As the applause began to fade, Isabella could feel her heart racing, her mind in turmoil. She had just been kissed by Felix in front of all these people, yet Felix acted as if it was just another business transaction. Meanwhile, the taste of that kiss still lingered on her lips, a disconcerting reminder that this was no longer just about a contract. Her whispered curse had been a reflex, a way to vent her frustration and confusion, but it had done nothing to calm the chaos in her mind.Felix, on the other hand, seemed perfectly composed, greeting the guests with his usual charm and authority. It was as if nothing extraordinary had happened, and that realization only made Isabella’s emotions more volatile. She felt as though she was being pulled in two directions—part of her wanted to maintain the pretense, to keep everything strictly professional, but another part, a growing part, was finding it harder to ignore the confusing feelings that Felix had stirred within her.The tension in
CHAPTER 27The party buzzed around them, filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the hum of conversation. Emily and Isabella stepped out of the bathroom, their smiles tense but still present. Emily squeezed Isabella's hand one last time, her eyes silently promising to always be there, no matter what happened."Thank you," Isabella whispered, her voice almost lost in the noise."Anytime," Emily replied before letting go and disappearing into the crowd.Isabella barely had time to catch her breath before Felix appeared in front of her. His presence was like a shadow, dark and brooding. He handed Isabella a glass of champagne, his eyes searching her face.“Let’s talk,” Felix said, nodding toward the balcony.Isabella followed him, feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on them. The cool night air touched her skin as they stepped outside, closing the door behind them. The city skyline stretched out before them, a labyrinth of lights and skyscrapers.Felix turned to her, his face calm l
The elevator doors opened with a soft sound, and Isabella followed Felix down a quiet hallway adorned with elegant abstract art. Felix stopped in front of a door, keycard in hand, and looked back.“Are you sure about this?” Isabella asked, hesitating. The idea of living under the same roof, even if only temporarily, made her feel uneasy. She was already balancing too many secrets, too many lies.Felix nodded. “It's the only way to make this look real. For the next few weeks, every tabloid in the city will be watching us. They’ll want to see us playing the part of the perfect newlyweds.” He swiped the keycard, and the door opened with a soft click. “Just follow my lead, and we’ll get through this.”Isabella stepped inside, and her eyes widened. Felix’s apartment was immaculate, decorated in a minimalist style that exuded sophistication. Black leather sofas, glass coffee tables, and walls lined with bookshelves filled the space. Large windows offered a breathtaking view of the city skyl
CHAPTER 29"Felix, about Irene's insurance... I still feel there's something there, something we haven't figured out yet," Isabella said softly, her eyes searching Felix for answers.Felix nodded thoughtfully. “I agree. It's too much of a coincidence that Rudolf is the beneficiary of Irene’s insurance. This feels like a loose thread, something worth pulling on. I’ll talk to Nicholas about this tomorrow. He has connections, ways of digging up things others can’t.”Isabella sighed, feeling relieved that they had a plan. “Thank you, Felix. All of this has been weighing on my mind. I just have a feeling that Irene is in danger, more than we know.”Felix gently took Isabella’s hand, offering a comforting touch. “We’ll figure it out, Isabella. It’s late. You should rest. I'll walk you to your room.”Isabella nodded, suddenly aware of their closeness. She stood up, Felix following, and they walked down the quiet hallway. When they reached Isabella’s bedroom door, she turned to say goodnight,
CHAPTER 30The morning sun was already high in the sky when Felix knocked on Isabella’s door. She opened it, looking slightly anxious, already wearing one of Irene’s tailored suits. Felix noticed her nervousness and gave her a reassuring smile.“Ready to go?” Felix asked.Isabella nodded, but the tightness around her eyes showed her anxiety. “Do I really have to go to the office with you? What if someone realizes I’m not Irene?”Felix’s expression softened. “You’ll be fine. Just follow my lead. We’ve done this before, remember? Besides, the media needs to see us together, especially now. It’s the best way to keep up appearances.”Isabella took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “Okay. I trust you.”They headed to the car, and Felix opened the door for them. As they drove through the busy city streets, Isabella stared out the window, her mind racing. The burden of pretending to be Irene felt heavier today, especially knowing that reporters would be waiting at the office. She claspe
CHAPTER 31Felix sat in his chair, while Isabella and Nicholas faced each other on different couches. The atmosphere in Felix's study was different that day. There was tension. There was confusion, and there were many questions surrounding their atmosphere. Until finally, Felix's deep voice distracted the other two.Felix began. “So... what do you think, Nick?”Before Felix explained point by point, it seemed that the CEO of Alpha Company wanted to see what Nicholas thought of the 'Isabella cover' and 'contract marriage' that he had just learned about. If Nicholas had been a woman in the slums, it would probably have been horrendous news that immediately spread throughout the house. But until they returned to their desks, Nicholas had not said anything.“It's like... watching a television show, only I'm seeing it in the real version. A cover-up? Do you think this makes sense?”“It's a very natural response,” Felix replied, very relaxed.“Of course!” Nicholas replied, raising his voice
Isabella sat in the corner of the cafeteria, watching people enjoy their relaxed lunches. One hand was stirring the vanilla latte on the table. It had been five minutes since Isabella sat with her coffee, made of espresso, milk, and vanilla syrup, while pondering Nina Carpenter’s words.When Isabella thought about it, Irene and Nina were probably close because they worked on the same floor. However, ever since Isabella started posing as Irene, Nina had barely spoken to her."Did she talk to the Peter I know? The caretaker of the Rudolf apartment? Is he really connected to Irene’s disappearance?"Amid her confusion, Nicholas had just entered the cafeteria and scanned the entire room. Young women immediately invited him to join them; everyone was attracted to him. He was the second most popular guy in the office, with Felix holding the top spot. However, Nicholas’ brown eyes focused on Isabella, who was daydreaming in the distance. Nicholas smiled slightly, bypassed the people waving at
Due to Sophia's request, which had never happened before, Isabella was forced to lie to Felix, telling him she was going to visit her parents. It was a strange request, and Isabella couldn’t hide her worry.What if Sophia knew that Isabella wasn’t Irene?What if Sophia reported Isabella to the police for that?All these questions filled Isabella's mind. She didn’t even realize that her car had arrived at the Kingston residence. The large mansion, with its golden hues dominating the exterior, caught Isabella's attention."She’s really lucky to have been born a billionaire," Isabella muttered as she drove in.The mansion’s guard recognized Isabella's car, allowing her to enter more easily. Her black SUV, purchased with the money she earned from her writing, had to park alongside Mrs. Baker's luxury car collection. Truly ironic. But Isabella remained confident. After all, this was just an act.Isabella then got out of the car, stepping inside after two servants opened the doors for her.