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Chapter 52: The Playhouse
Last Updated:
2025-01-17 00:44:05
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Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 53: Fighting for Her Life
Liam sat slumped in a hard plastic chair, his hands clasped tightly as he stared at the surgery room doors. Every time a nurse walked in or out, his head jerked up, his heart clinging to the faint hope of good news. But the silence was deafening, and the weight of the uncertainty crushed him.He heard the sound of wheels squeaking against the tiled floor and looked up. Ethan was being pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse, his face pale but determined.“Liam,” Ethan said as the nurse stopped beside him. “What’s happening? How’s Isabelle?”Liam sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “She’s still in there. They haven’t said anything yet.”“That bastard eventually hurt her. How did it even happen?” Ethan said, clenching his fists in anger.“He knew he was already screwed up and would eventually be caught by the police. He wanted to kill her anyway, according to him, he didn't want anyone to have her. That bastard.”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “What about Peter? Did they get him? Don
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Liam’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove through the narrow streets leading to Isabelle’s childhood home. He knew Isabelle's childhood home, he knew that streets too well, the place he ran away from leaving someone he loves, the memories made there never left him and he would never forget, and now, as the weathered sign bearing "Rivers Residence" came into view, he felt a wave of unease wash over him. The house was nothing like what he remembered from years ago when he lived in the area and frequented the house. The paint was chipped, and the front yard was overrun with weeds. The place looked so neglected. Liam parked in front, taking a deep breath before stepping out.“This is for her,” he muttered under his breath.He walked up to the door and knocked firmly. For a moment, there was no response, but then he heard shuffling footsteps. The door creaked open, revealing an older man with graying hair and tired eyes—Isabelle’s father, Mr. Rivers.“Who are you?” Mr. R
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The house was warm and lively as Frank parked the car and helped Isabelle out. She felt a mix of emotions—relief to be back home and unease at what awaited her. Her body was still weak, but the week of recovery had helped her regain some strength.Inside the house, Mary Jane and Mrs. Aldric stood waiting in the living room. As soon as Isabelle stepped in, they rushed toward her, pulling her into a tight embrace.“Isabelle!” Mary Jane exclaimed, tears brimming in her eyes. “I was so worried. Thank God you’re okay.”“We’ve been praying for you, dear,” Mrs. Aldric added, her voice trembling. “You’ve been through so much.”Isabelle hugged them both, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Both of you are here. I missed you so much, you didn't have to come, Mrs Aldric.” she said, her voice breaking.“Huh? You were hospitalized. How could I not come?” Mrs Aldric said, patting her back lovingly.Mary Jane pulled back and smiled warmly. “Come in, sit down. You need to rest.”Isabelle looked around
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The morning sun shone brightly on the driveway as Isabelle and Mary Jane helped Mrs. Aldric with her bags. A taxi was already waiting to take her back to her restaurant. Mrs. Aldric turned to Isabelle, her expression filled with a mixture of pride and concern.“Isabelle,” Mrs. Aldric began, her tone firm but kind, “I’ve watched you grow stronger through everything you’ve been through. But you have to stand up for yourself. Don’t let your father or stepmother or even anyone else control your life just because of what he did. You owe them nothing. You're his daughter and he should do that much for you and even take pride in it. ”Isabelle nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Thank you, Mrs. Aldric. I’ll try.”“You won’t just try,” Mrs. Aldric said with a smile, patting Isabelle’s cheek. “You’ll succeed. You promised to come by sometime but I've not seen you at all, that isn't fair.”“I'm sorry, Mrs Aldric. Honestly, I've been busy with work too. But I'll visit you very soon. I pr
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Isabelle paced her room, clutching the folder Estella had found. Her thoughts raced, fear gripping at every part of her body. She knew the kind of person Estella's mother was, and Estella would have surely informed her mother about the marriage contract. “What if she tells the world?” she muttered, her voice trembling.Liam sat on the couch in her room and watched her pace the room impatiently. “Isabelle,” he said firmly, standing up and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I’ll handle this. You stay here and let me take care of it.”Her brows furrowed as she looked at him. “Liam, this is serious. If this gets out, your reputation will be in danger. You know well about what we face because of what happened at our wedding ceremony, if that repeats itself especially at a crucial time when Anderson Corp has a big project going on, it won't be good at all.”“It won’t get out,” Liam interrupted, his voice calm but determined. “I promise you, Estella won’t get the chance to talk. J
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The tension in the hospital waiting room was thick as Sarah’s sharp voice cut through the silence. She stood abruptly, her eyes blazing as she stormed toward Isabelle. Hearing the doctor's diagnosis about her husband shocked her to the bone.“This is your fault!” Sarah shouted, pointing a trembling finger at her stepdaughter. “If you hadn’t brought all this stress into his life, none of this would’ve happened! If he didn't give his blood to you, he wouldn't be so stressed. If you didn't lie about your marriage and how you were selling yourself out to a man, he wouldn't be so shocked to the extent of getting a stroke.”“Sarah, please, let's just focus on—” Isabelle started, but before she could finish, Sarah slapped her.“Don’t you dare speak!” Sarah spat, her voice trembling with fury. “Fix him! Bring him back to normal!” She raised her hand again, but Liam appeared in an instant, stepping between them and she hit him instead.“That’s enough,” Liam said firmly, his eyes cold as he sta
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The morning sunlight streamed through the windows as Isabelle stood by the door, watching Mrs. Aldric prepare to leave.“Stay back and rest today, Isabelle,” Mrs. Aldric urged, her tone firm. “You’ve been through so much, you just got here yesterday also, you must be tired. The restaurant can manage without you. I have an helper that'll clock in once it's afternoon.”Isabelle shook her head with a faint smile. “I appreciate the concern, Mrs. Aldric, but staying idle won’t help me. Let me come with you. It'll just like old times, plus I need to see how your restuarant looks like now and see some familiar faces that I've not seen in a long time too.”Mrs. Aldric sighed, knowing it was pointless to argue with her and stop her. “Alright, but take it easy. Your body is still healing up from your last accident.”---The restaurant was bustling as usual, with the scent of freshly cooked soup and other delicious food filling the air. Isabelle tied an apron around her waist and moved seamless
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The sound of the doorbell jingled softly as Liam and Isabelle walked back into the restaurant together. Mrs. Aldric, who was wiping down the counters, looked up and smiled knowingly.“Well?” she asked, her gaze bouncing between them.Liam stepped forward, his voice steady. “Mrs. Aldric, thank you for everything you’ve done for Isabelle. But I’d like to take her back home now.”Mrs. Aldric arched an eyebrow. “And does Isabelle agree with this?”Isabelle hesitated, glancing at Liam. “I…” She looked at Mrs. Aldric, then nodded. “Yes, I’ll go with him.”Mrs. Aldric wiped her hands on a towel, walking over to Isabelle. She cupped her face with a motherly tenderness. “Remember, stand up for yourself, Isabelle. Don’t let anyone—not your family, not your past—control your life. And don’t let him get away with anything either.”Isabelle laughed softly, her lips curving into a small smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”Mrs. Aldric gave Liam a pointed look. “You’d better take care of her.”“I will,
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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
