Matthew suddenly freezes, guilt briefly flickering in his eyes, but Adriana immediately rejects any sign of remorse from him. She harshly confronts Matthew, accusing him, his sister, Rufus, and Camelia of being bullies like those who hurt her, expressing her disdain and warning that they won\u2019t stay on top forever. When Matthew tries to plead with her, Natasha arrives, angrily accusing Adriana of clinging to Matthew, her boyfriend. Adriana retorts coldly, mocking Natasha\u2019s jealousy and past choices, which infuriates Natasha enough to raise her hand to strike her.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before the situation escalates, Kenneth Heath, Curtis\u2019s assistant, intervenes, protecting Adriana and reminding Natasha of her place. Adriana feels a surge of empowerment knowing she has real backing now and mocks Natasha\u2019s arrogance. Matthew, meanwhile, warns Adriana that Curtis\u2019s help is temporary and driven by self-interest, but Adriana acknowledges this reality and leaves with Kenneth, determined to use the time Curtis offers to build her own strength.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kenneth drives Adriana to Curtis\u2019s villa, where she is warmly welcomed by Eva. Kenneth presents her with a prenuptial agreement that Curtis has prepared. The terms are surprisingly generous, requiring only that Adriana bear a child for the Lincoln family, with no harsh conditions. She will stay at the villa until her studies abroad and maintain contact with Harold, who is very important to Curtis since he raised him after Curtis lost his parents. The marriage will be kept private, emphasizing the businesslike nature of the arrangement.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana reviews the contract and is stunned by Curtis\u2019s generosity, which includes a luxury estate after divorce, a substantial annual income, and inclusion in the Lincoln family trust with ongoing dividends. Unlike the small, humiliating gestures Matthew gave her in the past, Curtis\u2019s offer feels like a jackpot, free from pity. Adriana remains composed and cooperative, understanding that this marriage is a partnership to secure her future rather than a romantic fairy tale.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Matthew suddenly stopped in his tracks, his body stiffening as his Adam\u2019s apple moved nervously. For a brief moment, a shadow of guilt flickered across his eyes, but Adriana immediately found that brief hint of remorse repulsive.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Rufus beat me so badly I ended up in the hospital, and then tried to assault me, did he ever pause to show any mercy?\u201d Adriana\u2019s voice was sharp, cutting through the tense air. \u201cMatthew, you\u2019re no different from those who hurt me. From start to finish, you, your sister, Rufus, and Camelia\u2014you\u2019re all the same. Bullies.\u201d She stepped closer to him, her stare unwavering and fierce. \u201cPeople like you think you\u2019ll stay on top forever, but you won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAdriana!\u201d Matthew\u2019s voice cracked with panic as she turned to walk away.<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t explain why, but suddenly, he felt an unfamiliar fear creeping in\u2014like he was losing control.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdriana, please, just hear me out.\u201d He reached out and grabbed her wrist, his grip firm yet pleading. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean it like that. I was just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Before he could finish, Natasha appeared, her eyes immediately locking onto Matthew\u2019s hand holding Adriana\u2019s wrist. Her face darkened with anger as she shot a glare at Adriana. \u201cMs. Xander, you\u2019re free to refuse a private settlement if you want. That\u2019s your choice. But stop clinging to my boyfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his forehead before finally releasing Adriana\u2019s wrist.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Jones,\u201d Adriana retorted coldly, \u201cinstead of wasting your time being jealous, maybe you should take a good look at yourself. You married someone else for your family\u2019s sake, and now that you\u2019ve been discarded, you\u2019re crawling back looking for a replacement.\u201d She glanced at Matthew with a mocking smile. \u201cMaybe when I was younger and na\u00efve, I had a thing for junk food. But I\u2019ve grown up. I\u2019m no longer interested in trash.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha\u2019s face flushed red with fury. Humiliated, she raised her hand sharply, ready to slap Adriana.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Xander, Mr. Lincoln sent me to pick you up,\u201d a cold, authoritative voice interrupted. Kenneth Heath, Curtis\u2019s assistant, stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Adriana.<\/p>\n
Adriana turned to look at Natasha, who was now seething with rage but dared not challenge Kenneth. A small, triumphant laugh escaped Adriana\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n
So this was what it felt like to have real power backing you.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooks like even you can be scared, Ms. Jones,\u201d Adriana said with a mocking grin. \u201cI always thought someone like you acted like the law didn\u2019t apply to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha clenched her fists in frustration and shot a glare at Matthew. \u201cMatthew, did you hear what she just said\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew rubbed his temples, his voice low and steady. \u201cAdriana, come here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He wanted her to comply. \u201cCurtis might be helping you now, but he won\u2019t be around forever. He\u2019s only involved because he sees some temporary benefit in you. You understand that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
That was the cold calculation of businessmen\u2014everything boiled down to value.<\/p>\n
Matthew believed Curtis was no different. If there was no advantage to be gained, Curtis wouldn\u2019t waste his time.<\/p>\n
Adriana met Matthew\u2019s gaze squarely. \u201cI know he won\u2019t be there for me forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Without another word, she turned and left with Kenneth.<\/p>\n
She understood all too well that no one could protect her indefinitely. That was exactly why she had to use the time Curtis was offering to build a version of herself strong enough to stand on her own.<\/p>\n
Kenneth drove her to Curtis\u2019s villa within the luxurious Haldoria-Clarke Residence. The moment she stepped inside, the same gentle Eva who had greeted her before opened the door with a warm smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Xander, it\u2019s good to see you again,\u201d Eva said softly, handing Adriana a glass of warm water.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d Adriana replied, returning the smile with a quiet nod.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can stay here until you leave for your studies abroad,\u201d Kenneth said politely. Then, he pulled out a folder and handed it to her. \u201cThis is the prenuptial agreement. Please review it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana flipped through the papers. Curtis\u2019s terms were surprisingly generous. Aside from the requirement that she bear a child for the Lincoln family during their marriage, there were no overly harsh conditions.<\/p>\n
She would spend more time with Harold and keep in touch regularly through video calls while abroad.<\/p>\n
It was clear Curtis cared deeply for Harold.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Lincoln lost his parents when he was young,\u201d Kenneth explained. \u201cIt was Mr. Harold who raised him, so he means a great deal to Curtis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana nodded thoughtfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis marriage will be kept private,\u201d Kenneth added. \u201cOther than Mr. Harold, no one else needs to know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even Kenneth\u2019s tone was strictly businesslike. Everyone involved understood this was a partnership, not a fairy tale romance\u2014there was no room for sentimentality.<\/p>\n
Adriana nodded again, showing her understanding.<\/p>\n
Noticing her composed and cooperative demeanor, Kenneth found himself quietly impressed. His voice softened slightly. \u201cMs. Xander, if you have any additional terms\u2014housing, cars, money\u2014please let me know. I\u2019ll inform Mr. Lincoln, and we can add them to the agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was subtly reminding her that she could ask for more. Curtis could easily afford it.<\/p>\n
Adriana glanced over the contract once more. Honestly, Curtis was already offering an extraordinary deal.<\/p>\n
After the divorce, she would receive Clarke Residence\u2014a luxury estate valued at over a hundred million dollars. She\u2019d also get thirty million dollars annually, with the amount increasing the longer the marriage lasted. Additionally, she would be added to the Lincoln family trust, receiving monthly dividends even after the marriage ended.<\/p>\n
This was no small amount.<\/p>\n
All in all, Curtis\u2019s generosity stunned Adriana.<\/p>\n
Back then, Matthew had only ever given her small tokens\u2014tiny sums of money after she\u2019d been hurt, a few tens of thousands here and there. He always made it seem like a grand gesture, but it only left her feeling ashamed and diminished.<\/p>\n
But Curtis? He was offering so much, and Adriana didn\u2019t feel humiliated for a second. This wasn\u2019t pity\u2014it was like hitting the jackpot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Adriana walked away from the confrontation, a quiet strength settled within her. She recognized the harsh truths laid bare\u2014the cruelty she had endured, the fleeting nature of alliances, and the cold calculations that governed the lives around her. Yet, instead of breaking under the weight of betrayal and bitterness, she chose to embrace the power and protection now offered by Curtis, not as a crutch but as a stepping stone toward her own independence. The chapter closes on a note of resilience, with Adriana poised to reclaim control over her life and future.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The contrast between Matthew\u2019s empty gestures and Curtis\u2019s genuine support underscored a pivotal shift in Adriana\u2019s journey. No longer willing to accept scraps or be diminished, she now stood on the cusp of a new chapter\u2014one where dignity, security, and self-worth were hers to command. The emotional turmoil of the past had forged her into someone ready to face whatever came next, armed not just with wealth or influence, but with a clear-eyed resolve to build a life on her own terms.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the complex dynamics between Adriana, Curtis, and the ever-present shadows of her past. As Adriana navigates the terms of the prenuptial agreement, the true nature of her alliance with Curtis will begin to unfold, revealing not just the practicalities of their arrangement but the emotional undercurrents that neither of them can fully control. The contrast between Curtis\u2019s calculated generosity and Matthew\u2019s desperate attempts to cling on sets the stage for a tension that could either empower Adriana or threaten to pull her back into old wounds.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emotions will run high as Adriana grapples with her growing sense of autonomy and the inevitable question of trust\u2014both in herself and in those around her. The protective presence of Kenneth hints at unseen forces at play, while Natasha\u2019s simmering fury suggests that the conflicts from Adriana\u2019s past are far from over. Readers can expect a delicate balance of power, vulnerability, and resilience, leaving them eager to see how Adriana will assert her strength in the face of lingering threats and uncertain alliances.<\/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 27 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-23938","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\/23938","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=23938"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23938\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}