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Chapter 18: Just A Puppet
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2024-12-19 07:24:34
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Contract 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 20: The Fall of Richard
Richard lounged in his lavish office, sipping whiskey as the news anchor’s voice droned on. His gaze darkened when Ashley’s face appeared on the screen, her expression resolute as she spoke into the microphone.“I stayed silent for too long,” Ashley said. “Richard was abusive—physically, emotionally, and financially. I lost three pregnancies because of him. I even became a bad person and put Isabelle into the hell I passed through and ignored it. But now, things are different. I can’t let that cycle continue. For years, I was too scared to speak out, but not anymore.”The anchor’s voice cut back in, recounting the morally degrading details of Richard’s abuse and the mounting evidence of his crimes.Richard’s hand clenched the glass in his hand so tightly that it shattered, the shards cutting into his palm. Blood dripped onto the floor, but he barely noticed, his face was twisted with rage.“That evil bitch,” he growled, standing abruptly and storming out of his office.His employees w
Last Updated : 2024-12-21Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 21: Drive to her past
The airport buzzed with life; families reuniting, different travelers rushing to their gates for their respective flights, and the constant sound of announcements echoing through the terminals. Ashley stood near the departure gate, holding Junior in her hands. The boy clutched a small stuffed animal, looking around curiously while his mother glanced anxiously at the clock. “Ashley!” Isabelle called, hurrying toward her.Ashley turned, her face softening when she saw Isabelle. “You came, I was worried that I'd leave without seeing you one last time.” she said, her voice filled with emotion.“Of course I did,” Isabelle replied. “I also couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye.”Ashley smiled faintly, though her eyes were a little bit laced with sadness. “I’m doing this for my son,” she said, glancing sweetly at Junior, who was now tugging at his stuffed animal’s ears. “After all that has happened, I think he deserves to grow up somewhere far away from all this madness.”“You’re do
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 22: The Childhood Home
The drive to her childhood home was too quiet. Isabelle gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white as memories of the past surfaced with every mile closer to her childhood home. Estella sat beside her, staying quiet unlike her character, stealing glances at Isabelle as if trying to find out what she was feeling and thinking.The neighborhood had changed a little bit since Isabelle had left—old houses with chipped paint were now remodelled into finer houses, the narrow streets was littered with her memories, both fond and painful. But the house… her childhood home loomed at the end of the road, a relic of her childhood and the place where so much had gone wrong.As Isabelle slowed to a stop, flashes of her childhood came rushing back.She remembered the days when her mother was still alive, a soft and loving presence who filled the house with warmth and light. Her father had been different then—kind and attentive, always ready with a smile and an encouraging word. They’d h
Last Updated : 2024-12-25Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 23: The River’s Scheme
The Rivers family’s living room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn to block out the midday sun. Estella sat comfortably on the couch, scrolling through her phone, while Sarah, Isabelle's stepmother paced anxiously, muttering some words to herself.The creak of a door made them look up. Mr. Rivers walked out of his room, stretching his arms and looking perfectly healthy. He glanced at them with a raised brow.“Well? Has she called yet? It's been days now, we need to get that money from her quickly.” he asked, his voice carrying an edge of impatience.Sarah scoffed, crossing her arms. “No, not yet. She's probably still thinking about it. Can you just give her some time? She's not going to throw money at us just because a father that doesn't care about her is sick.”“Still thinking about it? Why didn't you persuade her better? She thinks she's all good now and nowhere near our level, you should act lowly and get her help. That Isabelle brat! After everything I did for her.” “Look, you sh
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 24: The Truth is Out
The Rivers house was unusually quiet that afternoon. Mr. Rivers sat slumped in his chair, flipping through a newspaper, while Sarah paced the living room, muttering complaints under her breath. Estella wasn’t home, having gone out to “run the errand” of convincing Isabelle and having her give money to the family. The sharp ring of the doorbell interrupted the silence.“Get that,” Mr. Rivers said, not bothering to look up.Sarah shot him a glare. “Why don’t you get it? You’ve been sitting there all day doing nothing. You're not even sick at all. It’s probably just the delivery man with the pizza.”With a grunt, Mr. Rivers moved himself out of the chair and shuffled toward the door, he was tired of arguing with Sarah over every little thing. “Fine, fine. You were the one who wanted me to act sick, now I can't?” he muttered under his breath.Reaching the door, he opened it with a sigh. “Delivery?”The words barely left his mouth before he froze, his eyes widening in shock.Isabelle stoo
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 25: A Moment of Vulnerability
Liam arrived home later than usual, he was very tired from all the work he did today. As he stepped into the house, he immediately noticed something was off. The entire house was dark, save for the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the windows.“Isabelle?” he called, his voice echoing in the quietness.No response. His worry deepened. Isabelle wasn’t the type to leave the house without saying something, and she certainly wouldn’t sit in the dark, doing nothing. He set his briefcase down and walked through the living room, flipping on the lights as he went.When he reached her bedroom door, he hesitated. The faint sound of muffled crying reached his ears. His chest tightened, and he knocked gently.“Isabelle? Are you in there?”There was a rustling sound, hurried and frantic. After a moment, the door creaked open, and Isabelle stood there, her eyes red and swollen, her hair slightly disheveled. The faint scent of alcohol wafted past her, and Liam’s eyes flicked down to see her
Last Updated : 2024-12-27Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 26: A New Beginning?
It had been two months since Liam and Isabelle's chaotic wedding and the Richard incident, and the whispers and baseless rumors had finally died down. The tabloids and paparazzi had moved on, speculating about other power couples, and some people even believed that Liam Anderson was still a bachelor, since Isabelle's face was never revealed properly. Liam had them all taken down because people might look at her weirdly and make her feel uncomfortable, some believed that Liam chased the bride away after hearing about her past. The incomplete wedding had also left an air of mystery around Liam Anderson's marital status, much to Isabelle’s relief.For Isabelle, the past month had been one of healing and meditation. She had spent days reflecting on her life, setting goals for herself, and finally mustering the courage to take her first step toward independence.She applied to lots of PR companies but almost all of them required some years of experience, which she didn't have. Luckily, she
Last Updated : 2025-01-01
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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
