Adriana and Eva share a quiet breakfast where Adriana reflects on the luxurious lifestyle of the wealthy, appreciating the confidence that comes from privilege. Her thoughts are interrupted by a call from Neville, who tries to persuade her to remove her online posts in exchange for a study abroad placement, but Adriana coolly refuses, reminding him of the abuse she endured and the threats she faced from the university.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shortly after, Adriana receives another call from HR at Langford Group, pressuring her to officially resign in person. Suspecting Matthew\u2019s involvement, she agrees to come by at 2 p.m. to sign the paperwork, feeling a rush of empowerment despite knowing her confidence is partly borrowed from Curtis.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
During breakfast, Adriana learns from Eva about Curtis\u2019s niece, Ms. Reese, who was raised by Curtis after her mother, his late private tutor and first love, passed away. Adriana senses there\u2019s more to the story and gently probes Eva about Curtis\u2019s unmarried status and past relationships. Eva reveals that Curtis\u2019s first love was his older tutor, but their relationship was broken up by his father due to social scandal, leading Curtis to leave the country in anger.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana is intrigued by the tragic romance behind Curtis\u2019s family history and enjoys the drama from a distance, grateful that her contract marriage shields her from emotional entanglements. She understands that if Ms. Reese is truly connected to Curtis\u2019s past, she may need to tolerate the niece\u2019s potentially spoiled and demanding nature.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 29: The Woman Before<\/p>\n
Eva hesitated briefly, then offered a gentle smile and nodded in agreement. \u201cAlright,\u201d she said softly.<\/p>\n
Adriana took a careful bite of the mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables and ground meat\u2014it was absolutely delicious. She marveled quietly to herself: so this was the lifestyle of the wealthy, where no one ever had to lift a finger or worry about the little things. The grace and composure she had once admired so much in Natasha suddenly made sense\u2014it was the kind of confidence that only comes from growing up surrounded by comfort and privilege.<\/p>\n
Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Neville calling. Since the last time she\u2019d involved the media, the university had been threatening to withhold her diploma. Now, he was reaching out again?<\/p>\n
\u201cAdriana, good news\u2014we\u2019ve secured your study abroad placement,\u201d Neville\u2019s voice was unusually sweet. \u201cThe university fought hard to get you an extra spot. So, um\u2026 could you maybe take down those posts you made online?\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana\u2019s lips curved into a slight, knowing smile. \u201cMr. Smith, wasn\u2019t that placement arranged by someone else, not you?\u201d she replied coolly.<\/p>\n
Neville faltered for a moment, clearly caught off guard, then tried to regain control. \u201cAdriana, this university is your alma mater. You shouldn\u2019t do things that damage its reputation. You should be grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana set her fork down and paused thoughtfully before answering with a smile that held a hint of steel. \u201cWhen I was beaten until I lost hearing in one ear, had my fingers stomped on, and was nearly left to die in the equipment room\u2026 what did you say then? Something like, \u2018If you report it or cause trouble, you won\u2019t get your diploma,\u2019 right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence stretched on the other end of the line. Neville offered no response, then abruptly ended the call.<\/p>\n
Adriana couldn\u2019t help but find the whole situation almost amusing.<\/p>\n
Before she could even set her phone down, it rang again.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the HR department from Langford Group,\u201d a firm voice announced. \u201cYou still haven\u2019t officially submitted your resignation. If you continue missing work without notice\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI already handed in my resignation,\u201d Adriana interrupted firmly.<\/p>\n
She suspected Matthew was behind this, using HR to corner her.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Xander, even with a formal resignation, you need to be present in person to sign the paperwork,\u201d the HR representative responded, conceding for the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. I\u2019ll come by at 2 p.m. to sign it.\u201d<\/p>\n
After ending the call, Adriana exhaled deeply. The sensation of gaining the upper hand felt exhilarating\u2014refreshing even. Yet deep down, she knew this newfound confidence wasn\u2019t entirely her own; it was borrowed from Curtis.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy breakfast?\u201d Eva asked warmly, her smile genuine.<\/p>\n
Adriana nodded. \u201cIt was wonderful, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eva smiled again. \u201cIt seems young, health-conscious women prefer lighter meals. Ms. Reese only eats light dishes, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curiosity tugged at Adriana. Curtis\u2019s villa had a bedroom on the first floor reserved for his niece, and from what she had seen, Curtis clearly adored her.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Reese\u2026 she\u2019s Curtis\u2019s biological niece? I thought Curtis was an only child,\u201d Adriana asked softly.<\/p>\n
Eva hesitated briefly before answering quickly. \u201cNo, she\u2019s not. Ms. Reese\u2019s mother was Mr. Lincoln\u2019s private tutor. She passed away some time ago and left Ms. Reese behind. Poor girl\u2026 she basically grew up under Mr. Lincoln\u2019s care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana nodded, Eva\u2019s explanation sounded plausible enough, but something about it didn\u2019t sit right with her. After all, why would someone take in their former tutor\u2019s child without a deeper reason?<\/p>\n
Could it be that Ms. Reese\u2019s late mother had once been Curtis\u2019s first love?<\/p>\n
\u201cEva, do you happen to know why Mr. Lincoln has never married all these years?\u201d Adriana asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.<\/p>\n
Curtis had remained scandal-free in Harborton, over thirty years old with no rumored girlfriends. No wonder Harold was anxious for him to settle down.<\/p>\n
But Adriana found it hard to believe Curtis had no romantic past at all.<\/p>\n
Just like Matthew, who loved Natasha so deeply he was willing to wait for her to divorce so he could marry her.<\/p>\n
Eva looked uneasy, clearly reluctant to say too much.<\/p>\n
\u201cEva, come on,\u201d Adriana encouraged gently. \u201cYou know Curtis and I are just in a contract marriage\u2014we\u2019re basically coworkers. It\u2019s okay. I just want to understand him better so I don\u2019t accidentally cross any lines.\u201d<\/p>\n
She wanted to learn more about Curtis because if this woman really was the daughter of someone he once loved, no matter how spoiled or demanding she might be, Adriana knew she would have to tolerate it.<\/p>\n
She was well aware of the kind of women the upper class raised\u2014women like Camelia and Mia, who were spoiled to the core.<\/p>\n
And Curtis? He seemed even more protective than Matthew. If he had been the one spoiling Ms. Reese, there was no telling how entitled she might be.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Reese\u2019s mother was actually Mr. Lincoln\u2019s first love,\u201d Eva said quietly, \u201cbut there was quite an age difference\u2014she was eight years older than him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana\u2019s ears perked up, completely captivated by the story.<\/p>\n
\u201cBack then, Mr. Lincoln was just a teenager\u2014eighteen or nineteen. Falling in love with his tutor was considered scandalous. Mr. Harold thought the woman was unsuitable. She was unmarried and had a daughter, and he believed she was deliberately seducing Curtis. So, he broke them up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eva\u2019s voice softened as she continued, clearly enjoying the gossip. \u201cI heard they had a huge fight, and Curtis left the country out of spite.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana listened in surprise, struck by how tragic this wealthy family\u2019s love story really was.<\/p>\n
She took another bite of the blondies, savoring the sweetness as she absorbed every detail.<\/p>\n
Contract marriage did have its perks\u2014no messy feelings involved meant she could enjoy the drama guilt-free.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
This chapter delicately explores Adriana\u2019s evolving understanding of the complex lives entwined with hers, revealing the hidden pains and sacrifices beneath the polished surface of wealth and privilege. Through quiet moments of reflection and subtle revelations, Adriana gains insight into Curtis\u2019s past and the delicate balance of relationships that shape their present. The emotional undercurrents of longing, loss, and unspoken history add depth to the seemingly straightforward contract marriage, highlighting the human stories that often lie beneath social facades.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the challenges and tensions Adriana faces, there is a quiet strength in her growing confidence and resilience. Her ability to navigate the pressures from Neville and the university, alongside her curiosity about Curtis\u2019s past, demonstrates a woman who is learning to reclaim her voice and agency. The chapter closes with a bittersweet appreciation for the unexpected comforts and complexities of her new life, suggesting that even in arrangements born of necessity, there can be moments of genuine understanding and connection.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled emotions and hidden histories surrounding Curtis Lincoln. As Adriana uncovers more about Curtis\u2019s past, especially his first love and the reasons behind his lifelong bachelorhood, readers can expect a blend of poignant revelations and subtle tensions. The delicate balance between Adriana\u2019s pragmatic approach to their contract marriage and the emotional undercurrents tied to Curtis\u2019s past will surely add layers of complexity to their relationship.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the looming pressures from Neville and the Langford Group hint at challenges that could test Adriana\u2019s resolve and independence. The power plays from those around her, combined with her growing insight into the elite world she\u2019s navigating, set the stage for conflicts that are as much about personal integrity as they are about survival. With Adriana\u2019s newfound confidence borrowing strength from Curtis, the next chapter will explore how far she is willing to go to protect herself and what sacrifices might lie ahead.<\/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 29 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-23940","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\/23940","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=23940"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23940\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}