Matthew Langford, a man in his thirties, exudes a powerful and relentless desire for Adriana Xander, an orphan who has endured much hardship. Despite their intense physical connection, Matthew makes it clear that he cannot marry Adriana, as he plans to be with Natasha Jones, his childhood sweetheart from a wealthy background. Adriana struggles with this reality, feeling bitter and rejected, knowing deep down that Matthew will never truly love her but only keeps her around unwilling to let go.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana\u2019s painful past is revealed through flashbacks of the bullying she suffered at school, especially from Mia Langford, Matthew\u2019s sister. The abuse left Adriana with physical injuries and emotional scars. Although Matthew initially appeared to be her protector and savior, his true feelings are complicated and ultimately disappointing. He treats Adriana as a temporary escape rather than a partner, deepening her sense of loneliness and heartbreak.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the Langford Group office, Adriana serves coffee to Natasha, feeling the sting of loss and insecurity as she watches the confident and elegant woman who will soon marry Matthew. Rumors circulate about their impending engagement and honeymoon, confirming that Adriana\u2019s relationship with Matthew is over. When Matthew orders Adriana to drive him and Natasha to the airport, it feels like a deliberate act to remind her of her lowly position and extinguish any remaining hope.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a moment of desperation, Adriana reaches out to Mr. Lincoln, a man who once offered to sponsor her studies if she agreed to marry him. This marriage proposal might be her only chance to escape the painful reality of her life in Haldoria and break free from Matthew\u2019s control. Mr. Lincoln invites her to discuss the details, setting a meeting for the 13th, giving Adriana eight days to decide her future.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 1: The Marriage Deal<\/p>\n
Matthew Langford, a man in his thirties, carried a raw and unfiltered desire that was almost palpable.<\/p>\n
Adriana Xander had lost count of how long he had been relentless. Her body felt as if it were unraveling, overwhelmed by a lust so fierce it left her gasping for air.<\/p>\n
Matthew knew every inch of her intimately, his touch precise and deliberate. Not a single caress was wasted; his movements were smooth, practiced, and sure.<\/p>\n
\u201cClear my schedule starting tomorrow. I\u2019m taking the week off. Book two tickets to Neocoralis,\u201d Matthew declared as he finally pulled away, standing beside the bed while slowly dressing.<\/p>\n
Adriana shifted her aching waist, a spark lighting her tired eyes. \u201cYou\u2019re taking me on vacation, Matthew?\u201d<\/p>\n
He paused, a slight frown crossing his face as he looked down at her. \u201cI\u2019m going with Natasha.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her smile faltered instantly, replaced by an awkward lowering of her gaze. \u201cOkay, Mr. Langford\u2026\u201d she murmured, the words tasting bitter.<\/p>\n
Noticing the sudden paleness that crept over her face, Matthew\u2019s tone softened slightly. \u201cAdriana, you\u2019re just an orphan. You\u2019re young. I can\u2019t marry you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She met his eyes, forcing a tight, bitter smile. \u201cI never expected you to marry me. But now that Ms. Jones is divorced and back, should we end this\u2026 affair?\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s expression darkened. He reached out to gently rub her head in an attempt to soothe her, then placed a card on the nightstand. \u201cBe good. Buy whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Langford, I don\u2019t want to be a mistress,\u201d Adriana said stubbornly, her gaze unwavering. She knew deep down he would eventually marry Natasha Jones.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re jumping ahead. We\u2019ll deal with that when the time comes. Don\u2019t throw tantrums. Whether this ends or not isn\u2019t up to you.\u201d Growing impatient, Matthew glanced at her one last time before leaving.<\/p>\n
As the door clicked shut behind him, Adriana\u2019s ears rang with silence. The world around her seemed to fade away.<\/p>\n
Adriana was an orphan. During her freshman year, her appearance had drawn the cruel wrath of Mia Langford, a wealthy girl whose bullying left Adriana deaf in one ear, with a crushed pinky toe, and almost blinded by a cigarette burn.<\/p>\n
Someone had recorded the abuse and posted it online, sparking a scandal that engulfed the school.<\/p>\n
The administration summoned the parents. Representing Mia was Matthew\u2014her brother.<\/p>\n
Perhaps to protect the Langford Group\u2019s reputation, or maybe out of pity, Matthew reached out to the battered Adriana. The first words he spoke to her were, \u201cDon\u2019t be scared. I won\u2019t let anyone hurt you again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spineless. Pathetic.<\/p>\n
Adriana had fallen for him. At her most vulnerable, Matthew fed every fantasy she held about love and safety.<\/p>\n
She once believed he was her salvation. But now\u2026 he didn\u2019t love her. He only refused to let her go.<\/p>\n
At the Langford Group.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Matthew had a meeting to finalize his handover. Natasha waited patiently in his office.<\/p>\n
Soon, they would be flying to Neocoralis together, ready to spend seven romantic days side by side.<\/p>\n
Adriana set a cup of coffee in front of Natasha, her chest tightening as if it were being sliced open. \u201cMs. Jones, enjoy your coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha glanced at her with a gentle smile.<\/p>\n
She came from a privileged background, perfectly suited to Matthew. Childhood sweethearts, she exuded a refined, elegant aura. Born into wealth, she moved effortlessly with grace\u2014just sitting there, her confidence burned into Adriana\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n
Adriana knew she had lost. She never truly stood a chance.<\/p>\n
A prince never really falls for a poor girl. He only uses her to pass the time.<\/p>\n
Setting down the cup, Adriana practically fled the office.<\/p>\n
Confidence deserted her. The label of orphan, the weight of poverty, the scars left by abuse\u2014all screamed insecurity from every fiber of her being.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Langford and Ms. Jones are going on their honeymoon? I heard they\u2019re official now. Once they return, the engagement will be announced. Both families have already given their blessing,\u201d coworkers whispered in the pantry.<\/p>\n
As Adriana poured herself a cup of tea, the boiling water suddenly splashed onto her hand, turning her skin bright red.<\/p>\n
The cup slipped from her grasp and shattered on the floor. Startled, she hurried to run her burn under cold water.<\/p>\n
Matthew and Natasha were getting married.<\/p>\n
That meant she and Matthew were finished. And so was her internship at the Langford Group.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdriana, Mr. Langford wants you to drive him and Ms. Jones to the airport at 11,\u201d a coworker called out.<\/p>\n
She forced a bitter smile. Matthew\u2026 was merciless.<\/p>\n
She knew this was deliberate. There were drivers available, but he chose her\u2014to remind her of her place, to crush any foolish hopes she might harbor.<\/p>\n
In the end, both Matthew and Mia were bullies, just with different methods of breaking people.<\/p>\n
One shattered her body. The other crushed her already broken heart.<\/p>\n
Pulling out her phone, Adriana hesitated for a long moment before dialing a number she had once blocked.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Mr. Lincoln. You once said\u2026 if I agreed to marry you, you\u2019d sponsor my studies in Pastalia. Does that offer still stand?\u201d Her voice trembled with uncertainty.<\/p>\n
Marriage might be her only escape from Haldoria, and the only way to break free from Matthew.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink it through,\u201d the man\u2019s deep voice replied. \u201cCome to Clarke Residence on the 13th at 7 p.m. We\u2019ll discuss the details.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 13th. Eight days left.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana\u2019s heart wrestled with the sting of rejection and the harsh reality of her place in Matthew\u2019s world. The love she once clung to, fragile and hopeful, was now shattered by his cold pragmatism and the looming presence of Natasha. In the quiet aftermath, Adriana faced the painful truth that sometimes love is not enough to rewrite the story fate has penned, and survival demands a courage that surpasses the ache of loss.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet, beneath the weight of despair, a flicker of resolve began to kindle within her. The prospect of a new path, though uncertain and daunting, offered a glimmer of hope\u2014a chance to reclaim her dignity and rewrite her future on her own terms. In the silent spaces between heartbreak and hope, Adriana\u2019s journey was only just beginning, marked by the resilience of a soul refusing to be defined by pain alone.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the chapter closes on Adriana\u2019s painful realization and her tentative reach toward a new possibility, the next chapter promises to delve deeper into the emotional turmoil that grips her. Will her decision to consider marriage as a means of escape bring her the freedom she longs for, or will it entangle her in new complications? The tension between her desire for independence and the shadow of her past with Matthew sets the stage for a gripping exploration of vulnerability and resilience.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Matthew\u2019s cold detachment and calculated moves hint at unresolved conflicts simmering beneath the surface. How will his relationship with Natasha evolve in the face of Adriana\u2019s quiet rebellion? The upcoming interactions may reveal unspoken truths and challenge the fragile balance of power among these characters. Readers can expect a delicate dance of emotions, where loyalty, ambition, and heartache collide, leaving everyone questioning what it truly means to be free.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 1 When Time Tried to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-comeback-queens-crown-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23912"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23912\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}