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Chapter 146: She Needs To Stay Alive
Last Updated:
2025-04-02 20:39:36
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Isabelle Rivers ran her fingers over the edge of the glossy wedding photo sitting on the table. She stared at the couple in the frame, their smiles frozen in time. The woman in the photo looked like a stranger—red-head, bright-eyed, radiant, and full of hope. Hope that had drained away, a long time ago. The reflection in the mirror beside the photo told a different story. She was the same woman in the picture but this time, she looked totally different. She was pale, she had dark circles around her eyes, and her lips were pressed into a thin, resigned line.The house around her was silent, except for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Richard hadn’t come home last night. It wasn't the first night that he had done this, but it hurt her every night. More so, when he didn't apologize or give a reason why he didn't come home. She tried not to think about where he had been or, more painfully, who he might have been with, but she couldn't help it. She also couldn't bring hers
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Isabelle stood on the dimly lit sidewalk, clutching the strap of her bag. The cool night air was refreshing against her face which was wet with tears, but it did little to calm the storm inside her. She had no plan, no destination, only the desperate need to escape.Her feet moved instinctively, leading her toward the only place she could think of: her father’s house. The thought of facing him after all these years was daunting, but she needed help. Surely, he’d understand.By the time she reached the familiar iron gate of her childhood home, it was very late in the night. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the buzzer. A small voice in her head screamed at her to turn back, but she pushed it aside and pressed the button. She knew she might not be welcomed because of her stepmother but at least her birth father was in there too and he wouldn't watch her get abused and not do anything about it. A long pause followed before the speaker crackled. “Who is it?”“It’s Isabelle,” she said
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The house was too silent. The kind of silence that pressed down on Isabelle like a suffocating weight. She sat in the kitchen, staring at the floor tiles, her mind racing. Her cheek still burned from Richard’s slap, but it wasn’t the physical pain that left her feeling hollow and hurt. It was the realization that this was her life; a gilded cage where her voice didn’t matter, her choices didn’t exist, and her dignity had long been stripped away. She made the mistake of believing she could reason with Richard, but all it had done was make him angry. The slam of a door upstairs jolted her from her thoughts, followed by the heavy thud of Richard's footsteps. She stiffened and quickly gripped the edge of the counter for support. When Richard appeared in the doorway, his expression was cold and she could see the burning anger in his eyes, much more than before.“Get up,” he barked. “What now?” Isabelle asked quietly, not meeting his gaze.“Upstairs,” he snapped. “Now.”“I’m your wife, no
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The hospital room was quiet, except for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. Isabelle stared at the ceiling, her body was too exhausted to move, and her was mind too overwhelmed to process everything that had happened to her.Her gaze moved to the man seated in the chair beside her bed. Liam Anderson. Thinking about it now, she’d heard that name before, long ago. But she really couldn’t place it. He sat there now, pressing his phone, his expression calm and composed.“Why are you still here?” she asked, her voice hoarse.Liam looked up at her, setting his phone aside. “Because you need someone to be here.”“I don’t even know you,” she muttered, turning her face away.Liam leaned forward, his voice, firm. “You didn’t know who I was when you asked for help, but I still stopped and brought you to the hospital. I could’ve just kept driving.”She sighed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just… I don’t know why you’re bothering to help someone you don't know. Plus, you look like a very
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CHAPTER 5: A NEW START.Isabelle ran fast, her breath running out, her heart beating fast like crazy, her bare feet slamming against the pavement as Richard’s furious shouts echoed behind her. She didn't want to look back,but she had to see if she was close, her heart dropped as she saw him actually closing in on her. “ Isabelle, I told you before. You're mine and you can never get away from me.” His face was twisted with rage, his hand raised, ready to strike.“No!” Isabelle cried out, her voice trembling with fear. Her chest rose up and down restlessly and her breathing became shallow and uneven. The sound of a soft knock on her door pulled her back to reality. Her eyes snapped open, her heart still pounding in her chest.“Isabelle, dear,” Mrs. Aldric called gently from outside. “Are you alright?”Isabelle sat up, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. “Y-yes,” she stammered, though her voice betrayed her unease. She had been staying with Mrs Aldric for about two weeks now without
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The next morning, Isabelle woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains, a huge difference from the unease that had settled in her chest the night before. She remembered the encounter with Dan, his smug grin and invasive questions lingering on her mind like a bad memory.She found Mrs. Aldric in the kitchen, humming softly as she stirred a pot of soup. Mrs Aldric greeted her with a warm smile. “Good morning, dear. Sleep well?”“Better than I thought I would,” Isabelle admitted, though she left out the part where she had tossed and turned at a point worrying about what happened with Dan and if he'll come back and cause trouble for her and Mrs Aldric.“Good,” Mrs. Aldric said, setting two bowls on the table. “You’ve got a busy day ahead. Saturdays are our busiest at the restaurant, especially with the tourists coming through. So we have to eat before setting out for work.”Isabelle nodded, grateful for the distraction. Sje needed to work to keep her mind occupied.---The restaura
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Isabelle stood in the kitchen, rinsing out a few dishes as the older woman bustled around, preparing her things for the busy day ahead at the restaurant.Mrs. Aldric paused at the doorway, turning to Isabelle with a thoughtful look. “Isabelle, I want you to stay home today.”“What?” Isabelle blinked, setting down the dish. “Why?”Mrs. Aldric sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. “Dan’s got his sights set on you, and I don’t want to give him another excuse to show up at the restaurant. I don't think he's been so focused on something like this, it only just lasts for a while, but what he said yesterday sounded pretty serious and I don't want to put you in danger.”Isabelle frowned, a pang of guilt and frustration tightening her chest. “But I can’t just hide here. I don’t want to be a burden to you. With the way I told him off and rejected him, he would know that I'm serious and stay away too, wouldn't he?”“You’re not a burden,” Mrs. Aldric said firmly, placing a reassuring hand on Isa
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The evening sun cast long shadows across the quiet streets as Mrs. Aldric hurriedly locked the restaurant door, her hands trembling. Isabelle should have arrived hours ago. Something was wrong. Her gut churned with unease as she practically jogged home, her thoughts racing.“Please let her be home,” she muttered under her breath, her shoes clicking against the cobblestones.When she reached the house, she threw the door open, calling out, “Isabelle? Isabelle, are you here?”The silence that greeted her sent a chill down her spine. She checked the kitchen, the small sitting room, and even upstairs, her worry growing with every empty room. Isabelle’s bag and the ledger were gone, but the house was eerily quiet.Mrs. Aldric sank onto the sofa, her head in her hands. “Where could she have gone?” she whispered, fear tightening around her chest.She didn’t sit for long. With a resolve born from years of running her business and protecting the people she cared about, she bolted out the door a
Last Updated : 2024-12-10
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Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 146: She Needs To Stay Alive
Richard walked back to the room Isabelle was in, slowly. He was still finding it hard to believe Isabelle actually lost her memory and remembers him as a good guy. He found it hard to believe that a big opportunity to change who he was to her just dropped down from the skies in just a day that they met after two years. For a moment, he was grateful for the truck driver who hit her car and caused the accident.He reached the front of the room and entered. Isabelle was sleeping peacefully on the bed. He moved closer to her and touched her face very gentle enough to not wake her up." Is this a dream? Huh, Isabelle? Is this the heavens giving me another chance with you? Is this accident your punishment for sending me to prison and my reward?" Richard smiled, it was indeed a big opportunity. Isabelle's thought about him will completely change. No, he'll bring out a new Isabelle, one who loves him and does all of his will.Richard's thoughts were cut short by the sound of the door opening
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 145: Never Ever
The room was silent except for the steady beep of the heart monitor and the faint hum of the air conditioning. A soft, sterile scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, mixing with the faint aroma of coffee. The walls were painted in a muted shade of cream, the curtains drawn just enough to allow a sliver of morning light to filter in.Isabelle lay on the hospital bed, her body was still and her face was pale against the stark whiteness of the pillow. A thick bandage was wrapped around her head, a stark contrast to her dark hair, which had lost its usual shine. Bruises stained her skin, they were faint traces of the impact she had suffered during the accident. An IV drip was attached to her arm, and a small oxygen tube rested just beneath her nose.On the couch by the window, Richard Carter sat, his posture relaxed as he sipped from a steaming cup of coffee. His black shirt was slightly unbuttoned at the top, his jacket was laying over the armrest. He looked as if he had been there for
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 144: The Plan To Get Her Back.
Liam opened the fourth bottle of wine and poured himself a glass. In one gulp, he finished it. But no matter how much he drank, he just couldn't get drunk. He couldn't wipe the image of Isabelle breaking up with him off his memory. He couldn't stop hearing the words she said to him before leaving."I regret being with you. I felt more at peace with Richard than I did with you. We shouldn't have been together." Her words rang in his ear over and over again. It was the morning of the next day and he was already tired of living. How could he go on, a week, a month, a year, without Isabelle in his life. He has already had the most drinks in his lifetime and he wasn't still drunk.Liam ran a hand through his messy hair for the umpteenth time. " I wish I could just erase all my memories. How could Isabelle suddenly leave me? No. Why would Isabelle suddenly leave me?"The doorbell rang, breaking his train of thought. He groaned knowing it was Frank. Frank had followed him home last night an
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 143: The Aftermath.
Laura slid the door open and went in. She sat in front of Laura and sighed.Richard glanced at her and laughed. "She's very different now. Very different from the last time I saw her." Laura nodded. " What did you think? That she'd be the same? I don't know how she was when she was with you, but this Isabelle is feisty and stubborn. I can't deny that she's talented too."Richard chuckled and took a sip of the drink with him. " What's going on? I thought you hated her. Why are you praising her suddenly?" Laura rolled her eyes. " My point is, we don't know what she could do or what she's planning. I know how much she and Liam love eachother, she broke up with him and she came here looking alright? No way. She might be planning something to go against our plans." " Come on, Laura. You said she loves that man, isn't it? Isabelle isn't the type to make stupid decisions that'll put those that she love in trouble. Also, Isabelle is great at hiding her feelings, it's her talent. So, don't
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 142 : A life changing accident.
Isabelle stepped out of the hall and got to her car, her heart pounding painfully with every step she took away from the hall. She had really done it. She had really broken up with Liam. She opened the door of her car and got in. As she entered and locked the door, she broke down in tears. Her heart couldn't handle the pain. Isabelle screamed, in hopes of reducing the pain her heart was feeling but it didn't work, nothing worked. She began to beat her chest strongly as she cried profusely. The ringing of her phone stopped her. Through her tear-filled eyes, she could see that it was Laura.She quickly wiped her tears and picked it up. "Yes?" " What are you still doing? The press conference is over, won't you get here? Don't tell me.... Are you explaining to Liam?" Isabelle mustered up her strength to speak like she hadn't been crying. " No way. You think I can face him to explain what happened after dumping him on national TV? I'll be there in some minutes, you can decide to wait f
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 141 : The End Of A Beautiful Thing.
Isabelle walked into the hall, her hands shaking. She glanced at the reporters sitting calmly waiting for her to reach the stage. The moment she mounted the stage, cameras began to flash and questions began to blow up at her face. "Miss Isabelle, look here." "Miss Isabelle, are you going to tell the whole truth here?" "Is this stage a medium for you to confess everything?" "Do you know that your actions have caused Anderson Corp to lose almost a billion dollar project?"That question pricked at her heart. It further gave her the courage to go ahead with the decision she made to really break up with Liam and disappear from his life. Liam from afar, signalled to the director of the program and the man got the message. He took the microphone and hit it gently, causing a loud feedback from the public address system. The director started. " Alright everyone. I understand your zeal to get answers, but we're only taking questions one at a time. Any reporter that violates this rule wi
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 140– The Release of Richard Carter.
The heavy iron doors of the correctional facility creaked open, allowing Richard Carter to step into the sunlight for the first time in two years and some months. He blinked against the brightness, momentarily stunned by the unfamiliar warmth of the sun against his skin. The stale air of his prison cell was nothing compared to the fresh breeze that greeted him outside. For a moment, he simply stood there, inhaling deeply, letting the reality of his release sink in.A prison officer handed him a small, clear plastic bag containing his few belongings—an old wristwatch, a worn leather wallet, and the clothes he had worn the day he was incarcerated. Richard took them without a word, his jaw tightening as he glanced back at the imposing prison walls one last time.His moment of reflection was interrupted by the sleek black car parked a few feet away. The driver's door swung open, and out stepped Marcus, dressed in his usual tailored suit, exuding an air of confidence and control."Well, we
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 139 – The Fight Begins
Isabelle sat in Liam’s office, her hands clenched into fists as the weight of the situation settled in. The room was silent, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner, yet the storm brewing inside her was anything but calm. The accusations against her had spread like wildfire, each headline worse than the last.Her marriage to Richard had been dug up, twisted, and thrown back at her. And worse, her relationship with Liam was now being painted as nothing but an affair. The scandal continued to spread like wildfire. Isabelle sits frozen, her hands trembling as she scrolled through countless hateful messages. Each word cuts deep—gold digger, cheater, manipulator. It feels like the walls are closing in.Liam reaches out, gently prying the phone from her hands. “Stop reading that garbage,” he says firmly. “None of it is true.”Liam’s expression darkened as he scrolled through the slanderous articles. His jaw tightened, his grip on the tablet firm enough to crack the casing. Ethan stood
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 138 : A Sudden Scandal.
The soft glow of morning sunlight seeped through the curtains as Isabelle stirred awake, the warmth of Liam’s embrace grounding her. She blinked drowsily, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath her cheek. For a fleeting moment, all the chaos in her life melted away.“You’re awake,” Liam murmured, his voice still laced with sleep.“Mhm,” she hummed, not wanting to move just yet.Liam shifted, propping himself up on one elbow to look at her. “Are you really okay?” His fingers brushed against her cheek. “After everything… I mean all the things that happened after your birthday?”Isabelle nodded, but deep down, she felt uneasy. Richard was unpredictable, and with Marcus involved, she had a feeling things wouldn’t be as simple as just signing divorce papers and moving on. Still, she didn’t want to worry Liam. “I will be. As long as I have you.”Liam exhaled, seeming to relax at her words. “Good. Because I meant what I said—I’ll do everything to protect you.”He pulled her closer. “So, are y
