LOGINShare
Chapter 76: The Battle for Taylor Monroe
Last Updated:
2025-02-10 11:37:14
Related chapters
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 77: Taylor's Agreement
The email from Taylor Monroe pinged into Ethan’s inbox. He read it twice to be sure—she'd agreed to work with Allison's team for the online campaign. The news was a victory, but Ethan knew delivering it to Isabelle wouldn’t feel like one. He found her still awake in their rented cottage, staring at her laptop screen like it held all the answers to life’s toughest questions. She glanced up when he walked in, her expression calm but weary. “Taylor?” she asked before he could say anything. Ethan nodded slowly. “Yeah. She picked us.” Isabelle let out a long breath, leaning back in her chair. “Figured as much. With Celeste Laurent involved, there wasn’t much I could’ve done differently.” “You don’t sound upset,” Ethan noted, surprised by her lack of frustration. “I am,” she admitted with a wry smile, “but not because I lost. This isn’t about winning or losing—it’s about doing what’s best for the project. And honestly? If anyone can pull off something amazing with Taylor, it’s A
Last Updated : 2025-02-11Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 1:Shattered Trust
Isabelle Rivers ran her fingers over the edge of the glossy wedding photo sitting on the table. She stared at the couple in the frame, their smiles frozen in time. The woman in the photo looked like a stranger—red-head, bright-eyed, radiant, and full of hope. Hope that had drained away, a long time ago. The reflection in the mirror beside the photo told a different story. She was the same woman in the picture but this time, she looked totally different. She was pale, she had dark circles around her eyes, and her lips were pressed into a thin, resigned line.The house around her was silent, except for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Richard hadn’t come home last night. It wasn't the first night that he had done this, but it hurt her every night. More so, when he didn't apologize or give a reason why he didn't come home. She tried not to think about where he had been or, more painfully, who he might have been with, but she couldn't help it. She also couldn't bring hers
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 2:Betrayal Runs Deep
Isabelle stood on the dimly lit sidewalk, clutching the strap of her bag. The cool night air was refreshing against her face which was wet with tears, but it did little to calm the storm inside her. She had no plan, no destination, only the desperate need to escape.Her feet moved instinctively, leading her toward the only place she could think of: her father’s house. The thought of facing him after all these years was daunting, but she needed help. Surely, he’d understand.By the time she reached the familiar iron gate of her childhood home, it was very late in the night. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the buzzer. A small voice in her head screamed at her to turn back, but she pushed it aside and pressed the button. She knew she might not be welcomed because of her stepmother but at least her birth father was in there too and he wouldn't watch her get abused and not do anything about it. A long pause followed before the speaker crackled. “Who is it?”“It’s Isabelle,” she said
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 3:Breaking Point
The house was too silent. The kind of silence that pressed down on Isabelle like a suffocating weight. She sat in the kitchen, staring at the floor tiles, her mind racing. Her cheek still burned from Richard’s slap, but it wasn’t the physical pain that left her feeling hollow and hurt. It was the realization that this was her life; a gilded cage where her voice didn’t matter, her choices didn’t exist, and her dignity had long been stripped away. She made the mistake of believing she could reason with Richard, but all it had done was make him angry. The slam of a door upstairs jolted her from her thoughts, followed by the heavy thud of Richard's footsteps. She stiffened and quickly gripped the edge of the counter for support. When Richard appeared in the doorway, his expression was cold and she could see the burning anger in his eyes, much more than before.“Get up,” he barked. “What now?” Isabelle asked quietly, not meeting his gaze.“Upstairs,” he snapped. “Now.”“I’m your wife, no
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 4: A Fragile Sanctuary
The hospital room was quiet, except for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. Isabelle stared at the ceiling, her body was too exhausted to move, and her was mind too overwhelmed to process everything that had happened to her.Her gaze moved to the man seated in the chair beside her bed. Liam Anderson. Thinking about it now, she’d heard that name before, long ago. But she really couldn’t place it. He sat there now, pressing his phone, his expression calm and composed.“Why are you still here?” she asked, her voice hoarse.Liam looked up at her, setting his phone aside. “Because you need someone to be here.”“I don’t even know you,” she muttered, turning her face away.Liam leaned forward, his voice, firm. “You didn’t know who I was when you asked for help, but I still stopped and brought you to the hospital. I could’ve just kept driving.”She sighed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just… I don’t know why you’re bothering to help someone you don't know. Plus, you look like a very
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 5: A New Start
CHAPTER 5: A NEW START.Isabelle ran fast, her breath running out, her heart beating fast like crazy, her bare feet slamming against the pavement as Richard’s furious shouts echoed behind her. She didn't want to look back,but she had to see if she was close, her heart dropped as she saw him actually closing in on her. “ Isabelle, I told you before. You're mine and you can never get away from me.” His face was twisted with rage, his hand raised, ready to strike.“No!” Isabelle cried out, her voice trembling with fear. Her chest rose up and down restlessly and her breathing became shallow and uneven. The sound of a soft knock on her door pulled her back to reality. Her eyes snapped open, her heart still pounding in her chest.“Isabelle, dear,” Mrs. Aldric called gently from outside. “Are you alright?”Isabelle sat up, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. “Y-yes,” she stammered, though her voice betrayed her unease. She had been staying with Mrs Aldric for about two weeks now without
Last Updated : 2024-12-05Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 6: Unwanted Attention
The next morning, Isabelle woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains, a huge difference from the unease that had settled in her chest the night before. She remembered the encounter with Dan, his smug grin and invasive questions lingering on her mind like a bad memory.She found Mrs. Aldric in the kitchen, humming softly as she stirred a pot of soup. Mrs Aldric greeted her with a warm smile. “Good morning, dear. Sleep well?”“Better than I thought I would,” Isabelle admitted, though she left out the part where she had tossed and turned at a point worrying about what happened with Dan and if he'll come back and cause trouble for her and Mrs Aldric.“Good,” Mrs. Aldric said, setting two bowls on the table. “You’ve got a busy day ahead. Saturdays are our busiest at the restaurant, especially with the tourists coming through. So we have to eat before setting out for work.”Isabelle nodded, grateful for the distraction. Sje needed to work to keep her mind occupied.---The restaura
Last Updated : 2024-12-08Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 7: Into The Lion’s Den
Isabelle stood in the kitchen, rinsing out a few dishes as the older woman bustled around, preparing her things for the busy day ahead at the restaurant.Mrs. Aldric paused at the doorway, turning to Isabelle with a thoughtful look. “Isabelle, I want you to stay home today.”“What?” Isabelle blinked, setting down the dish. “Why?”Mrs. Aldric sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. “Dan’s got his sights set on you, and I don’t want to give him another excuse to show up at the restaurant. I don't think he's been so focused on something like this, it only just lasts for a while, but what he said yesterday sounded pretty serious and I don't want to put you in danger.”Isabelle frowned, a pang of guilt and frustration tightening her chest. “But I can’t just hide here. I don’t want to be a burden to you. With the way I told him off and rejected him, he would know that I'm serious and stay away too, wouldn't he?”“You’re not a burden,” Mrs. Aldric said firmly, placing a reassuring hand on Isa
Last Updated : 2024-12-09
Latest chapter
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 77: Taylor's Agreement
The email from Taylor Monroe pinged into Ethan’s inbox. He read it twice to be sure—she'd agreed to work with Allison's team for the online campaign. The news was a victory, but Ethan knew delivering it to Isabelle wouldn’t feel like one. He found her still awake in their rented cottage, staring at her laptop screen like it held all the answers to life’s toughest questions. She glanced up when he walked in, her expression calm but weary. “Taylor?” she asked before he could say anything. Ethan nodded slowly. “Yeah. She picked us.” Isabelle let out a long breath, leaning back in her chair. “Figured as much. With Celeste Laurent involved, there wasn’t much I could’ve done differently.” “You don’t sound upset,” Ethan noted, surprised by her lack of frustration. “I am,” she admitted with a wry smile, “but not because I lost. This isn’t about winning or losing—it’s about doing what’s best for the project. And honestly? If anyone can pull off something amazing with Taylor, it’s A
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 76: The Battle for Taylor Monroe
The drive to Taylor Monroe’s estate was a long one, the city skyline shrinking behind them as Isabelle and Ethan drove further into the secluded hills where the celebrity resided.Seated in the passenger seat, Isabelle checked her notes one last time. “You think she’ll even consider this?”Ethan, focused on the road, smirked. “Taylor Monroe doesn’t do anything unless it benefits her. We just have to make it sound like we’re offering her the deal of the century.”Isabelle sighed, closing the file in her hands. “Laura is expecting me to bring her back on our side, but Monroe is known for rejecting events like this. She's doesn't attend events physically.”Ethan scoffed. “Well, Allison doesn’t even want her at the event. She just wants her digital presence. So, for once, I might have the easier job here.”The car slowed as they approached massive iron gates. A security guard stepped out of the small booth nearby, eyeing the unfamiliar vehicle.Ethan rolled down the window. “We have a mee
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 75: The Race for Taylor Monroe
The office buzzed with activity, but in Laura’s corner, tension simmered beneath the surface. She sat at her desk, drumming her manicured nails against the table, a usual habit of hers, deep in thought. It had only been a day since the Valmont Luxe project officially began, and already, Allison was making moves.Laura had overheard her team’s discussion earlier—they were planning to secure Taylor Monroe for an exclusive online campaign. It was a strong move, one that could give Allison an edge.That can’t happen.Her gaze flickered toward Isabelle, who was engrossed in work. A small smirk played on Laura’s lips as she formulated a plan.“Isabelle,” she called, her voice smooth but firm.Isabelle looked up, slightly surprised. “Yes?”“Follow me. We have an important task.”Laura led Isabelle into a private meeting room, shutting the door behind them. She turned, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.“There’s an opportunity we can’t afford to miss,” Laura began. “Taylor Monroe—she’s
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 74: Rivalries
The office was quiet as the evening settled in, the hum of fluorescent lights casting a soft glow over the dimming workspace. Laura and Isabelle sat side by side at one of the long tables in the conference room, surrounded by scattered notes, open laptops, and half-empty coffee cups.Laura tapped her pen against the table, her brow furrowed in concentration. "We need to create a buzz," she said, her voice low but determined. "Valmont Luxe’s grand opening has to be unforgettable. And that means collaborating with celebrities who can draw attention."Isabelle nodded thoughtfully. "I agree. But we have to choose carefully. Not just any celebrity will do—we need people whose image aligns with Valmont Luxe’s brand of luxury and exclusivity.""Exactly," Laura replied, leaning forward eagerly. "Think about it: A-list actors, top models, renowned musicians—people who command respect and admiration. If they’re seen wearing Valmont Luxe or attending our events, it’ll send a powerful message."I
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 73: The Second Meeting: Shadows of Competition
The evening air was tense as the team gathered in the same conference room in the evening. Liam Anderson sat at the head of the table, his sharp gaze scanning the group. Meredith stood beside him, holding a folder with neatly organized notes."Good evening, everyone," Meredith began, her tone brisk and professional. "Before we dive into the main reason we are here, let me clarify how I've divided the PR teams for this project for the sake of those that were absent this afternoon." She gestured toward Laura and Allison. "Laura will lead the Events & Partnerships Team, assisted by Isabelle. Allison will lead the Digital & Branding Team, with Ethan assisting."Liam nodded approvingly. "This division seems fair. Now, let's hear your initial ideas. Remember, Valmont Luxe expects nothing less than perfection from us. Let’s not disappoint them."Laura straightened in her seat, eager to prove herself. "Thank you, Mrs Hayes1, Mr Anderson," she said, her voice steady but tinged with determinati
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 72: A New Rivalry
The office buzzed with tension as Meredith’s urgent email flashed on everyone’s screens:“Emergency meeting. Conference Room. Now.”Isabelle grabbed her notepad and hurried down the hall, Ethan following close behind. Employees from Anderson Corp’s PR team also rushed toward the meeting room, murmuring among themselves.“Any idea what this is about?” Ethan asked, keeping pace with Isabelle.“No clue,” she replied, glancing at the flurry of activity around them. “But it’s definitely big if Meredith’s calling everyone in like this. It's for the best, I've been bored with nothing to work on.”Inside the conference room, Liam Anderson was already seated at the head of the long table, his usual composed self. Beside him sat two elegantly dressed representatives—a man and a woman—both exuding an air of European sophistication. The woman had auburn hair tied in a sleek bun, while the man sported a tailored navy suit and a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.Meredith stood at the fr
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 71: Laura's True Colors?
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
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 70: Unexpected Invitations
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
Contract 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
