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CHAPTER 25
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The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 26
The Chicago skyline gleamed through Lucas's office windows, but he barely noticed. He hadn’t left the building in days, consumed by the investigation into Austin Blake’s involvement in insider trading. Sleepless nights and relentless meetings had worn him out, but Lucas couldn’t afford to slow down. Too much was at stake for his company, his reputation, and, more than he’d admit, his relationship with Emily. He clenched his jaw, glancing at his phone, hoping for a message from her. But the screen remained blank. The distance between them was palpable, and despite his focus on the crisis at hand, he couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at him. Emily’s image flickered in his mind, her quiet resilience and the way she looked at him with that touch of uncertainty, as though she half-expected him to leave.A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. Leo entered, his expression solemn as he handed Lucas another stack of documents.“Sir, here are the financial reports on Blake’s rece
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 27
Emily sat in her room, lost in thought. It had been almost a week since Lucas left for Chicago. She had just spoken to Dr. Maxwell, who assured her that her mom's vitals were fine after surgery, but she was still awaiting her mom's awakening.Restless and bored, Emily decided to take a stroll around the mansion. Her feet carried her to the library, but reading wasn't something she felt like doing. Instead, she picked up a sketchbook and pencils, dusting off her long-neglected passion for design. The past few months had been overwhelming - coping with her father's betrayal, her mom's health issues, and juggling multiple part-time jobs. Art had been the least of her worries, temporarily taking a backseat in her life.As she began to sketch, time flew by, and Emily found herself immersed in her creations. Janet ma’s gentle voice broke the spell."Lunch is ready, dear," Janet called out.Emily stretched, standing up from the library desk, and made her way to the dining room, feeling a sen
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 28
Emily lay in bed, replaying Sylvia’s venomous words in her mind. A cold anger simmered within her as she wrestled with the hurt, her heart aching from the betrayal she felt. Her phone remained silent, and with each passing hour, the silence from Lucas grew louder.Early the next morning, Emily couldn’t take it anymore. She pulled herself together and decided to confront this head-on.A few seconds after she made that decision, Emily received a message from Lucas, with a chilling undertone: “We need to talk. I’ll be back sooner than planned.”Emily's heart pounded as she read Lucas’s message over and over, her hands gripping the phone tightly. She couldn’t decipher his tone. Was he angry, hurt, or simply indifferent? That single line was like a bomb ticking away in her hands, each word a promise of confrontation.The rest of the morning was a blur. Emily tried distracting herself by tidying her room and pacing the mansion halls, but her thoughts kept circling back to Lucas. She had sp
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 29
The room was dimly lit, shrouded in shadows, with smoke from the burning incense. The only sound was the soft hum of the computer screens with its lights that lined the walls. Julian sat in his leather chair, his eyes fixed on the array of monitors displaying the media frenzy surrounding Emily, Lucas, and Sylvia.His gaze scanned the headlines, his mind calculating the implications:"Lucas Cole Embroiled in Love Triangle Scandal""Emily Vincent, Has She Been Replaced?""Sylvia Vincent Readily Accepts Romantic Involvement with Lucas"Julian's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation. He had been watching Emily and Lucas's relationship unfold, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Sylvia's involvement was an unexpected twist, but one he could and would definitely exploit. He watched with interest, his eyes gleaming with intensity."Perfect," he whispered to himself. "Sylvia's playing right into my hands."Julian's eyes narrowed as he thought about his next move. He wouldn't make a
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 30
A sense of unease lingered in the air as Lucas and Emily arrived home that evening. Emily's phone chimed as they were taking off their coats, and she checked the message, her eyes widening slightly."It's from your grandmother," she said, turning the screen toward Lucas.Lucas took the phone, his expression solemn as he read the brief but unmistakably formal message from Margaret Cole.‘Family meeting scheduled for Saturday evening. Full attendance required. Your uncle Landry and his family will be there.This concerns the future of the Cole legacy, so I expect no absences.’Lucas lowered the phone, his brow furrowing. "She's never summoned us like this before. Not with such urgency."Emily nodded slowly, sensing the gravity of the message. "Do you think it has to do with the company? Or... us?"Lucas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "With Grandmother, it could be anything, but the fact that she's making it mandatory and involving my uncle's family... that's rare. She must ha
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 31
The Landry ResidenceThe night lights cast long shadows across the opulent living room as the Landry family returned home after the tense dinner meeting with Grandma Margaret.Claire slammed the door shut, her face twisted in anger. "That your mother, she has lost her mind. Handing everything to Lucas?"Landry's eyes blazed with resentment as he poured himself a whiskey. "She's always favored him, Claire. But this is a betrayal, I’m clearly the one who inherits the company yet she handed the business over to her grandson?"Claire paced across the opulent living room, her heels clicking on the marble floor. Landry sat on the couch, his expression nothing close to calm, his eyes burning with resentment."How could she do this to us?" Claire demanded, her voice laced with frustration. "Handing the entire empire to Lucas, without even considering our family's interests?"Landry's gaze never wavered. "It's not just about us, Claire. It's about the company's future. She believes Lucas is th
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 32
The faint morning light seeped into the mansion, casting a cool glow through the large windows. Emily sat at the breakfast table, her eyes fixed on her phone as she scrolled through messages. She hadn’t heard back from Lucas since last night, and his absence felt like an ache she couldn’t quite ignore. Though she understood his dedication to his work, she longed for a moment to talk to him, to share her thoughts and plans.A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts, and Janet entered, setting down a freshly brewed pot of coffee. “Good morning, Mrs. Cole,” Janet greeted with a gentle smile.Emily returned the smile, grateful for the familiar comfort of Janet’s presence. “Good morning, Janet Ma.”“Did Mr. Lucas return late last night?” Janet asked, a touch of concern in her voice.Emily shook her head. “I don’t think he came home at all. He must have stayed at the office.”Janet’s brow furrowed. “He’s been putting in such long hours lately. This transition has been tough on him, especial
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 33
Emily's thoughts swirled as she lay in bed, Lucas's words echoing in her mind. College? Could she really do it? The excitement of possibility warred with doubts and fears.The next morning, Emily found Lucas in the study, sipping coffee and scanning documents. "Hey," he said, looking up."Hey," Emily replied, sitting beside him. "I've been thinking... about college."Lucas lifted his face. "And?""I want to do it," Emily said, her voice firm. "But I’m not sure, I’m scared. I don't want to fail."Lucas set his coffee down. "You won't fail, Emily. You're talented and smart. I'll support you every step of the way, I promise."Emily's heart swelled. "Thank you, Lucas. That means a whole lot."“Is there any specific one in mind?” Lucas asked her.“No, not exactly. I’ll just make some research.” Emily responded, thoughtful.Lucas nodded, his eyes gentle. “I’ll be here if you need anything.”Emily returned to her room, researching prestigious fashion design schools, exploring her options and
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The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 39
Emily sat at her study desk, lost in thought. Despite having her life under control, a nagging feeling persisted. She couldn't quite put her finger on what was missing. Frustrated and exhausted, she dropped onto her bed, sighing deeply.Just as sleep beckoned, her phone beeped with an incoming message. "Hey, Em! I hope you're doing okay." Emily's gaze drifted to the screen, not so interested until she saw the sender's name: Kayla.She shot up from the bed, screaming, "OH MY GOD, KAYLA!!!" Grabbing her phone, she dialed Kayla's number. After several rings, the call connected.Emily felt a surge of guilt. She had neglected her best friend for far too long. Her voice softened as she whispered, "Hey, Kayla...""How are you, Emily?" Kayla's voice carried a hint of hurt, despite her attempts to hide it.Emily's words caught in her throat. She had no idea where to begin. "I'm so sorry, Kayla. Really, I am." The line hung with uncomfortable silence.Kayla's response came slowly, "It's been su
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 38
The campus of Lumina Arts and Fashion was a hive of creativity, filled with students rushing around with fabric swatches, sketchbooks, and mannequins. Emily adjusted her bag strap as she stepped into the main building, marveling at the energy in the air. It was worlds apart from the chaos of her past life. Here, she felt a spark of hope, an opportunity to redefine herself. She entered her fashion illustration class, choosing a seat near the back. A girl with dark curls and warm brown eyes slid into the seat beside her, offering a friendly smile. “Hi, I’m Kathrine,” she said, extending her hand. Emily smiled back and shook it. “Hi, I’m Emily. Nice to meet you.” The two quickly fell into an easy rhythm. Katherine's bubbly nature helped ease Emily’s nerves, and by the end of class, they were chatting about their shared interest in sustainable fashion. During a break, Katherine leaned closer, her voice dropping. “So, Emily, you’re new here, right? What’s your story?” Emily he
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 37
Joel's eyes lingered on the door, his mind swirling with doubts. Could she be right? Was someone close to him betraying him? He shook his head, refocusing on the task at hand.The next morning, Lucas received an update on Vincent Media's financial status. The embezzlement allegations had sparked a frenzy among investors, and Joel's company was on the brink of collapse."Sir, it's getting ugly," his assistant, Leo reported. "Vincent Media's stock has plummeted, and there are rumors of a takeover."Lucas's expression turned thoughtful. This could be the opportunity he had been waiting for. He had watched how Emily was treated in that family and had vowed to return the favor, without Emily’s knowledge of course."Prepare a team to review Vincent Media's financials," Lucas instructed. "I want to know exactly what's going on and who is responsible.”Meanwhile, Emily's mother was making steady progress in her recovery. That evening, Emily finally got the call she had been waiting for. Emil
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 36
Emily couldn’t sleep after hearing the news. Her mother was awake. It was a miracle she had barely dared to hope for, and now, it was her reality. Every few minutes, she found herself looking at her phone, as if the call had been a dream. She would wait for that video call, but she already felt lighter, as if a weight she’d carried for years was finally lifting.Lucas noticed her restless energy as he came home that night. He set down his briefcase, watching her pace by the window, her eyes distant.“Emily?” he called softly, and she turned to him, her face alight with emotion.“Lucas… my mom’s awake,” she whispered, her voice trembling with joy.A smile spread across his face as he walked over, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Emily, that’s incredible news. She’s really okay?”“She’s recovering. Dr. Maxwell said she’s still weak, but… she’s awake.” Tears brimmed in her eyes, and Lucas gently brushed them away.“Then we’ll go see her as soon as she’s ready. I’ll arrange everything,”
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 35
At Vincent’s media company Vincent sat in his office his eyes scanning documents, he was rarely at the office and had a lot to approve, especially after signing a new business deal.Ryan, Joel’s trusted assistant and the company’s finance officer knocked on the office door, his expression grim."Sir, there’s something you must know about"Joel looked up from his computer, his eyes searching Ryan’s worried face."What's wrong, Ryan?"Ryan hesitated. "I've noticed some unexplained financial activities. Transactions that don't add up, payments to unknown vendors... I think we might be having a serious problem."Joel's expression turned serious. “How’s that possible? And why am I only hearing about this now?” He bellowed, his tone laced with undeniable anger."Get the board together. We’re having a meeting. Now!”The conference room filled with worried faces. Joel Vincent, stood at the head of the table, pacing to and fro every now and then."Gentlemen, ladies, It has been brought to my
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 34
Emily couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this nervous. Standing in the middle of campus, surrounded by students hurrying between buildings, she clutched her new books against her chest, inhaling deeply. The familiar scent of paper and ink filled the air, mingling with the crisp autumn breeze. She’d dreamed about this moment for so long, but now that she was finally here, it felt surreal.Her phone buzzed in her bag, and she fished it out to find a message from Lucas:“How’s it going, college girl?” She smiled, feeling her nerves ease a bit as she typed a reply. “Overwhelming, but good. Thanks to you, Mr. Cole.”“I’m proud of you, and I’ll see you later. You’ve got this.” He messaged back.Slipping her phone back into her bag, Emily took a steadying breath. She knew she still had a lot to learn, not just academically but about how to fit into this new world. But she reminded herself she had fought for this opportunity, and now it was hers.Back at Colecrest, Lucas prepared h
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 33
Emily's thoughts swirled as she lay in bed, Lucas's words echoing in her mind. College? Could she really do it? The excitement of possibility warred with doubts and fears.The next morning, Emily found Lucas in the study, sipping coffee and scanning documents. "Hey," he said, looking up."Hey," Emily replied, sitting beside him. "I've been thinking... about college."Lucas lifted his face. "And?""I want to do it," Emily said, her voice firm. "But I’m not sure, I’m scared. I don't want to fail."Lucas set his coffee down. "You won't fail, Emily. You're talented and smart. I'll support you every step of the way, I promise."Emily's heart swelled. "Thank you, Lucas. That means a whole lot."“Is there any specific one in mind?” Lucas asked her.“No, not exactly. I’ll just make some research.” Emily responded, thoughtful.Lucas nodded, his eyes gentle. “I’ll be here if you need anything.”Emily returned to her room, researching prestigious fashion design schools, exploring her options and
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 32
The faint morning light seeped into the mansion, casting a cool glow through the large windows. Emily sat at the breakfast table, her eyes fixed on her phone as she scrolled through messages. She hadn’t heard back from Lucas since last night, and his absence felt like an ache she couldn’t quite ignore. Though she understood his dedication to his work, she longed for a moment to talk to him, to share her thoughts and plans.A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts, and Janet entered, setting down a freshly brewed pot of coffee. “Good morning, Mrs. Cole,” Janet greeted with a gentle smile.Emily returned the smile, grateful for the familiar comfort of Janet’s presence. “Good morning, Janet Ma.”“Did Mr. Lucas return late last night?” Janet asked, a touch of concern in her voice.Emily shook her head. “I don’t think he came home at all. He must have stayed at the office.”Janet’s brow furrowed. “He’s been putting in such long hours lately. This transition has been tough on him, especial
The Billionaire’s Contracted Wife CHAPTER 31
The Landry ResidenceThe night lights cast long shadows across the opulent living room as the Landry family returned home after the tense dinner meeting with Grandma Margaret.Claire slammed the door shut, her face twisted in anger. "That your mother, she has lost her mind. Handing everything to Lucas?"Landry's eyes blazed with resentment as he poured himself a whiskey. "She's always favored him, Claire. But this is a betrayal, I’m clearly the one who inherits the company yet she handed the business over to her grandson?"Claire paced across the opulent living room, her heels clicking on the marble floor. Landry sat on the couch, his expression nothing close to calm, his eyes burning with resentment."How could she do this to us?" Claire demanded, her voice laced with frustration. "Handing the entire empire to Lucas, without even considering our family's interests?"Landry's gaze never wavered. "It's not just about us, Claire. It's about the company's future. She believes Lucas is th
