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Chapter 80: The Calm Before the Storm
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2025-02-14 00:53:09
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Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 81: The Digital Event & The Scandal Breaks
Taylor Monroe sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. The dress she had chosen for the digital event hugged her figure perfectly, a custom design she had personally requested for. But Laura’s words echoed in her head over and over again."That dress would have been better at the opening event tomorrow. You might have just made the worst choice."Her fingers lightly tapped against the armrest, a habit she had when deep in thought. Was she making a mistake? Would this choice somehow backfire?Sensing her hesitation, her manager, Dianne, stepped forward. “Taylor, is there something wrong? What do you need?”“ Nothing, don't mind me. You know I never regret any decision I make, but this time, I'm feeling a little bit off. I can't believe I'm having a rethink.” Taylor spoke softly, making eye contact with her manager through the mirror. “It's all because of what that woman said earlier. Don't mind her and stop overthinking it. Miss Rivers said the woman is part of the event
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-15Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 82: Shattered Trust
Taylor Monroe sat in the dressing room, her hands trembling as she gripped the fabric of her gown. Her breathing was uneven, her heartbeat pounding against her ribcage like a war drum. Her reflection in the mirror was a cruel mockery—flawless makeup, a perfect hairstyle, an expensive dress—but her eyes told a different story.The event had gone from a dazzling success to a disaster in mere seconds. One moment, she was standing on stage, the center of admiration, celebrating her collaboration with Valmont Luxe. The next, her name was plastered across every gossip site, accused of embezzlement, fraud, and an illicit affair.Her hands curled into fists. Someone did this to her. Someone planned this.A deep sigh came from behind her. “Taylor, you need to calm down,” Dianne, her manager, urged, crouching beside her chair. “We need to figure this out logically. We can’t afford an emotional breakdown right now.”Taylor let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “A breakdown? Do you think I’m overreactin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 83: Damage Control- 1
The tension in Anderson Corp’s meeting room was thick enough to be cut with a knife. Ethan and Isabelle had just returned, their expressions grim as they walked through the sleek, modern corridors of the corporation. The weight of the scandal hung over them like a storm cloud.Allison stood outside the PR office, arms crossed, impatience etched on her face. The moment she saw them, she stepped forward."Where's Taylor? Is she okay?" she asked."She's okay. She's at her private house," Ethan replied. "Her manager took her there after reporters swarmed her place."Allison exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "Good. The media is like a pack of wolves right now, they're all waiting to hear her up."Before they could say more, Allison's phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced at the screen—Meredith."Come to the meeting room. Now," was all the message said.Allison's brows furrowed. She looked at Ethan and Isabelle. "Both of you, come with me. We need to report what happened."W
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 84: The Plan in Motion
The moment Laura walked out of the meeting room, the tension that had been barely contained snapped back into place. No one wasted time pretending things weren’t falling apart—because they were. The scandal surrounding Taylor was growing worse by the minute, and they all knew it. A lot of things were at stake. Valmont Luxe, Anderson Corporation and PR Horizon. The situation needed to be controlled very quickly.Ethan leaned forward, his fingers drumming against the table. "We need to find the financial manager. We can’t just rely on Taylor’s side of the story. If we get his statement, we might be able to shift some of the public's attention off her and onto the real culprit."Meredith sighed, crossing her arms. "That won’t be easy. There’s already solid evidence against him, and at this point, he’s likely on the run—from the press, the police, everyone. If anything, he’s probably throwing all the blame on Taylor, knowing that people aren’t even paying attention to him right now. Plus,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 85 - STEP 1: Catch The Financial Manager.
Ethan slid into the driver’s seat as Allison keyed the airport’s name into the car’s navigation system. Without wasting time, he pulled onto the road, his grip firm on the steering wheel. The tension in the car was thick, but Allison, as always, seemed unfazed."You’re awfully quiet," she remarked, glancing at him. "Anyway, when we get into the airport, we'll split up and look for him. Got it?" Ethan kept his eyes on the road. "Just thinking. This guy could be dangerous, and splitting up in a crowded place like an airport isn’t the best idea. What if you find him first and he slips out of your hands?."Allison smirked. "Please, Ethan. He’s a white-collar criminal, not an assassin. And besides, he wouldn’t dare try anything stupid in a public place. I might not have the strength but I have my way with words. I know how to make him stay. I'll keep my phone on call with you and I'll inform you of where I am if I find him first, so you come running, okay?"Ethan sighed but didn’t argue.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 86 – Step 2: Finding Out The Hidden Truth
Isabelle arrived at the quiet suburban house where Taylor Monroe was staying. She stepped out of the car, her heels clicking against the pavement as she approached the front door. The house was modest yet cozy, a safe retreat away from the chaos that had overtaken Taylor’s life. Taking a deep breath, Isabelle rang the doorbell.A few seconds later, the door swung open to reveal Dianne, Taylor’s ever-loyal manager. She looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes and a tense expression."Isabelle," Dianne greeted, forcing a small smile."Hey, Dianne." Isabelle returned the smile, though concern was evident in her eyes. "How is she? Has she recovered from the shock?"Dianne sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "She slept, but she hasn't touched her food. Not just today—yesterday, too. It’s been two days now, and no matter how much I try to make her eat, she refuses."Isabelle frowned. Two days without food? That was serious. Taylor was already under immense pressure from the scandal
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 87 – Step 3: Unraveling the Truth
It was already late when Isabelle finally returned to the company. The night air was cool, the city lights glowing dimly through the office windows. She stepped into the conference room where Ethan and Allison were waiting, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and anticipation.Ethan was the first to speak. “Are you okay?” His voice carried both concern and curiosity.“Yes,” Isabelle replied, dropping into a chair. “Just a long day.”Allison grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. “We couldn’t watch it live, but Meredith and Frank gave their press statement earlier. Let’s see how it went.”The screen flickered, showing the two executives standing before a row of flashing cameras, their voices calm and controlled as they addressed the press. Their words were measured—assurances that Anderson Corporation was handling the issue responsibly, vague statements about ongoing investigations, and subtle hints that Taylor Monroe’s involvement was more complicated than the public initially bel
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-19Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 88 - The Culprit
Allison sat in her car, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The picture had loaded on her screen, and there was no mistaking the face staring back at her. Laura.Her heart pounded with anger, disbelief simmering beneath the surface. The very person who had worked beside her, the one who promised to not do anything that will harm the project or Anderson Corp, had been the one pulling the strings to bring her down.The voice on the phone hesitated. "Ma’am, do you know the person in the picture?"Allison inhaled deeply through her nose, forcing herself to sound composed. "I know her too well," she said coolly. "Thanks for your help. I’ll reach out if I need anything else."She ended the call and tossed her phone onto the passenger seat. Her hands clenched into fists as she tried to make sense of it. Why? Why would Laura—of all people—want to ruin the very project that she was a part of? This wasn’t just an attack on Valmont Luxe or Anderson Corp. This w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-19
Bab terbaru
Contract Marriage With My Childhood Best Friend Chapter 122 – The End… Or Just the Beginning?
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
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
