Matthew remains calm but internally frustrated as he navigates the escalating conflict involving Adriana, Natasha, and Rufus. He views Adriana as selfish, not only fighting for a scholarship but also trying to drive a wedge between him and Natasha. Felicia warns Adriana to back down or face consequences, but Adriana stands her ground, prompting Matthew to warn her that she is \u201cdigging her own grave.\u201d Felicia insists that Matthew must take responsibility for Natasha and Rufus, but Matthew blames Rufus for the current troubles, stating that Rufus created the mess and must deal with it himself.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next day, Matthew arrives at the police station with lawyers, learning from his assistant that the Lincolns have sent their top legal team to defend Adriana, and that Rufus faces serious charges, including possible drug use. Surveillance footage and a livestream have implicated Natasha in locking Adriana up, making her defense difficult. Matthew suspects Curtis Lincoln\u2019s involvement is more than just kindness because Curtis is known for being careful and strategic. Matthew calls Curtis to inquire about the situation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Curtis confirms he is handling a criminal case involving someone close to Matthew and explains that he is acting on orders from Harold Lincoln, who was cheered up by Adriana and requested legal support. Curtis warns Matthew that Rufus is a liability and that it\u2019s better not to protect him, as he is likely to cause more problems in the future. Matthew acknowledges Rufus\u2019s problematic nature and decides to pressure him to admit to the illegal detention to protect Natasha. He also instructs his team to remove negative posts about Natasha online, but they warn that many people saw Adriana\u2019s livestream, making it difficult to clear Natasha\u2019s name unless Adriana cooperates.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
23 It\u2019s a Criminal Case<\/p>\n
Matthew spoke quietly, his voice calm and measured. He was careful not to let anyone from the Jones family catch on to his connection with Adriana. Inside, however, he couldn\u2019t help but see her as selfish\u2014she wasn\u2019t just fighting for the scholarship but seemed determined to drive a wedge between him and Natasha as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no point trying to reason with her anymore,\u201d Felicia snapped sharply, her eyes locked on Adriana with unmistakable disdain. \u201cShe clearly doesn\u2019t understand her position. I\u2019ll say this once\u2014take the easy way out now, or don\u2019t come complaining when things get messy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana met her glare with a steely look. \u201cAnd what exactly do you think you\u2019re going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s voice turned icy. \u201cYou\u2019re digging your own grave.\u201d Without waiting for a response, he pivoted and started to walk away.<\/p>\n
Felicia let out a frustrated huff. \u201cYou\u2019ll get what\u2019s coming to you,\u201d she warned, stomping after him. Muttering under her breath as she caught up, she said, \u201cYou can\u2019t just walk away from this. Natasha and Rufus are your responsibility too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s face darkened further. \u201cI\u2019ll handle Natasha. But Rufus? He\u2019s the one who created this mess. You all let him spiral out of control. Whatever happens now, it\u2019s on him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Felicia\u2019s jaw twitched, but she pressed on stubbornly. \u201cStill, he\u2019s family. Your future brother-in-law. You can\u2019t pretend like he doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I hadn\u2019t stepped in four years ago, he\u2019d already be behind bars,\u201d Matthew snapped, turning away in frustration.<\/p>\n
Felicia remained standing there, clenching her jaw tightly. That woman, Adriana, had stirred up far too much trouble. Sooner or later, she\u2019d have to be dealt with.<\/p>\n
The next morning, early and sharp, Matthew arrived at the police station accompanied by a team of lawyers. His assistant hurried over to him, voice tinged with panic.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Langford, the Lincolns have sent their top legal team for Adriana. Rufus\u2019s situation looks grim. These are the best attorneys Harborton has to offer,\u201d he said, clearly uneasy. \u201cAlso, there\u2019s strong evidence against Rufus. On top of that, he might be charged with drug use. It doesn\u2019t seem like he\u2019s getting out of this one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s expression darkened, storm clouds gathering behind his eyes.<\/p>\n
Why was Curtis always stepping in to help Adriana?<\/p>\n
His assistant hesitated before adding, \u201cAnd Natasha\u2026 The surveillance footage and that livestream caught everything. She was the one who had Adriana locked up. It\u2019s going to be tough to defend her now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew exhaled slowly, pulling out his phone to call Curtis.<\/p>\n
Usually, the Langfords and Lincolns avoided crossing paths. But Curtis\u2019s sudden intervention on Adriana\u2019s behalf felt off\u2014it suggested something deeper was at play.<\/p>\n
Curtis wasn\u2019t one to break rules recklessly; he was clever, always careful not to give anyone a reason to question him.<\/p>\n
Sending top lawyers for a mere assistant and backing Adriana out of nowhere\u2014this was clearly more than just kindness.<\/p>\n
After a long wait, Curtis finally answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re still in Haldoria?\u201d Matthew asked, keeping his tone neutral.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, got a few things to wrap up. I\u2019ll be leaving in a few days,\u201d Curtis replied smoothly.<\/p>\n
Matthew continued cautiously, \u201cI heard your legal team is handling a dispute involving someone close to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA dispute?\u201d Curtis responded evenly. \u201cIt\u2019s a criminal case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s face darkened further. \u201cCome on, Mr. Lincoln. No need to blow this out of proportion. Let\u2019s avoid unnecessary conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtis\u2019s voice remained cool. \u201cI owe her my gratitude. She cheered up my grandfather, which isn\u2019t easy. He\u2019s the one who asked me to send legal support. I\u2019m just following orders.\u201d Curtis wasn\u2019t naive\u2014he knew exactly how to play this.<\/p>\n
The Langfords and Lincolns couldn\u2019t afford a public feud. But with Harold involved, Matthew\u2019s options were limited.<\/p>\n
He wouldn\u2019t dare call Harold directly\u2014the old man was retired and in poor health.<\/p>\n
Matthew wasn\u2019t foolish enough to risk that.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it\u2019s Mr. Harold behind this\u2026\u201d Matthew muttered, swallowing his frustration.<\/p>\n
\u201cI trust you can see what\u2019s right and wrong,\u201d Curtis said plainly. \u201cWith the evidence already laid out, it\u2019s better not to protect someone like Rufus. That guy\u2019s a walking scandal. If he doesn\u2019t learn his lesson now, he\u2019ll keep causing problems even after you and Natasha get married.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew said nothing, but the furrow in his brow spoke volumes.<\/p>\n
Rufus was a liability. Maybe some time behind bars would straighten him out.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright then. Rest well, Mr. Lincoln. We\u2019ll talk next time you\u2019re in town,\u201d Matthew said, ending the call. He then turned to his assistant with a sharp look. \u201cTake the lawyers and tell Rufus there\u2019s no way out of this. If he wants to keep his sister out of trouble, he\u2019d better admit to the illegal detention himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
At this point, Matthew\u2019s priority was protecting Natasha. Rufus could handle his own mess.<\/p>\n
The assistant nodded and left with the legal team.<\/p>\n
Matthew rubbed his temple, then faced the PR team. \u201cRemove every negative post about Natasha from the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve tried,\u201d one of them replied cautiously. \u201cBut too many people saw Adriana\u2019s livestream. Ms. Jones acted without thinking this time.\u201d The implication was clear\u2014it was Natasha\u2019s fault. \u201cUnless\u2026 Adriana is willing to release something that clears her name\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The chapter closes on a tense and fragile balance, where loyalty and betrayal intertwine amidst the looming threat of scandal. Matthew\u2019s struggle to protect Natasha while confronting the consequences of Rufus\u2019s actions reveals the complexities of family ties and the heavy burden of responsibility. Meanwhile, Adriana\u2019s resilience and the unexpected support from Curtis hint at deeper undercurrents, challenging the established order and forcing each character to confront uncomfortable truths.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emotionally, the chapter underscores the painful cost of secrets and the relentless push for justice, even when it fractures relationships. The unresolved conflict leaves a lingering sense of uncertainty, as alliances shift and the characters grapple with the fallout of their choices. It is a moment of reckoning where the past\u2019s shadows refuse to fade, compelling everyone involved to face the consequences of their actions with courage and resolve.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The tension is mounting as Matthew finds himself caught in a web of family loyalty, legal battles, and hidden motives. With Rufus\u2019s future hanging by a thread and the Lincolns\u2019 unexpected intervention on Adriana\u2019s behalf, the lines between ally and adversary blur. The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the intricate power plays and the emotional toll this case takes on everyone involved, especially as Matthew struggles to shield Natasha from the fallout.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As secrets threaten to unravel and alliances shift, the characters will be forced to confront uncomfortable truths about trust, responsibility, and sacrifice. The looming question remains: will Rufus face the consequences he so desperately tries to avoid, and how far will Matthew go to protect those he cares about? Expect the stakes to rise, with every decision carrying weighty repercussions that could change their lives forever.<\/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 23 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-23934","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\/23934","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=23934"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23934\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}