabrina West sat in a corner booth, her back straight, perfectly manicured fingers wrapped around a glass of red wine. Her expression was one of cool confidence, her eyes scanning the room as she waited for her latest guest to arrive.She didn’t have to wait long. The doors to the lounge swung open, and in walked Noah Stone, wearing his usual half-smirk, a sharp navy suit that looked tailored to perfection, and an air of careless charm that he wielded as effectively as a weapon. He spotted Sabrina immediately, his gaze glinting with a hint of amusement as he approached her table.“Sabrina,” he greeted smoothly, sliding into the seat across from her. “It’s been too long.”She lifted her glass in a mock toast, her lips curving into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Indeed, Noah. Though I must say, I’m surprised you actually came.”“Why wouldn’t I?” he replied, his tone
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 26
Izzy sat on the edge of her bed, lost in her thoughts, when she heard the soft knock at her door. Her heart skipped a beat, knowing who it was before she even answered. She took a deep breath, calling out, “Come in.”The door opened, and Liam stepped inside, his gaze intense, his expression unreadable. He looked as if he’d been wrestling with something, his usual composure replaced by an almost vulnerable look in his eyes. They held each other’s gaze in silence, the air between them charged with unspoken words, with all the emotions they had been holding back.Slowly, he closed the door behind him and took a step closer. “Izzy,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion, with something raw and almost desperate. “I can’t keep pretending…”She stood up, crossing the room to him, her own emotions mirroring his. “Then don’t,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She reached up, placing her hand on his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin, the subtle roughness of his stubble under her
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CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 40
Izzy paced the penthouse, her phone gripped tightly in her hand, her thoughts racing. Liam was at the office, likely locked in another exhausting battle with Noah over control of Stone Enterprises, and she was left alone to sift through the growing mountain of suspicions that weighed heavily on her mind. Everything felt like it was spiraling, a tangle of threats and secrets that she couldn’t seem to unravel fast enough.She glanced down at her phone, at the text message that had shaken her to her core earlier that day. It was from Detective Grayson, and its contents had stopped her cold.“Found something big. Meet me tonight at 7. My office. Don’t tell anyone—not even Liam.”Izzy had stared at the message for several long minutes, her stomach twisting with unease. The fact that Grayson had told her not to involve Liam made her skin crawl. What could he have uncovered that was so important—and so dangerous—that it had to remain a secret?Her mind immediately went to Noah and Sabrina. O
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
