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Chapter 40
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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
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 5
Izzy stood in front of the sleek glass doors of Stone Enterprises, her heart pounding in her chest. The towering skyscraper loomed over her like a giant, casting a long shadow over the bustling streets of downtown Chicago. Its mirrored surface reflected the city’s skyline, the bright morning light glinting off its pristine facade, and the sight of it made Izzy feel even smaller than she already did.She had been here before, of course—delivering blueprints for clients, meeting with developers. But today was different. Today, she wasn’t here as an architect or a professional looking to make a deal. Today, she was here to sign away two years of her life.Two years of marriage, she reminded herself for what felt like the hundredth time. Just two years. Then it’ll all be over.The thought was supposed to comfort her, but it didn’t. The weight of the decision she’d made last night—alone in her apartment, staring at the bills piled high on her desk—pressed down on her, making it hard to bre
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Wedding PreparationsThe days following the signing of the contract passed in a blur. Izzy moved through them in a state of detachment, as though she were watching her life unfold from a distance rather than actually living it. The weight of her decision hung heavy over her, but there was no time to dwell on it. Once the contract was signed, Liam’s assistant, Grace, had quickly set things in motion.There was no romance, no long engagement, and certainly no excitement. There were just arrangements—cold, efficient, and meticulously planned, just like everything else in Liam Stone’s world.Izzy sat at her small kitchen table, staring blankly at the email Grace had sent her. Her phone screen glowed with a precise, color-coded schedule, detailing every step leading up to the wedding. It was all there: dress fitting, marriage license appointment, and a meeting with Liam’s PR team to go over how the story of their “relationship” would be framed to the press.As she read through t
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 7
The penthouse shimmered in the soft, golden light of the evening as guests mingled on the expansive balcony, a sea of elegant black tuxedos and cocktail dresses. The skyline of Chicago glittered behind them, its twinkling lights providing a dramatic backdrop for the small, intimate reception that was taking place. It was a far cry from the lavish, opulent celebrations that Izzy had sometimes imagined for her own wedding.But then again, this wasn’t a wedding born out of love—it was a transaction.The ceremony had been short, efficient. Izzy remembered the officiant’s steady voice echoing off the glass walls of the penthouse as he recited the vows. The words had felt impersonal, formal, like a script they were obligated to follow. Still, there had been a moment—when Liam had slipped the ring onto her finger—when her hands had trembled, and his touch had sent a shiver up her spine.Now, standing before the gathered guests, the moment she had been dreading was upon them.“You may now kis
CEO's Contract Wife Chapter 8
The morning dawned gray and overcast, a heavy layer of clouds hanging over the city like a blanket. Izzy stood by the window of her now-empty apartment, staring out at the quiet street below. Her reflection, still dressed in the silk pajamas she had hastily thrown on after spending a restless night packing, was a stark reminder of the life she was leaving behind. This small, cluttered apartment had been her sanctuary for years, the one place where she and Ethan had built their own world after the accident. Now, it was just another chapter she was closing.She turned away from the window and looked around the space one last time. The walls, once covered in sketches and pinned-up blueprints, were bare. Boxes lined the floor, most of them labeled and stacked, ready to be taken to a storage facility. Everything felt so final, and the weight of it pressed down on her chest.The sound of the doorbell jolted her out of her thoughts. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and opened the do
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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
