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Chapter 63: Scandal’s Shadow
Last Updated:
2025-01-28 02:18:48
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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 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’
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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
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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
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Isabelle’s pen tapped lightly against her desk as she glanced at the time. Lunch break. It had only been a few days since she started at Anderson Corp, but things were already getting interesting.She turned to Ethan, who had been typing something furiously. "Hey, lunch?"Ethan immediately stood up and stretched. "Finally! I was about to die at my desk."They both grabbed their lunch trays from the cafeteria counter. As they scanned the room for a seat, Isabelle spotted an empty table near the glass windows. She walked over and sat down, expecting Ethan to join her.But just as Ethan was about to sit, someone else slid into the chair across from her."Excuse me, Ethan," Laura said with a polite smile, her own tray in hand. "I need to talk to Isabelle about something."Ethan hesitated, glancing at Isabelle for approval. Isabelle gave him a small nod."Alright," Ethan said reluctantly, picking up his tray. "I'll be over there. Call me if you need me here."Laura chuckled. "Am I about to
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Liam was standing close to Isabelle as they chatted. He dropped his coffee cup after finishing the content and suddenly placed his hands lightly on Isabelle's waist, his breath warm against her skin.“Liam...” Isabelle started but couldn't finish. He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers, but just as he was about to deepen the kiss, Isabelle pulled back slightly, her eyes flicking down to her wristwatch."Break's over," she said in a voice that was both teasing and firm, pulling herself away from him with a small smile.Liam’s face softened, disappointment flickering in his eyes, but he still couldn't hide the affection in his voice. "I see you everyday but I still miss you."Isabelle let out a soft laugh, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I know, I can make it up to you later at home, I didn't give a date." she replied, her voice light, a playful tone slipping in as she began to walk away, still holding the coffee cup. Liam watched her go, his gaze lingering on her as she walk
Last Updated : 2025-02-05
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Isabelle stepped into Polaris Tech that morning, knowing it would be her last. A strange sense of relief mixed with an unsettling weight sat in her chest. She had counted the days until this moment, yet now that it was here, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was unfinished.Shaking the thought away, she made her way to her office for the final time. Her desk, once covered in reports and proposals, was now nearly empty. Only her laptop remained, along with a printed report detailing all she had accomplished during her stay at Polaris Tech. It was a summary of her work, her last official duty before walking away.She read through it one last time, ensuring everything was in order. The university partnerships, the PR strategies, the crisis management—all laid out for Marcus to see. Proof that she had done her job and was ready to leave.With a satisfied nod, she sent the digital copy to his email and placed the printed version in a folder. Then, she took a deep breath and sto
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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
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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
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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
