LOGINShare
Chapter 61: Shadows and Sparks
Last Updated:
2025-01-26 02:10:36
Related chapters
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 62: Public Betrayal
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.
Last Updated : 2025-01-27Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 63: Scandal’s Shadow
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 The usual hum of productivity had been replaced by a buzz of excitement.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
Last Updated : 2025-01-28Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 64: The Truth and The Heart
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-28Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 65: Allison’s Unraveling
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-29Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 66: A Visit To The Past
The morning sunlight spilled into the dining room as Isabelle toyed with her toast, pushing it around the plate absentmindedly. Across from her, Liam sipped his coffee, his gaze shifting occasionally from the file on the table to her worried face. Her silence had stretched too long, and he knew something was bothering her.“You’ve barely touched your food,” he said, setting his mug down. “The issue with the rumor has been cleared. What’s on your mind?”Isabelle sighed, leaning back in her chair. “It’s not that… it's my father. I feel guilty for not visiting him since he was transferred to the nursing home. I know he hasn’t been a good father to me, but… he’s still my father. And he became like that while he was here.”Liam placed his elbows on the table, leaning closer. “You don’t need to justify your feelings, Isabelle. If you feel like you should see him, then go. I'm sure he might have things to say to you too.”She looked at him, hesitant. “I was hoping you’d come with me. I don’
Last Updated : 2025-01-29Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 67: The Battle for Isabelle's Attention.
Mary Jane stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot absentmindedly, her brows slightly furrowed. Isabelle noticed immediately—Mary Jane wasn’t usually this quiet, especially around her.“Mary Jane, is something wrong?” Isabelle asked, setting down the glass she was holding.Mary Jane hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “It’s nothing important.”“Come on,” Isabelle pressed gently. “You’re clearly thinking about something.”Mary Jane wiped her hands on a towel and turned to Isabelle. “I have to travel for a family emergency… just for the weekend. But I don’t know what to do about Lucas.”Isabelle blinked. “Lucas?”“My son,” Mary Jane clarified. “I was going to ask my neighbor to watch him, but she has plans. I don’t want to trouble you, Isa—”“Say no more,” Isabelle cut in with a reassuring smile. “Bring him over. I’d love to take care of him.”Mary Jane’s face lit up with relief. “Are you sure? He can really be a handful.”“I can handle him,” Isabelle said confidently. “Besides, I think it
Last Updated : 2025-01-30Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 68: Transfer Employees
The office was buzzing with chatter as employees of PR Horizon settled back into their usual routines. After weeks of working on various projects outside the company, everyone had finally returned. Isabelle and Ethan were among them, having successfully completed their time at Anderson Corp. Their project had been a massive success, and for the first time in a while, things felt normal.Isabelle was at her desk, organizing some files, when the door to the main office swung open. The room fell silent as Mark, the manager, stepped in, followed closely by Allison. The sound of Allison’s heels clicking against the tiled floor sent an uneasy feeling through Isabelle.Mark cleared his throat. "Everyone, settle down. We have an important announcement."Allison stood beside him, her usual composed smile in place. "First of all," she began, her tone smooth and authoritative, "I’d like to thank each and every one of you for your hard work. The past few months have been challenging, but your ded
Last Updated : 2025-02-02Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 69: A Subtle Battle Begins
The morning sun streamed through the windows as Isabelle sat at the breakfast table, sipping her coffee. Across from her, Liam flipped through his emails, occasionally glancing at her. She had been quiet since she woke up, lost in thought. He knew why."You're still thinking about your reappointment, aren't you?" he asked, setting his phone down.Isabelle sighed. "Of course, I am. Allison is clearly up to something. Why would she send me to Anderson Corp when she despises me? Why reappoint anyone at all?"“It's all my fault. When she first got back and threatened to reveal our contract marriage, I asked what she wanted and it was this. A long term contract with PR Horizon. I should have found another way to go about it.” Liam said.“Don't talk that way. It's not your fault. She's the bad one for threatening you and you had no choice expect that. We didn't know I would be the one she would be sent to Anderson Corp. I just don't get her at times. She's too twisted.”Liam leaned back in
Last Updated : 2025-02-03
Latest chapter
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
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 137: The Reconciliation
The doorbell rang, breaking the silence in Ashley’s home. She walked over to the door, already knowing who it was. When she opened it, Liam stood there, his expression tense, worry evident in his eyes. He had rushed over the moment Isa texted him, unable to wait any longer.Ashley crossed her arms and gave him a small smile. “She’s inside. And before you start talking, I’ll be heading out. You two need to talk without me hovering around.”Liam nodded in gratitude before stepping in. Ashley grabbed her bag and made her way out, giving Isa a reassuring look before leaving.Isabelle had been sitting on the couch, hands folded on her lap, waiting. The moment Liam entered the room, she stood up. Their eyes met, and without hesitation, he walked straight to her and pulled her into a tight embrace. He buried his face in her shoulder, inhaling deeply, as if reassuring himself that she was real, that she was safe.“Don’t ever do that again. I was so worried about you,” he muttered, his voice r
