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Chapter 21
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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
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 27
The days following her intimate night with Liam passed in a blur. Despite the warmth they had shared, Izzy could still feel the shadows lurking at the edges of their lives—the secrets, the dangers, the relentless manipulations of Victor and Noah. Liam tried to stay close, tried to protect her from the swirling storm of family betrayals, but she could tell he was weighed down by everything he was hiding. And she wanted to help him, to carry some of that burden herself.One evening, when Liam was called away to an emergency board meeting—likely another scheme orchestrated by his uncle—Izzy found herself alone in the penthouse, feeling restless. Her mind wandered to the mysteries surrounding the Stone family, particularly the whispers she had overheard between Liam and Noah about their father, Maxwell Stone.Liam had been so hesitant to open up about his father, always brushing off questions with vague answers, and she had respected his need for privacy. But Sabrina’s taunting words cont
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 28
The following evening, Izzy sat in the penthouse’s living room, staring absently at the skyline. The city lights twinkled against the dark, sprawling expanse of Chicago, a glittering sea of distractions that mirrored the chaos in her mind. The file she’d found in Liam’s office haunted her thoughts, the suspicions it stirred refusing to let her rest.She felt a complex web of emotions: confusion, betrayal, and anger, but also an overwhelming sadness—for Liam, and the tangled mess his father had left him with. She knew that whatever dark legacy Maxwell Stone had created was something Liam was still struggling to free himself from. And yet, she couldn’t shake the dread gnawing at her, the fear that this web of secrets was more twisted than even Liam knew.Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear Liam approach until he spoke softly from behind her. “Izzy?”Startled, she turned, her heart skipping a beat. He looked… different. His usually composed expression was softer, his blue eyes tired an
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 29
Izzy lay awake in bed, the weight of the secret she carried pressing down on her like a lead blanket. The penthouse was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the city outside. She could feel Liam’s warmth beside her, his hand resting gently on her waist, his breathing deep and steady. He was fast asleep, his face softened in the darkness, free of the usual tension that seemed to define him.And yet, despite his closeness, Izzy felt like she was miles away.She turned onto her side, careful not to disturb him, and stared at the shadows dancing across the ceiling. Ever since she had discovered the file, her mind had been racing with questions, suspicions that gnawed at her heart and refused to let her rest. The more she thought about it, the more uncertain she felt about everything—her marriage, her growing feelings for Liam, and the twisted legacy of the Stone family.The police report, the notes scrawled in the margins, the whispers of “vehicle tampering” and “financial dispute”—it al
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CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 43
The day began like any other, with the Chicago skyline glowing in the early morning sun and the penthouse bathed in warm light. Izzy was in the kitchen making coffee, trying to find a moment of calm amidst the storm. Liam had left for the office earlier than usual, leaving her alone to collect her thoughts after the tense and emotional conversations they’d had the night before.Despite the promise they had made to be honest with each other, Izzy couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding that clung to her like a shadow. Noah and Sabrina weren’t finished, and Maxwell… Maxwell was still lurking somewhere in the background, pulling strings she couldn’t yet see.She couldn’t have known how quickly her world was about to unravel.It started with a phone call. Izzy’s phone buzzed insistently on the counter, the vibration pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen to see Sarah’s name flashing—her coworker and one of her closest friends.“Sarah?” Izzy said as she answered, immedia
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 42
The tension in the penthouse had grown to an unbearable level, thick and oppressive like a storm waiting to break. Izzy stood at the kitchen counter, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup, but she wasn’t drinking. Her thoughts were far away, tangled in the confrontation with Maxwell and the damning truths she had uncovered.The problem was, Liam had no idea.He had come home the night before late again, the stress of the day written all over his face. She had stayed quiet, not trusting herself to speak. How could she tell him that she’d gone to Maxwell? That she was keeping secrets, even after they had promised to trust one another fully?Izzy stared at her reflection in the glass window. The person looking back at her didn’t feel like herself anymore. She felt trapped between two worlds—one defined by loyalty to Liam, and the other by her quest for justice for her parents. The two seemed irreconcilable.Liam entered the room, his presence as commanding as always, though his f
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 41
The tension in the air was electric as Izzy sat in the back of the sleek black car Liam had arranged for her earlier that morning. She hadn’t told him where she was going, and guilt tugged at her heart for keeping yet another secret from him. But this was something she needed to do alone, something she couldn’t wait for the right moment to address. Maxwell Stone was at the center of the web of lies and betrayals that had consumed her life, and Izzy was tired of hiding in the shadows.The car slowed to a stop outside the sprawling, modern estate on the outskirts of Chicago. Maxwell’s estate was as intimidating as the man himself—pristine, imposing, and cold. Izzy stepped out of the car, her heart pounding as she stared at the towering gates before her.She didn’t hesitate. Squaring her shoulders, she walked up to the intercom system and pressed the button.“Yes?” came a disinterested voice.“This is Isabella Lakewood,” Izzy said, her voice firm despite the tremor in her chest. “I’m her
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
