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Chapter 57:Uncovering The Past
Last Updated:
2025-01-22 10:31:12
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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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The soft golden sunlight shone brightly into Isabelle’s room, warming her cheeks and coaxing her awake. She blinked slowly, the events of the previous night rushing back to her as she turned her head, she blushed hard as she watched the shirtless Liam sleeping peacefully by her side, his features softened in slumber.Careful not to wake him, she attempted to slip out of bed quietly, pulling the blanket aside. But as her feet hit the floor, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into the warmth of the bed.“Where do you think you’re going? It's still very early” Liam’s voice was thick with sleep, but the teasing tone was unmistakable.“Liam,” she whispered, laughing softly. “You’re going to be late for work.”“So will you,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her shoulder. “And I don’t mind, I'm the CEO, nobody would give me a query for coming late.”Her cheeks heated as she tried to wiggle free, but he held her tighter, burying his face in her hair and neck. “Stay
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Isabelle leaned against the cold sink in the restroom, Allison’s parting words playing over and over in her head. “It’s only a matter of time.” What did she mean? Isabelle shook her head, frustrated and confused. Why couldn’t Allison just move on? If their relationship ended years ago, why was she still so invested in ruining them? Did she love Liam that much and what was their story?Despite her swirling thoughts, Isabelle felt a strange relief knowing she had been the reason for their breakup. It meant Liam had loved her all along, even when they were apart. The thought warmed her, but her stomach churned at the thought of Allison still being in the picture.Straightening her shoulders, Isabelle pushed her doubts aside. She had to ask Liam about their story, about the time he spent with Allison. She wanted to hear it directly from him.As Isabelle stepped out of the restroom to the restaurant, her eyes darted toward their table. She froze mid-step, her heart sinking to her stomach.
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At Isabelle’s office, the air was thick with chatter. The usual hum of productivity had been replaced by a buzz of excitement. Isabelle sat at her desk, trying to focus on her work despite the turmoil inside her when Ethan approached her, looking uneasy.“Isabelle,” he said hesitantly, his voice low enough that no one else could hear. “I need to ask you something.”She glanced up at him, already sensing what he was about to say. “What is it?”Ethan scratched the back of his neck. “It’s about the news... I mean, the article about Mr. Anderson and Allison Simeone. What’s going on? Even if your relationship with Liam is just an arrangement, news like this shouln't get out, it could affect you later.”Before Isabelle could answer, a group of employees burst into their office, talking loudly.“Can you believe it?” one of them said, clearly excited. “Liam Anderson and Allison Simeone back together? I thought their relationship was ancient history and that it was just university romance!”An
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The atmosphere of the backstage was tense. Liam sat in a quiet corner, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt while Frank stood nearby, pacing nervously. Liam was invited for a live interview with a famous anchor to talk about his life and Anderson Corp project. The plan was that, the interview will serve as a way of admitting the rumors and increasing publicity for Elysium Heights project. The sound of muffled chatter and distant applause from the live audience seeped through the walls.Frank stopped pacing and looked at Liam, his tone edged with urgency. “Boss, remember, you have to stick to the plan. No surprises, no deviations. The public loves the idea of you and Allison, and this project depends on keeping that narrative alive, okay?.”Liam leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but defiant. “I don’t lie about who I am, Frank. I agreed to this partnership for the project, not to fabricate some fairy tale romance.”Frank sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Argh, come on. W
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Allison sat in the makeup chair, staring at her reflection in the vanity mirror. Her perfectly styled hair framed her sharp, determined face. The makeup artist dabbed her lips with a final stroke of gloss, but Allison barely noticed. Her thoughts were elsewhere.She rehearsed the words she planned to say during the live interview. This was her moment, her chance to set the record straight, to let the public know that she and Liam were together. Sure, Liam wasn’t keen on making their “relationship” public, but she was certain he would stick to the plan. He had to, at least for Anderson Corp and the company's project he'll push his pride and love for Isabelle aside and do the right thing.“Ms. Simeone, we’re ready for you, you can come into the interview room now.” a staffer said, peeking into the dressing room.Allison rose, smoothing her dress and putting on her signature confident smile. “Perfect. I'm all ready too. Let’s do this.”The studio lights were bright, and the set buzzed
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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
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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
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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
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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
