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Chapter 11: The Hunter’s Hunter
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2024-12-12 22:39:02
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Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 12: Shattered Trust
The police station was colder than Isabelle expected, the fluorescent lights casting a harsh glow on the tired faces of the officers and suspects alike. Isabelle clutched her arms tightly around herself as she walked in beside Liam, her steps hesitant. She had a lot on her mind at that moment.Dan was being held in a separate room, but Liam had arranged for her to see him once she felt ready. For now, Isabelle sat in the waiting area just outside the room, trying to piece together her scattered emotions and waiting for Liam to come with a police officer escort.She barely noticed the sound of hurried footsteps and people walking about in front of until a familiar voice cut through the air. It was from inside the room where Dan was kept. “I thought you were better than this?” Clara demanded, her voice tight with worry.Isabelle looked up sharply, her breath catching in her throat. She recognized that voice. It was the voice of someone from the town. It was Clara's voice. What was she
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-13Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 13: The Proposal
The police station was quiet now, the chaos of the evening finally going down. Isabelle sat beside Liam on a bench, her arms wrapped around her body as if trying to shield herself against the cold reality of her life. Mrs. Aldric had insisted on staying until Isabelle was finished giving her statement, but eventually, the older woman had to leave.Before she left, Mrs. Aldric gripped Liam’s arm firmly. “Take care of her,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “And bring her back safely.”“I promise,” Liam replied, his voice steady.When they were alone, Liam turned to Isabelle, the expression on his face, filled with concern. “Are you alright?”“No,” Isabelle said simply, her voice devoid of emotion. “I don’t think I’ll ever be alright again. That man, Richard is so scary. He would go to the length of killing me just to keep his abusive nature under wraps.”He sighed, his expression softening. “I know this feels impossible, but I’m going to make sure Richard never comes nea
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-14Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 14: Stepping Into The Spotlight
Isabelle followed Liam out of his office, she was nervous from the whirlwind of the past few days and the decision she had made that day. It was going to be a long and hard journey, no doubt, but she had Liam and Mrs Aldric on her side now. “Isabelle,” Liam said, gesturing toward a man waiting by the window. “Meet my secretary, Frank Payne.”Frank turned with an exaggerated flourish, his bright smile instantly lighting up the room. He was a tall, lanky, young man with an easy charm, dressed in a sharp suit that somehow still looked casual.“Ah, the infamous Miss Isabelle,” Frank said dramatically, taking her hand and shaking it enthusiastically. “You’re even more beautiful than the pictures I saw you in. I caught Mr Anderson staring at pictures from time to time. Pleasure to meet you!”Isabelle couldn’t help but laugh, her earlier tension easing slightly. “Nice to meet you too, Frank.”“You’re too kind,” Frank said, shooting a grin at Liam. “How did someone as stiff as you convince h
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-15Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 15: The Wedding Interrupted
The grand ballroom of the Anderson Companies owned building was transformed into a vision of luxury for the wedding of the year. Glittering chandeliers cast warm light over the elegantly dressed guests, a sea of billionaires, politicians, and socialites filled the space. Outside, the media clamored for any glimpse of the bride and groom, their cameras flashing as black-tie guests arrived in luxury cars.In a private dressing room upstairs, Isabelle sat before a decorated mirror as a team of makeup artists worked on her. The room smelled faintly of perfume and flowers, the hum of whispered compliments filling the air.“You’re so stunning, Miss Isabelle,” one of the artists gushed, stepping back to admire her work. “Liam Anderson is a lucky man. You're so lucky too. Half the country would kill to be in your shoes right now.”Another nodded enthusiastically, adjusting the hem of Isabelle’s white wedding dress. “The most eligible bachelor in the country, and now he’s yours.”Isabelle mana
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-16Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 16: A Message from Richard
Isabelle groaned as her eyes fluttered open, her head pounded hard and her body felt heavy like she got hit by a truck. She was back in the bedroom of the home she and Liam shared, the soft, muted tones of the room doing little to ease the ache in her chest. Her gaze landed on Mary Jane sitting beside her, she had a worried expression on her face.“You’re awake,” Mary Jane said softly, relief washing over her face. She handed Isabelle a glass of water. “Here, drink this. You need it.”Isabelle obeyed, the cool water soothing her dry throat. “What happened?” she asked, her voice hoarse.“You fainted at the wedding. We were all worried about you. Mrs Aldric didn't want to leave but Mr Anderson convinced her that you'll be okay so she left after cooking some meals.” Mary Jane said, her voice laced with concern. “Mr Anderson brought you back here. Are you feeling okay? Are you feeling hurt anywhere?”Isabelle set the glass down, her hands trembling. “I’m fine.” But her thoughts were far f
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-17Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 17: An Uncertain Sense of Peace
FlashbackMary Jane paced the kitchen, her brow furrowed. Isabelle hadn’t come down since, and the house was very quiet. Mary Jane looked at the clock and hurried with the meal she was serving for Isabelle. Something didn’t feel right.Grabbing a tray with the meal Mrs Aldric had prepared and tea, she headed upstairs, her instincts warning her that something was wrong. She knocked softly on Isabelle’s door, but there was no answer.“Isabelle?” Mary Jane called, her voice laced with concern.When there was still no response, she pushed the door open, only to be met with an empty room. The sight made her freeze for a moment. Isabelle’s bed was unmade, her closet doors were left ajar, and her clothes were in disarray, as if someone had left in a hurry.Mary Jane’s heart sank. “No, no, no… this isn’t right.”She dropped the tray by the bedside table and rushed to her phone, her hands trembling as she dialed Liam’s number.“Mary Jane?” Liam’s voice came through, calm but tired.“She’s gone
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-18Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 18: Just A Puppet
Ashley's small apartment was dimly lit, different toys were scattered across the floor and a half-folded blanket was put over the couch. Richard paced the living room like a caged, deranged animal, his face was twisted in frustration and anger. His sharp, expensive shoes clacked against the worn wooden floor as he paced around in unrest. Ashley entered quietly, wiping her hands on her black jeans after tucking Junior into bed. She froze when she saw Richard pacing, his movements were unsteady and his expression was dark.Richard started. “What the hell were you thi...”“Keep your voice down,” Ashley interrupted harshly, her eyes darting toward the room in hallway where Junior slept. “The baby’s finally asleep.”But Richard didn’t care. “What the hell were you thinking?” he hissed, turning to face her. “You were supposed to handle things! I told you to humiliate Isabelle and get her out of Liam’s life, I asked you to just simply ruin the wedding. Instead, you’ve turned me into the head
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-19Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 19: The Truth Revealed
Isabelle stood at the front door, watching Mary Jane leave after another warm and lively meal. Mary Jane turned back, waving one last time before heading off.Isabelle sighed and turned to go back inside, her phone buzzing in her pocket. She frowned as she pulled it out, her heart sinking when she saw the sender: Ashley.---Ashley:I’ll tell you the whole truth, so let’s meet. Please, that way, we can both be free from Richard. If not for me, do it for the sake of my son who's future is at stake. ---Isabelle stared at the message, her mind racing. Ashley’s previous words when they met at the photoshoot place replayed in her head. “Don’t leave Richard. If you do, he’ll come back to me.”Isabelle was first scared that Ashley was out to get her again, but something in her wanted to talk to Ashley. What was the whole truth that Ashley wanted to tell her? Maybe it was worth taking a risk for. Isabelle stepped inside the house, where Liam was reading on the couch, the faint hum of a jaz
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-20
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Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 121– A Hidden Past
The city lights flickered past in a blur as Frank maneuvered the car through the streets. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was tense, filled only with the steady hum of the engine and the faint tapping of Liam’s fingers against his iPad. His gaze was locked onto the screen, scanning through endless articles, reports, and anything remotely connected to the name Marcus Carter.Frank, who had been watching his boss out of the corner of his eye, finally spoke. “Alright, boss, where exactly are we headed?”Liam didn’t respond immediately. His brows furrowed deeper as he scrolled, his jaw tightening.Frank sighed. “And what are you looking at so damn intensely? I swear, you’ve been at it since we left the office. Did we get a project that I don't know about?”Liam let out a slow breath, lowering the device slightly. “I’m going through everything online that has Marcus Carter’s name on it.”Frank frowned. “Marcus Carter?” He repeated the name, searching his memory. “Can’t say it rings a bel
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 120– The Confrontation at Westford University
The drive to Westford University was tense. Isabelle gripped the steering wheel firmly, her mind racing through possible ways to handle the situation. Next to her, Selena sat with her arms crossed, tapping her nails against her knee impatiently.“I still don’t see why we have to be nice about this,” Selena muttered, shifting in her seat.Isabelle sighed, keeping her eyes on the road. “Because we need them to trust us. If we go in there guns blazing, they’ll only become more defensive.”Selena scoffed. “That’s assuming they deserve any respect after what they pulled. They didn’t just reject our partnership—they publicly trashed Polaris Tech. If they had doubts, they could’ve kept it internal.”Isabelle nodded. “I agree. What they did was irresponsible. But think about it—did they say anything false?”Selena frowned. “Well—no, but—”“They didn’t outright lie,” Isabelle continued. “They didn’t fabricate anything. They just repeated what they thought was true. And whether we like it or no
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 119 – Liam Anderson Never Makes Empty Threats
By the time Isabelle finally walked through the doors of the house, exhaustion weighed down on her shoulders. The day had been long—Crestview’s success, Westford’s betrayal, and the revelation that Laura and Estella were behind the attack on Polaris Tech.And worse, the growing suspicion that Marcus had been orchestrating this entire thing from the start.She barely had time to gather her thoughts before she heard the deep, familiar voice from across the living room.“You’re late. Again, Isabelle.”She looked up to see Liam standing by the bar, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, and a glass of whiskey in his hand. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unreadable.Isabelle sighed, setting her bag down by the couch. “I know. I'm sorry.”Liam placed his glass down and crossed the room in three long strides. Before she could react, he cupped her face, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze.“Are you alright?” His voice was low, laced with concern.She swa
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 118 – A Dangerous Offer
The next morning, Isabelle and Selena sat in Isabelle’s office, scanning an email from Professor Langston.Crestview University had officially agreed to host the Polaris AI demonstration next week.Selena grinned as she leaned back in her chair. “We finally got a big one. This could set off a domino effect for other universities.”Isabelle nodded, feeling a rare sense of accomplishment. “If Crestview endorses us, others will follow.”But before they could fully celebrate, another email arrived—one that wiped the smiles off their faces.Westford University, another top university on their list that they visited and pitched their ideas too had rejected their proposal outright. Worse, they had publicly warned students against using Polaris AI, citing “concerns over long-term data privacy.”Selena’s expression darkened as she slammed her hand onto Isabelle’s desk. “This is bad. If one university publicly doubts us, others will hesitate too.”Isabelle scanned the content of the email showi
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 117 – Winning Over the Universities
Isabelle arrived at Polaris Tech that morning, fully prepared for a long day. The student discount marketing plan was in motion, and she had no room for mistakes. The moment she stepped into her office, a member of the PR team handed her a thick folder filled with reports and updates. She barely had time to flip through it before her phone buzzed with a meeting reminder.Taking a deep breath, she headed toward the conference room. Inside, the marketing and PR teams were already gathered, with Marcus seated at the head of the table. Greg, the head of marketing, was going over the discount structures they had decided on—tiered percentages for students based on their courses and subscription plans.After some final adjustments, Marcus turned to Isabelle and Selena. "Your job is to make sure students actually know about this. Partnerships, ads, outreach—whatever it takes."Selena crossed her arms. "Universities would be the best way to go. If we get academic institutions to endorse Polari
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 116 – Rivalries and Revelations
Isabelle took a deep breath before stepping out of her office. It was time for the meeting with the marketing team, and she had already put together a few ideas on how to boost Polaris AI’s public image. As she made her way toward the meeting room, she spotted Selena walking ahead of her, her posture stiff, her steps quick and purposeful."Selena," Isa called out.Selena didn’t stop.Isa frowned but quickened her pace until she caught up and gently grabbed Selena’s arm. The woman turned sharply, her eyes flashing with irritation."What do you want?" Selena asked coldly.Isa let go of her arm and met her gaze with calm confidence. "Look, I know you don’t like me here. You think I’m here to take your position, but you don’t have to worry about that. I have no intention of staying in Polaris Tech permanently."Selena’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes."I’ll be gone in three weeks," Isa continued, her voice steady. "I was brought in temporarily,
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 115 – Walking into the Lion’s Den
The towering glass building of Polaris Technologies loomed before Isabelle as she stepped out of the car. The sleek, modern exterior was almost like Anderson Corp’s, yet there was no sense of familiarity—this wasn’t her first time here. But today, everything was different. Today, she was not a visitor or a negotiator. She was an employee. Even if temporary.With a deep breath, she adjusted her blouse and made her way through the entrance. The moment she stepped inside, the air changed. Whispers rippled through the lobby like a wave, eyes discreetly flicking in her direction. Some employees murmured with excitement, others with skepticism."So that’s Isabelle Rivers? Liam Anderson's wife?""I heard she’s brilliant.""I heard she played a big role in the security breach scandal. She even held a press conference. What’s she doing here?"" Has she been hired permanently by Mr Carter?"Isabelle kept her head high, ignoring the murmurs as she reached the reception desk. The receptionist, a
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 114 – Marked and Claimed
Isabelle stood in front of the mirror, absently gathering her hair to tie it up. But the moment she lifted it, she froze.Hickeys.Deep, reddish-purple bruises littered the pale skin of her neck and collarbone, evidence of last night’s passion. She inhaled sharply, her fingers grazing over them.Her cheeks flushed.She should be annoyed—it was inconvenient to go around with these marks. But instead, a small, traitorous smile tugged at her lips.Liam was insatiable.She bit her lower lip, caught between amusement and frustration. There was no way she could wear her hair up today.Behind her, the door to the walk-in closet opened, and Liam stepped out, dressed in a sharp navy-blue suit. His hair was neatly styled, and he was adjusting his tie with practiced ease. The sight of him, so effortlessly put together, made last night’s memory even more vivid.Liam glanced at her reflection in the mirror and smirked. “What’s got you so happy this early in the morning?”Isa snapped out of her daze
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 113: The Answers To The Questions
Isabelle gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white as she maneuvered through the dimly lit streets. She wasn’t supposed to be doing this.Both Allison and Ethan had warned her—stay away.But how could she?The way Vivian had been dragged away, the panic in her eyes, the sheer weight of what had happened—it wouldn’t leave Isa’s mind. And Marcus... she had never trusted him completely. Something about him had always felt off.Now, more than ever, she needed answers.She arrived at the detention center, her heart pounding as she stepped out of the car. It was a grim-looking building, surrounded by barbed wire and guarded heavily. What the hell am I doing? she wondered. But it was too late to turn back now.After going through security and the necessary formalities, she sat in the visitation area, waiting. The fluorescent lights flickered above her, making the dull gray walls feel even colder.The door on the other side of the glass partition buzzed open.Vivian stepped in.I
