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Chapter 34
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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 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 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 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 1
Chapter 1: The Weight of the WorldIsabella "Izzy" Lakewood had always loved mornings—once. There was something about the soft glow of the sun inching over the horizon, the world still and quiet, like a blank page waiting to be filled. But those days seemed a lifetime ago. These days, mornings were just another reminder of how much time she didn’t have.Today was no different.The shrill beep of her alarm pierced the stillness of her cramped studio apartment, cutting through what little sleep she’d managed to steal. Groaning, Izzy reached out to silence it, her hand fumbling blindly across the nightstand until she smacked the clock into submission. She blinked into the dim light, eyes gritty from exhaustion. The harsh glow of the bedside lamp revealed the chaos around her: half-empty coffee cups, crumpled blueprints, and unpaid bills scattered across the table, fighting for space with her drafting tools and laptop.It was an organized mess, but a mess nonetheless. The state of her apa
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 2
Chapter 2: A Dangerous PropositionThe Crestmore Hotel ballroom was packed wall-to-wall with power players—Chicago’s elite architects, developers, and real estate moguls all mingling beneath the glittering chandeliers. As Isabella “Izzy” Lakewood stepped into the grand space, her breath caught for a moment. The scene was nothing short of dazzling. Lavish floral arrangements graced every table, and the polished marble floor reflected the soft glow of candlelight.She clutched her leather portfolio a little tighter, smoothing down the hem of her modest black dress as she made her way inside. The invitation to the annual Chicago Architectural Forum had come at the last minute, and she couldn’t afford to pass up the opportunity to network. Izzy needed new clients—desperately. Between the mounting medical bills for Ethan’s treatment and the overwhelming cost of running her fledgling architecture firm, she had reached the point where every connection counted. Tonight was critical.But as sh
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Liam’s ProposalThe warm morning light streamed through the towering windows of the Crestmore Hotel’s private lounge, casting a golden glow over the dark leather furniture and sleek marble floors. The hum of quiet conversations and the clinking of glasses filled the room, but for Isabella “Izzy” Lakewood, everything else faded into the background. Her mind was still reeling from the events of the night before.Her brief but unsettling encounter with Liam Stone played on a loop in her head, every detail replaying itself as if she could somehow unlock the meaning behind his cold, intense gaze. His unexpected attention, the way he’d looked right through her, and the abrupt shift in his demeanor when Sabrina West had entered the room—it all left her unsettled, as if she’d been caught in the path of a storm she hadn’t seen coming.Now, less than twelve hours later, she found herself sitting in a quiet corner of the Crestmore’s lounge, nursing a lukewarm coffee and fighting the g
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Izzy’s DilemmaIzzy sat alone at the worn wooden table in her studio apartment, the silence pressing down on her like a weight. Her hands cradled a cup of tea, long gone cold, but she couldn’t bring herself to move. The events of the past few hours replayed in her mind with dizzying speed, like a carousel she couldn’t get off.I need a wife.Liam Stone’s words echoed in her head, louder than the rush of traffic outside her window or the faint hum of the city’s noise below. It didn’t make sense. None of it did. How could one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in Chicago—a man who could have anything, or anyone, he wanted—come to her, of all people, with such a proposal?Two years of marriage in exchange for your brother’s life.It sounded like something out of a soap opera, not real life. She shook her head, trying to make sense of it. Liam had been so calm, so matter-of-fact, as if it were a completely rational arrangement. But the weight of it—marrying a stranger, someon
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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
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 30
Izzy had been out running errands most of the morning, hoping a bit of distance from the penthouse would help clear her mind. She was haunted by her discovery of the file linking Maxwell Stone to her parents’ accident, and the growing tension between her and Liam had only intensified her inner turmoil. She wanted to believe in him, to trust that he was different from his family, but the doubts were relentless, chipping away at her resolve.When she finally returned to the penthouse, she was surprised to find Sabrina waiting for her in the lobby, her sharp green eyes watching her like a hawk. Sabrina was dressed impeccably, as always—a sleek black dress that exuded elegance and power. But there was something more in her gaze today, something darker and more calculating.Izzy’s stomach tightened as Sabrina approached her, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes spreading across her face. “Hello, Isabella,” she said, her tone cold and laced with a mocking edge. “Do you have a moment to talk?”
