When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 5

When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 5 Summary

Adriana confronts Matthew with raw emotion as he reveals his intention to propose to Natasha, making it clear that he will never marry Adriana. Despite their four-year relationship, Matthew insists that Adriana will never be more than a rebellious act in his life and offers her material possessions instead of love or a future together. Adriana, devastated but determined, plans to meet Curtis, hoping marriage to him will finally end her torment.

The next day, Adriana visits the Clarke Residence, a symbol of luxury and status where Matthew and Natasha live. Although Adriana has been to Matthew’s home many times, she feels like an outsider, trapped in a golden cage rather than a true home. She brings Natasha homemade cookies as a sincere gesture, but the gift is met with cold dismissal and suspicion, intensifying the tension in the room.

Natasha’s polite but pointed treatment, including giving Adriana disposable slippers while others wear proper ones, signals that Adriana is only a temporary guest and will never belong. Adriana’s fragile emotional state worsens as she recognizes former college bullies among Natasha’s friends, who have been invited by Matthew. Feeling isolated and betrayed, Adriana silently pleads for Matthew’s support, but he remains indifferent, leaving her vulnerable to humiliation and heartbreak.

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Matthew’s Proposal

“You’re proposing, and you want me to help your future wife? Matthew, how are you any different from Mia? Why do you have to be so cruel to me?” Adriana’s voice cracked, raw with emotion as her feelings surged beyond her control.

She couldn’t keep it bottled up any longer.

Matthew’s expression darkened as he fixed his gaze on her. “Still pretending you’re not starting a fight?”

Adriana struggled to catch her breath. The one thing she longed for—Matthew’s love—was something he would never offer.

“Even if I don’t marry Natasha, I’ll find someone else. Maybe a Cohen daughter, or a Hawthorne heiress, but it will never be you. Understand?” His words were sharp, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

Adriana had no family, no prestigious lineage. She was never meant to be a match for someone like Matthew. For him, bloodlines and status were everything. Taking her in had been his wildest act of rebellion, but a title? That was out of the question.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “I never expected you to marry me. I’m not foolish… I always knew this would end.”

“Adriana, you’re an adult now. Be realistic. As long as you behave, when this ends, I won’t leave you empty-handed. Pick any house in Haldoria. I’ll give you a car, money—whatever you want.” Matthew stood and stepped closer, his tone firm. “Be here early tomorrow.”

Her voice was hollow, numb. “I want to get married too, Matthew.”

He paused, mid-step, turning back to look at her.

“I’m serious,” she added, lifting her chin despite the tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Get some rest. I’ll pretend you’re just throwing a tantrum. When you’re ready to end this and settle down, let me know. I’ll find you a decent guy from the company. Middle-class, promising.” His voice was generous, almost mocking, as he turned and left the room.

He was convinced that someone like her couldn’t do better.

He had been patient enough.

He could give her anything—except marriage and a name.

Adriana collapsed onto the floor, a bitter smile twisting her lips.

He had shared his bed with her for four years. Now that he was done, he wanted to marry her off to some controllable nobody.

Controlling her now. Controlling who she would marry later.

Matthew was truly cruel.

But it didn’t matter. Tonight, she was meeting Curtis. Even Matthew wouldn’t dare interfere with him. If she married Curtis, everything would finally be over.

***

The next day, Clarke Residence No. 1.

In Haldoria, every billion-dollar mansion was a creation of Harborton Clarke Estates. Matthew’s home, Curtis’s Clarke Residence—they were the epitome of luxury and status.

Adriana had been to Matthew’s house many times before. As his intern assistant, she often picked him up here. But each visit left her feeling uneasy.

Perhaps it was because she was an orphan, but Adriana had always been haunted by the idea of what “home” meant.

Matthew kept her in a lavish apartment—one of the finest in Haldoria—but that was no home.

It was a golden cage, a place to keep her confined.

His true home was here. And she would never belong.

“Anna is here,” Natasha greeted her with a warm smile as Adriana entered.

Natasha stood there, radiating ease and confidence, perfectly embodying the lady of the house.

Adriana had once wondered what it would feel like to marry Matthew, to stand here as the mistress of this grand home.

But even entertaining the thought now felt absurd. She was an outsider, forever excluded from a place like this.

“Natasha, this is for you.” Adriana extended a small gift—homemade cookies.

She had baked them herself, as she used to for the children at the orphanage. Worthless in monetary value, but filled with genuine sincerity.

In Natasha’s world, though, no gift she brought would ever hold meaning.

Natasha smiled, opening the box, then glanced back at Matthew. “Matthew, I think I saw these same cookies in your car.”

Matthew’s face darkened, and the atmosphere in the room immediately grew tense.

He probably assumed Adriana had brought the cookies deliberately to provoke Natasha—and he was furious.

But Adriana truly had no idea which car Matthew had left them in.

“Oh, actually, Mr. Langford has been busy and skipping breakfast. I made extras, so I left some at his office…” she hurried to explain, her fingers trembling with nerves.

Her body reacted again—the psychosomatic symptoms of her worsening depression flaring up.

“It seems Matthew really likes your cookies, Anna. He even keeps them in his car.” Natasha’s voice was soft but sharp, like a knife hidden beneath silk.

Adriana kept her gaze lowered. The more she spoke, the more mistakes she made. Matthew would only think she was doing it on purpose.

“I don’t like them,” Matthew said flatly. “I probably threw them out. Felix must’ve dug them out of the trash and left them in the car.”

Felix Caillet—his driver and assistant—was a convenient scapegoat.

Adriana stiffened. Trash. The cookies she had risen before dawn to bake, burning her hands until they blistered—were just trash to him.

He was sending a clear message.

Natasha smiled gently and handed Adriana a pair of disposable slippers. “Relax. Let me introduce you to my friends.”

Adriana took the disposable slippers, while everyone else in the house wore proper ones.

That was a clear sign—Natasha planned to have her over only once.

Matthew had once told Adriana that Natasha was sensitive because of her previous divorce. But he didn’t realize Adriana was even more fragile.

An orphan, raised in a cold orphanage, Adriana had learned to read people as a means of survival.

Matthew noticed the difference in the slippers but said nothing. His silence was tacit permission.

A silent admission that Adriana would always be just a guest here—only once.

“Let me introduce you. This is Matthew’s assistant. Such a pretty girl,” Natasha said as she led Adriana into the living room.

Adriana bowed politely, keeping her head down, but when she looked up, it felt like she had plunged into icy water.

Six people sat there.

Three were her college classmates—the very ones who had bullied her for years.

Mia, Rufus Jones, Camelia Meyer.

Her body froze. Trembling uncontrollably, she glanced at Matthew, silently pleading for help.

Maybe Natasha didn’t know her past. But Matthew did.

He knew Natasha had invited them.

Yet he still forced Adriana to come.

Did he want her to break? To be destroyed?

Conclusion

The chapter closes on a poignant note of Adriana’s deep vulnerability and the harsh realities she faces within the gilded walls of Matthew’s world. Despite her longing for love and belonging, she remains painfully aware of her outsider status—an orphan caught between the cold expectations of status and the cruel indifference of those around her. The emotional weight of rejection and control weighs heavily on her, yet beneath it all, a fragile hope persists as she clings to the possibility of a future beyond Matthew’s shadow.

This moment captures the essence of Adriana’s struggle: the yearning for acceptance and the resilience to endure humiliation and heartbreak. The stark contrast between her genuine sincerity and the cold, calculated world she inhabits underscores the theme of isolation amid luxury. Though battered by cruelty, Adriana’s spirit is not yet broken, setting the stage for the complex journey of self-discovery and empowerment that lies ahead.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the emotional turmoil Adriana faces as she confronts the ghosts of her past amidst the opulence of the Clarke Residence. Surrounded by former tormentors and caught in a web of power plays, Adriana’s resilience will be tested like never before. The tension between her and Matthew is palpable, and the arrival of familiar faces from her college days hints at a confrontation that could unravel long-buried wounds.

As Adriana navigates this fragile moment, the dynamics between her, Natasha, and Matthew will become even more complex. Will Matthew’s silent complicity reveal a darker side to his intentions, or will Adriana find unexpected allies in this gilded cage? The next chapter will explore the fragile line between vulnerability and strength, leaving readers eager to see whether Adriana can reclaim her dignity or if the weight of her past will finally break her.

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.

The Comeback Queen’s Crown Novel Chapter 5

When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 5