Adriana had made a firm choice to reject the engagement and follow her architectural dreams abroad, showcasing her undeniable talent. Meanwhile, Curtis, frustrated and determined, instructed his assistant to find out which university Adriana was applying to and get contact details for her advisor, despite warnings that this might pit him against Matthew, who was backing Adriana\u2019s placement through the Jones family. Curtis\u2019s anger showed he was willing to cross lines to interfere.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana, isolated in a motel room, faced a harsh online backlash as her classmates turned against her, praising Cheryl and accusing Adriana of trading favors for attention. The cruel social media attacks left her physically trembling and emotionally wounded. Soon after, she received a distressing call from Lydia at the orphanage, revealing that inspectors had condemned the building for fire safety issues and it might have to close, threatening the wellbeing of the vulnerable children there. Adriana resolved to handle the situation despite the financial impossibility.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Adriana called Matthew to confront him, she was met instead by Natasha, who tried to coerce her into giving Cheryl the placement by threatening the orphanage\u2019s future. Natasha\u2019s veiled threats left Adriana devastated but determined not to give in. Meanwhile, at the Langfords\u2019 residence, Matthew struggled with his feelings as Natasha sought comfort and closeness. Yet, memories of Adriana and his unresolved emotions caused him to push Natasha away, leading to tension and confusion as he questioned his own conflicted heart.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
17 It Felt Like Ages Since Curtis Had Touched Adriana<\/p>\n
Adriana had made the right decision by refusing the engagement and choosing to pursue her dreams overseas. Her architectural talent was undeniable, too remarkable to be overlooked.<\/p>\n
Curtis loosened his tie and collapsed onto the couch with a heavy sigh. \u201cFind out which university Adriana is applying to, and get me the contact information for her advisor,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n
His assistant nodded quietly but hesitated before speaking. \u201cMr. Lincoln, are you planning to intervene on her behalf? The woman who secured her placement is connected to the Jones family. Matthew is supporting her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtis\u2019s jaw tightened, a shadow of anger crossing his face.<\/p>\n
So, Matthew had handed Adriana\u2019s placement to Natasha.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstood. Just do as I said,\u201d Curtis replied, his tone cold and indifferent to who he was crossing\u2014even if it meant going against Matthew.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in her modest motel room, Adriana sat up in bed, scrolling through the trending page on her phone. The entire class had turned against her. They were praising Cheryl like some kind of saint\u2014claiming she was smarter, better, and had a superior attitude. Some had even posted a photo of Adriana getting into Matthew\u2019s car, accusing her of trading favors for attention.<\/p>\n
Adriana bit her fingers until the pain was sharp, then flung the phone aside. Her body trembled as she wrapped her arms tightly around herself.<\/p>\n
So this was Matthew\u2019s first move.<\/p>\n
He was using the internet as a weapon to tear her down.<\/p>\n
The cruel words online were like invisible blades\u2014wounds no one could see, but they cut deeply.<\/p>\n
He knew she was vulnerable, yet he still went this far. That alone spoke volumes about how determined he was to remove her from the picture for Natasha\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n
Just then, her phone buzzed again. It was Lydia from the orphanage.<\/p>\n
\u201cLydia\u2026\u201d Adriana answered, her heart pounding. A call this late never brought good news.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdriana, some inspectors came today,\u201d Lydia\u2019s voice trembled with worry. \u201cThey said our fire safety systems don\u2019t meet code, and the building is too old. We either have to move or rebuild. But we barely have enough money for the kids\u2019 medicine and food. We can\u2019t afford something like that.\u201d Her voice cracked with emotion. \u201cThey said they know you. Told me to call you because you\u2019d understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the orphanage shut down, the children would be scattered to different places. Many had disabilities or struggled to fit in\u2014they\u2019d likely be bullied all over again.<\/p>\n
Adriana\u2019s hands clenched into fists, her eyes stinging with tears.<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2026 he didn\u2019t care what he ruined.<\/p>\n
He knew every vulnerable spot she had and was targeting them all.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Lydia. I\u2019ll handle this,\u201d Adriana said, her voice hoarse but resolute.<\/p>\n
After calming Lydia and ending the call, she immediately dialed Matthew.<\/p>\n
If he had a problem with her, fine. But why drag the orphanage into this?<\/p>\n
\u201cHello?\u201d a voice answered, but it wasn\u2019t Matthew\u2014it was Natasha. \u201cAnna?\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana froze, speechless.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should meet tomorrow,\u201d Natasha said smoothly. \u201cYou give Cheryl the placement, and you can ask for anything you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not doing that,\u201d Adriana replied, her voice rough and strained. \u201cAnd I\u2019m not meeting you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha laughed softly, a dangerous edge to her tone. \u201cMatthew has already contacted the authorities. Do you really want to watch the place you grew up in get torn down?\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana took a sharp breath and closed her eyes. Hot tears slid down her hand.<\/p>\n
Of course\u2014it was him.<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow, 2 p.m., Nera Club lobby. Be there,\u201d Natasha said sweetly, but every word felt like a threat.<\/p>\n
The Langfords\u2019 residence.<\/p>\n
Matthew stepped out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel. Natasha sat on the edge of the bed, his phone resting beside her.<\/p>\n
He approached and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. \u201cDon\u2019t stress. Adriana\u2019s just acting out. She\u2019ll give in eventually.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha stood and looked up at him. \u201cWhen you proposed, I didn\u2019t say yes\u2014not because I don\u2019t care about you, but because my mind is a mess.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew gave a quiet nod.<\/p>\n
She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. \u201cMatthew, stay with me tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes searched his, silently asking for a kiss.<\/p>\n
He leaned forward, ready to respond\u2014but then Adriana\u2019s face flashed in his mind.<\/p>\n
He remembered all the times she had reached out to kiss him\u2014and how he had always turned away.<\/p>\n
That memory hit him hard. Without thinking, he pushed Natasha away.<\/p>\n
She fell back onto the bed, stunned. Her pride was wounded, and tears welled in her eyes.<\/p>\n
Matthew immediately panicked. \u201cSorry, Natasha. I didn\u2019t mean it like that. It\u2019s just\u2026 you\u2019re not my wife yet. I don\u2019t want to rush things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha stood, turning away with red-rimmed eyes. \u201cJust go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
She left the room.<\/p>\n
Alone, Matthew kicked the trash bin in frustration and ran a hand over his forehead.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s wrong with me? Why am I thinking about Adriana at a time like this?<\/p>\n
It had been so long since he\u2019d touched her. And every time he did, it left him feeling restless, heated, and even more irritated than before.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The chapter closes on a poignant note, revealing the tangled web of emotions and conflicts that bind Adriana, Matthew, and Natasha. Adriana\u2019s resilience in the face of relentless attacks\u2014both public and personal\u2014underscores her unwavering determination to protect not only her dreams but also the vulnerable children she cares for. Despite the pain inflicted by those she once trusted, she stands firm, embodying strength amid betrayal and hardship.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Matthew\u2019s inner turmoil exposes the complexities of love and loyalty, as his thoughts involuntarily drift to Adriana despite his current entanglements. The emotional distance between them feels charged with unresolved tension, hinting at a deeper struggle within him. This chapter delicately captures the fragility of relationships strained by ambition, jealousy, and past wounds, leaving readers suspended in the quiet storm of longing and regret.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of emotions and power plays surrounding Adriana, Matthew, and Natasha. As Adriana faces mounting external pressures\u2014from online attacks to threats against the orphanage she holds dear\u2014her resolve will be tested like never before. The looming meeting with Natasha at the Nera Club hints at a confrontation charged with tension and unspoken stakes, where every word could shift the fragile balance of trust and betrayal.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Matthew\u2019s internal conflict grows more palpable, exposing cracks in his carefully constructed facade. His hesitation and unexpected rejection of Natasha reveal a complexity that may unravel alliances and ignite unexpected consequences. The emotional undercurrents swirling between these three characters suggest that past attachments and unresolved feelings will continue to complicate their choices, making the next chapter a compelling exploration of loyalty, ambition, and the cost of standing firm in the face of adversity.<\/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 17 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-23928","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\/23928","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=23928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23928\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}