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Chapter 83 – A New Beginning
Last Updated:
2025-01-15 10:29:40
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Ties of a Contract Chapter 84 – Six Years Later
Sophia“Noah! Oliver! Don’t run inside the house!” I shout from the kitchen, as I hear the sound of small feet pounding down the hallway.The noise stops momentarily, followed by identical giggles that make me smile. Even after six years, I’m still surprised by how physically alike they are, yet so different in personality.Noah appears in the kitchen first, always the more cautious of the two. His steps are measured, calculated, so different from his brother’s explosive energy. From a young age, Noah has always been the observer, the one who thinks before he acts. Like now, standing in the doorway, studying the situation before making his complaint.“Mommy, Oliver took my dinosaur book,” he says, his blue eyes—identical to his father’s—full of indignation. “I was in the middle of important research on the Triceratops.”“I did not!” Oliver shows up right behind him, hiding something behind his back, his dark hair disheveled from running around. “I was just… borrowing it. And the Tyran
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Ties of a Contract Chapter 85 – Balancing Worlds
AlexanderThe office is quiet as I review the last reports of the day. Sophia left early for her meeting with James, dropping the twins off at school on the way. The house feels empty without their laughter, without the organized chaos that has become our routine.I pick up my phone for the tenth time, rereading her last message: “Meeting might take a while. James has big plans for the book. Love you.”James. Always James.The intercom buzzes, interrupting my thoughts.“Mr. Hawthorne, the twins’ school is on the line.”My heart immediately starts racing.“Put them through.”“Mr. Hawthorne?” the coordinator’s voice sounds concerned. “We had a little incident with Oliver.”“Is he okay?”“Yes, yes. But… he was involved in a fight. He was defending his brother.”I sigh, already grabbing my keys.“I’m on my way.”At the school, I find the twins in the coordinator’s office. Oliver has a scratch on his face, but his expression is determined. Noah stands beside him, quiet as always.“What hap
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Ties of a Contract Chapter 86 – Crossroads
SophiaThe soft lighting in the restaurant can’t hide the excitement in James’s eyes as he slides a folder across the table.“Look at these numbers, Sophia. Your book isn’t just selling—it’s breaking records in every market we’ve entered.” He leans forward, his subtle yet noticeable cologne wafting through the air. “Especially the Asian market. They’re practically begging for you. Just the pre-orders in Japan…”I leaf through the pages, trying to focus on the figures instead of the guilt churning in my stomach. Three missed calls from Alex. A message about an incident at school involving the boys.“Everything okay?” James’s hand hovers near mine, not quite touching but close enough for me to notice.“The school called Alex,” I say, pulling my hand back to check my phone again. “Something about Oliver.”“I’m sure Alex is taking care of it,” James dismisses with a wave. “We need to talk about the tour. Three weeks might not be enough—we should consider extending it to a month. We have t
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Ties of a Contract Chapter 87 – Choices
AlexanderNight falls as I watch Sophia helping the boys with their bath. Their laughter echoes down the hallway, mingling with their high-pitched voices arguing about which dinosaur would be a better swimmer.“Spinosaurus, obviously,” Noah insists, his voice loaded with scientific certainty. “He had aquatic adaptations.”“But the Mosasaurus was way bigger!” Oliver counters, splashing water out of the tub.“Mosasaurus wasn’t technically a dinosaur,” Noah begins, but Sophia intervenes.“Boys, less paleontology and more shampoo, please.”I lean against the doorframe, taking in the scene. Sophia is kneeling beside the tub, sleeves rolled up, hair in a messy bun—so different from the elegant author I saw in the lunch photo.“Dad!” Oliver notices me first. “Tell Mom I didn’t start the fight!”“We’ve been through this, champ,” I reply, exchanging a look with Sophia. “And your mom and I will talk about it later.”Dinner is a jumble of overlapping stories. Noah detailing every aspect of the s
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Ties of a Contract Chapter 88 – Reactions
JamesThe coffee in front of me grows cold as I reread Sophia’s message for the tenth time: “Two weeks. It’s the most I can do. I’m sorry.”My fingers drum on the café table. Two weeks. Half the time we needed. Half the opportunities. Half the potential.“More coffee, sir?” the waitress asks.“No,” I reply, then reconsider. “Actually, yes. And bring me the lunch menu, please. Looks like I’ll be having a meeting here.”After sending a quick message to Sophia, I put away my phone and open my laptop. The sales spreadsheets shine on the screen, the numbers telling a story she seems reluctant to accept.Twenty minutes later, she arrives, looking more casual than usual in jeans and a simple blouse. No makeup. No high heels like she normally wears to our meetings.“James,” she greets, sitting down. “I’m sorry, but I only have an hour. I promised the boys I’d watch their presentation at school.”“About dinosaurs, I assume,” I comment, unable to hold back my ironic tone.She raises an eyebrow.
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Ties of a Contract Chapter 89 – Discoveries
Noah“Is she really going to travel?” Oliver whispers in the darkness of our bedroom.I close the paleontology book I was trying to read by flashlight and turn in bed to face his bunk.“I think so,” I answer quietly. “But I heard her tell Dad it’s only for two weeks.”Oliver leans over the top bunk, his face appearing upside down. In the dim light, I can see he’s worried.“Two weeks is a long time,” he mutters. “What if something cool happens at school? What if I get my new karate belt?”“There’s video calling,” I try to sound optimistic, even though I feel the same knot in my stomach. “And she promised she’d be here for the science fair.”“Is James going with her?”The question hangs in the air like a heavy cloud. Even at six years old, we notice how Dad acts differently when Mom’s agent is around.“Probably,” I say after a moment. “He’s her agent.”Oliver pulls himself back up, and I hear the familiar sound of him grabbing his stuffed dinosaur—a T-Rex he got for his birthday.“I don
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Ties of a Contract Chapter 90 – Moves
AlexanderSophia’s laptop is open on the kitchen table, the new book document minimized in favor of the emails she’s replying to. I watch as she bites her lower lip in concentration, her fingers flying over the keyboard.“The publisher isn’t happy,” she says without looking at me. “James must have spoken to them.”I set a cup of coffee next to her. “That was expected.”“They threatened to cut the tour’s budget,” she continues, finally looking up. “As if that would make me change my mind.”“Will it?”She smiles, taking the cup. “No. Actually, it only made me more certain.”The sound of hurried footsteps upstairs interrupts our conversation. Moments later, we hear Oliver’s voice:“Noah! Give me back my karate uniform!”“It’s not yours, it’s mine!” Noah snaps back. “Yours is in the laundry because SOMEONE spilled juice on it!”Sophia rolls her eyes, amused. “Your turn.”I head upstairs to find the twins engaged in a tug-of-war with the white uniform.“Boys,” I say firmly. “The uniform.”
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Ties of a Contract Chapter 91 – Consequences
Sophia“Sterling Publishing is interested in the book rights.”I look up from the papers I was signing, meeting James’s gaze from across his office desk.“Sterling?” I frown. “I thought we had an exclusive with Royal Press.”James leans back in his chair, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips.“We did. Until you decided to cut the tour in half.”My stomach sinks.“They canceled the contract?”“Not yet.” He leans forward. “But they’re seriously considering it. Unless…”“Unless I reconsider the four weeks,” I finish, exhausted.“You’ve always been smart,” he smiles. “It’s one of the things I admire most about you.”Something in his tone makes me sit up straighter.“James…”“Sterling would offer a bigger advance,” he goes on as if he hasn’t heard me. “More creative control. And a complete international tour—not these miserable two weeks you’re settling for.”“I’m not settling for anything,” my voice comes out firmer than I expected. “I’m making a choice.”“You’re wasting it,” he retorts
Last Updated : 2025-01-15
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Ties of a Contract Capter 112 - Heart Codes
NoahThe silence in the elevator is deafening. Giulia is beside me, still in her blue wedding dress, a small travel bag at her feet. My ring - her father's ring - weighs on my finger, a constant reminder of this new reality."You have a beautiful place," she comments when we reach the penthouse. Her eyes scan the glass panels that reveal Manhattan at night."I never spend much time here," I admit, carrying her bag. "Usually sleep at the office."She smiles, that smile I'm beginning to realize means she's discovered something about me."That's why TechVision's sofas are so comfortable.""Would you... would you like to see the place?" I offer, suddenly aware that this woman now lives with me.The tour is quick. Gourmet kitchen I never use, minimalist living room, office with three monitors."And this," I hesitate at the last door, "is the master bedroom. You can have it, I'll use the guest room.""Noah," she touches my arm lightly. "We don't need to make this stranger than it already is
Ties of a Contract Chapter 111 - Algorithms and Alliances
NoahThe Plaza's presidential suite has transformed into an improvised operations center. Monitors display real-time stock quotes while Oliver coordinates security over the phone. In less than an hour, I'll be married. The idea seems surreal - I, who built my life based on precise calculations, about to marry a woman I met less than 48 hours ago."The stocks have risen 3% since the announcement," Allison reports, tablet in hand. "The market is reacting positively to the 'romance'. Social media is buzzing with the story."The press release was precise: TechVision CEO and technology researcher met during a field test of a new app. Whirlwind romance. Intimate wedding. The kind of modern fairy tale that the public loves to consume."Security has identified three photographers trying to infiltrate," Oliver informs. "And two supposed cleaning staff with fake credentials."My phone vibrates. Morrison: "Congratulations on the wedding. Say hello to the bride for me. Her father also had a rushe
Ties of a Contract Chapter 110 - Arrangements
NoahGiulia's reflection in my office window distracts me while I try to explain the situation to the board. She sits discreetly in the corner of the room, pretending to examine her tablet, but I can notice how her eyes occasionally meet mine in the reflection."Let me see if I understand," Marcus massages his temples. "You're getting married. In a week.""Tomorrow," Giulia softly corrects, without raising her eyes from the screen. "The trust has a temporal clause."Something about the way she pronounces each word with precision fascinates me. It's the same care she showed when debugging the app - methodical, precise, surprising."Tomorrow?" Marcus's voice rises an octave. "This is...""Necessary," Oliver interrupts, entering the room. He carries a folder I recognize: our parents' marriage documents. "And it wouldn't be the first time a Hawthorne marries for convenience."Giulia raises her eyes, finally. The blue of her iris captures the evening light in a way that makes me lose my tr
Ties of a Contract Chapter 109 - Checkmate
NoahThe cafe is emptier than the first time. I choose a table in the back, where I can see both the entrance and the emergency exit - a habit I inherited from our father after everything that happened with Morrison years ago.Allison has already sent three messages about falling stocks. I ignore them all. Right now, I need to focus on something more important: the woman who just walked through the door.Giulia is different. She's traded the periodic table t-shirt for a simple dress, but the colorful glasses remain. She locates me immediately, as if she knew exactly where I would be sitting."So," she says, sitting down. "Noah Hawthorne.""You knew from the beginning?"She takes a flash drive from her pocket, placing it on the table."Not exactly. But when I fixed your app, I recognized some patterns. My father used to say that codes are like fingerprints - each programmer has their signature.""And you recognized his.""The foundation of your system," she confirms. "Which made me res
Ties of a Contract The Algorithm of Destiny
NoahThe reflection in the mirrored glass of my office shows exactly what the board expects to see: impeccable suit, assertive posture, the young CEO who turned data analysis into gold. What they don't see are the disguised dark circles, the result of another sleepless night reviewing codes. From the 45th floor of TechVision, New York seems like a model, a complex data system pulsing beneath my feet.On the main wall, our mission in silver letters: "Transforming Data into Human Solutions". It was mom's idea - she always knew how to transform cold concepts into something closer to people."Mr. Hawthorne," my assistant calls for the third time, her efficiency slightly shaken by my distraction. "The app test is scheduled for this afternoon.""I'm going myself," I respond, ignoring her surprised expression. Allison has worked with me for five years and still gets surprised when I decide to do field work."But sir, the board...""Allison," I gently interrupt, "what's TechVision's first rul
Ties of a Contract Chapter 108 - The Algorithm of Destiny
NoahThe reflection in the mirrored glass of my office shows exactly what the board expects to see: impeccable suit, assertive posture, the young CEO who turned data analysis into gold. What they don't see are the disguised dark circles, the result of another sleepless night reviewing codes. From the 45th floor of TechVision, New York seems like a model, a complex data system pulsing beneath my feet.On the main wall, our mission in silver letters: "Transforming Data into Human Solutions". It was mom's idea - she always knew how to transform cold concepts into something closer to people."Mr. Hawthorne," my assistant calls for the third time, her efficiency slightly shaken by my distraction. "The app test is scheduled for this afternoon.""I'm going myself," I respond, ignoring her surprised expression. Allison has worked with me for five years and still gets surprised when I decide to do field work."But sir, the board...""Allison," I gently interrupt, "what's TechVision's first rul
Ties of a Contract Chapter 107 - New Beginnings
AlexanderThe house is quiet. The twins are sleeping soundly after a busy day at the park, and Claire took all the case documents to her office. For the first time in months, it's just Sophia and me.The night is especially beautiful, with a gentle breeze swaying the porch curtains. It's almost surreal to think about how we got here, after everything we've faced. Sophia is on the porch, wrapped in a light blanket, watching the moon. I approach quietly, offering a glass of red wine - the same label we drank the night we made our agreement."What are you thinking about?" I ask, sitting beside her."About how everything has changed," she responds, snuggling into my chest. "Who would have thought that meeting about my father's debts would bring us here?"I smile at the memory. "You walked into my office determined to negotiate. I never imagined you'd leave with a marriage proposal.""An arrangement," she laughs softly, her fingers playing with the wine glass. "You needed to improve your i
Ties of a Contract Chapter 106 - The Price of Truth
"UNMASKED EDITORIAL EMPIRE: Decades-Long Manipulation and Crime Scheme Exposed"• The New York Times"Matthew Morrison and James Cooper Arrested in Federal Police Operation"• Washington Post"Richard Bennett, Editorial Magnate, Found Dead in Bangkok: Suicide or File Destruction?"• The GuardianSophiaThe morning sun streams through the windows of our new home. It has been three months since that night at Sarah’s farm, and I’m still learning not to look over my shoulder every five minutes.Oliver and Noah are playing in the backyard—a fenced and monitored space, but still a place where they can just be children. Alex watches them from the balcony while working on his laptop, occasionally looking up to smile at me.My phone vibrates with a message from Claire:"It’s on TV. Do you want me to record it?"I turn on the television in time to see James being led into court. His last words before accepting the plea deal echo in the headlines: “I was just following orders, but that’s no excu
Ties of a Contract Chapter 105 - Last Refuge
Chapter 103 - Last RefugeSophiaThe rain lessens as I drive down the dirt road. In the back seat, the twins have finally fallen asleep, Noah still clinging to the rain-soaked dinosaur. Through the rearview mirror, I confirm that Alex and Claire are still following us.The headlights illuminate an old building. A farmhouse, isolated and apparently abandoned, except for the small beam of light escaping from one of the windows."This is it, my loves," I whisper, although the boys continue sleeping.Alex parks alongside, and Claire exits first, typing something on her phone."Security system deactivated," she informs. "You can come in."We carry the boys inside. The house is surprisingly cozy inside, with furniture covered by white sheets and an old fireplace."No one knows this place," Claire explains, closing the curtains. "It was my sister's refuge. Where she kept her discoveries.""And where she died," Alex softly completes.Claire nods. "Morrison found her here. Or rather, my father
