Adriana confronts Matthew with intense anger and hatred, unable to forgive him. Their tense interaction is interrupted by Curtis Lincoln, a powerful and cold man from a wealthy family, who arrives at the hospital with a sharp warning about Natasha\u2019s brother facing prison due to illegal detention. Natasha is visibly terrified of Curtis, highlighting the power imbalance between the families. Matthew protects Natasha and dismisses Curtis\u2019s intrusion, but Curtis remains unshaken, showing his dominance in the situation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Curtis then shifts the conversation to Adriana\u2019s future, surprising her by acknowledging her talent and offering to fund her studies abroad in Pastalia. However, his offer comes with a strict condition: upon her return, Adriana must join the Lincoln Group, a prestigious company, and enter into a contractual marriage with him. Curtis makes it clear that this marriage is a business arrangement, not one of love, and he demands a child during their union, even suggesting IVF if physical intimacy is uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana, recognizing the opportunity this deal presents to escape her past and build a new life, agrees to Curtis\u2019s terms despite the cold and transactional nature of the proposal. She sees this as a chance to gain financial support and professional stability, contrasting sharply with the broken promises and emotional pain she experienced with Matthew. Curtis\u2019s pragmatic approach to marriage underscores the stark differences between him and Matthew.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Adriana prepares to leave the hospital, Matthew finally appears to take her home and requests her mercy for Rufus, Natasha\u2019s brother. Adriana\u2019s response is fierce and resolute; she recounts the brutal abuses she endured\u2014torture, blackmail, and violence\u2014and refuses to show any mercy now. Her refusal marks a decisive turning point, signaling her determination to no longer be a victim or controlled by others.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 26: No Mercy Was Given<\/p>\n
Adriana fixed Matthew with a fierce glare, her eyes blazing with pure hatred. \u201cMatthew! You bastard!\u201d she spat, her voice trembling with anger and pain.<\/p>\n
Matthew quickly averted his gaze, unable to face the storm in her eyes.<\/p>\n
Just then, a voice interrupted from the doorway. \u201cMr. Langford, arriving first thing in the morning with your lover\u2014was this supposed to be some kind of apology?\u201d Curtis stepped into the hospital ward, carrying a tray of breakfast, which he set down on the table with deliberate calm. His eyes, cold and sharp, immediately locked onto Natasha. \u201cI heard your brother took the fall for you? Illegal detention is a serious offense. He\u2019s probably looking at a few extra years in prison because of your mess.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha\u2019s face drained of color instantly. She gripped Matthew\u2019s arm tightly, fear evident in her every movement.<\/p>\n
It was clear as day\u2014Natasha was terrified of Curtis.<\/p>\n
And it made sense. The Lincolns were a wealthy, influential family in Harborton, their legacy stretching far beyond anything the Joneses could ever hope to match.<\/p>\n
Matthew instinctively moved Natasha behind him, shooting Curtis a look of irritation. \u201cMr. Lincoln, you seem to have too much free time on your hands, wasting your energy on people who don\u2019t deserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtis didn\u2019t flinch. \u201cWhether someone is worth your time or not isn\u2019t for you or me to decide,\u201d he replied coolly, standing his ground without a hint of backing down.<\/p>\n
Matthew frowned, then turned his attention back to Adriana. \u201cThink it over. I\u2019ll be in touch.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that, he took Natasha\u2019s hand and left the room.<\/p>\n
To Matthew, Curtis was nothing more than a wild card\u2014unpredictable and volatile. Everyone in their circle knew Curtis\u2019s moods swung without warning. If Curtis wanted to waste his time on someone like Adriana, then so be it.<\/p>\n
But Adriana would never be with a man like Curtis.<\/p>\n
Curtis settled into a chair nearby, his tone dripping with disdain. \u201cYou really went for that guy? Your taste is seriously questionable.\u201d He gestured toward the breakfast. \u201cEat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana gave Curtis a grateful look. \u201cMr. Lincoln, you\u2019re still in Haldoria?\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtis leaned back lazily on the couch, his expression unreadable. After a pause, he said, \u201cAfternoon flight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n
It was 15:46 on a chilly Saturday afternoon, November 15th.<\/p>\n
Adriana nodded silently.<\/p>\n
Breaking the quiet, Curtis spoke again. \u201cI saw your work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana blinked, surprised. \u201cMr. Lincoln, you saw my graduation project online?\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtis nodded once more. \u201cYou definitely have talent.\u201d<\/p>\n
A warm glow blossomed in Adriana\u2019s chest at his words. \u201cThank you,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m willing to lower the original terms of our agreement,\u201d Curtis continued, his gaze steady on her. \u201cI\u2019ll approve funding for you to study abroad in Pastalia this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana\u2019s eyes brightened with hope, though she looked at him nervously. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtis stood, towering over her slightly as he spoke firmly, \u201cBut I have one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her heart skipped a beat. She met his gaze, tense and uncertain.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you return, you\u2019ll join Lincoln Group,\u201d Curtis declared without hesitation. He had always been eager to recruit promising talent\u2014and Adriana was no exception. If he saw potential, he wouldn\u2019t let it slip away.<\/p>\n
Adriana paused to consider, then nodded slowly.<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t just a condition\u2014it was an opportunity.<\/p>\n
Even if she came back from abroad decorated with awards, without financial backing or a solid platform, launching her own business would be nearly impossible.<\/p>\n
And Lincoln Group was one of the top firms in the industry. Securing a position there was a privilege few achieved.<\/p>\n
Curtis looked her squarely in the eyes and added, \u201cAnd one more thing\u2014during the course of the marriage, I want a child.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana froze, staring at him in disbelief.<\/p>\n
So, this meant they had to be a real married couple?<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re uncomfortable with physical intimacy, I\u2019ll agree to IVF,\u201d Curtis said bluntly, \u201cEither way, before my grandfather passes, I want him to have a great-grandchild.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was no warmth or emotion in his voice. He wasn\u2019t speaking of love\u2014he was laying out the terms of a business deal.<\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n
Curtis valued Adriana\u2019s abilities and potential. That was why he approached the marriage as a transaction.<\/p>\n
In Curtis\u2019s world, everything had a price\u2014even marriage.<\/p>\n
Adriana understood this clearly. Curtis was not like Matthew. His desires were straightforward\u2014a deal with clear terms, leaving no room for false hopes or emotional entanglements.<\/p>\n
Unlike Matthew, who had once promised to protect her, to keep her safe, and made her believe in love and security.<\/p>\n
That illusion had nearly cost Adriana her life.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright. I agree,\u201d Adriana said without hesitation.<\/p>\n
She was willing to work with Curtis. She would enter into a contractual marriage, study abroad, and then return to work at Lincoln Group.<\/p>\n
As long as it meant escaping Matthew\u2014and finally living the life she wanted\u2014it was worth it.<\/p>\n
She was done being controlled. Done being trampled on.<\/p>\n
Curtis gave a small nod. \u201cGet some rest. After you\u2019re discharged, I\u2019ll have my man Kenneth come pick you up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n
Before Adriana was discharged, Matthew called several times but never showed up.<\/p>\n
Then, on the day she was released, he finally appeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here to take you home,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n
Adriana didn\u2019t respond. She simply walked past him, determined to leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout Rufus\u2026 Could you sign a letter of leniency? He\u2019s going to be sentenced no matter what. Natasha hopes you might show some mercy\u2014maybe help reduce his time,\u201d Matthew said quietly from behind her.<\/p>\n
Adriana stopped in her tracks, then turned sharply to face him. \u201cWhen they locked me in that equipment box at the university and left me to die, did they show me mercy? When they destroyed the hearing in one of my ears, stomped on my fingers, burned my eye with a cigarette, stripped me, and filmed it to blackmail me\u2014did they ever show me mercy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice was cold, filled with bitter finality.<\/p>\n
No mercy had ever been given. And she wasn\u2019t about to give any now.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana\u2019s resolve crystallized in the cold hospital room, her heart hardened by the betrayals and pain she had endured. The chapter closes on her unwavering decision to reclaim control over her life, even if it meant entering a calculated alliance with Curtis, a man whose cold pragmatism starkly contrasts with the broken promises of love she once believed in. Her refusal to show mercy reflects the deep scars left by past wounds, underscoring the theme of survival and self-preservation in a world where trust has been shattered.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The emotional tension between Adriana and Matthew lingers, a poignant reminder of the love that once was and the harsh realities that have since replaced it. As Adriana steps forward into an uncertain future, the chapter leaves us with a powerful portrait of a woman who, despite the darkness surrounding her, chooses strength over vulnerability. It is a moment of painful clarity\u2014a turning point where past illusions are cast aside, and a new, determined path is embraced.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled emotions and power dynamics between Adriana, Matthew, and Curtis. As Adriana commits to a pragmatic yet emotionally fraught alliance with Curtis, readers will witness how this decision reshapes her path, challenging her notions of freedom, trust, and ambition. The contrast between Curtis\u2019s calculated demands and Matthew\u2019s lingering presence sets the stage for intense confrontations and personal reckonings.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Expect the simmering tensions to rise as Adriana navigates the uneasy terrain of her new arrangement, all while grappling with the scars left by past betrayals. The stakes are higher than ever, with promises and threats hanging in the balance. Will Adriana find the strength to reclaim her life on her own terms, or will the shadows of her past continue to haunt her every step? Emotions will run high, and loyalties will be tested in ways that could change everything.<\/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 26 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-23937","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\/23937","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=23937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23937\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}