Matthew\u2019s anger intensifies as he impulsively drags Adriana into his office, ignoring Natasha\u2019s presence and the watching employees. Inside, he confronts Adriana, accusing her of being manipulated by Curtis and questioning her motives. Adriana, however, counters by reminding Matthew of his own past actions\u2014how he once took her away from campus not out of care but to protect his family\u2019s reputation, and how she suffered greatly because of the Langford Group\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The conversation reveals deep wounds and resentment. Adriana recounts the physical and emotional trauma she endured, emphasizing that no amount of money Matthew spent on her could compensate for her pain. She challenges Matthew\u2019s priorities, pointing out how he spared Mia from jail with massive investments but never truly valued her. Matthew\u2019s frustration grows as he questions Adriana\u2019s relationship with Curtis, but Adriana remains defiant, asserting her choice for financial security and independence.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the tension escalates, Matthew\u2019s controlling nature becomes evident when he demands to know if Curtis has physically touched Adriana, revealing his possessiveness rather than genuine concern. Adriana reflects on her younger self\u2019s infatuation with Matthew, recognizing now that his actions were more about control than love. Despite Matthew\u2019s fury and attempts to assert dominance, Adriana firmly rejects his plans for her life and marriage, asserting her autonomy and revealing Curtis\u2019s promise to rebuild the orphanage as part of their arrangement.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Matthew is taken aback by this revelation, realizing Curtis\u2019s offer is far more generous and meaningful than anything he has done. Faced with the possibility of losing Adriana, Matthew finally agrees to match the thirty million a year offer, pleading for her to stay with him as before and avoid marrying anyone else. The chapter ends with a tense standoff between Matthew\u2019s desperation and Adriana\u2019s determination to choose her own path.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32: Not Worth the Price<\/p>\n
The more Matthew dwelled on the situation, the deeper his anger grew. Completely forgetting Natasha was standing right there, in front of the gathered employees, he abruptly grabbed Adriana\u2019s wrist and pulled her into his office, slamming the door behind them with a sharp bang.<\/p>\n
Natasha stood frozen, her eyes flickering nervously toward the curious onlookers who had been watching the tense scene unfold. Originally, she had hoped to see Adriana humiliated, the center of everyone\u2019s ridicule. But now, the tables had turned\u2014she was the one who looked foolish.<\/p>\n
Inside the office, Matthew\u2019s face was a storm of frustration and fury as he glared at Adriana. \u201cWho got you that position? Was it Curtis? Do you even realize he\u2019s only getting close to you for his own reasons?\u201d His voice was sharp, accusing.<\/p>\n
Adriana met his gaze steadily. \u201cAnd who hasn\u2019t gotten close to me for their own reasons? When you took me away from campus that day, wasn\u2019t that because you had your own agenda? You just wanted to protect the Langford Group\u2019s reputation. You were scared I\u2019d call the police and ruin your family\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s expression shifted to one of guilt, his eyes dropping to the floor. \u201cAdriana, do you really have to keep dragging up the past? I\u2019ve been trying to make amends for years. Haven\u2019t I treated you well?\u201d<\/p>\n
A bitter laugh escaped Adriana\u2019s lips. \u201cTreated me well? If I had gone to the police, Mia, Rufus, and Camelia would\u2019ve faced serious criminal charges. I lost hearing in my left ear forever, broke multiple bones, and almost lost my eyesight! Do you have any idea how many years they\u2019d have gotten for that?\u201d<\/p>\n
All the money Matthew had spent on her rent, tuition, and living expenses over the years couldn\u2019t even begin to cover what they owed her in pain and suffering.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew, would you really have let Mia go to jail?\u201d Adriana asked, her voice steady but laced with pain. \u201cI heard she once smashed a bottle over some rich girl\u2019s head at a bar. You spent nearly ten million and gave up a huge project just to get the other side to forgive her, didn\u2019t you? So I\u2019m not worth that kind of investment?\u201d<\/p>\n
Because she was an orphan, vulnerable and easy to manipulate. When she was a teenager, with no life experience, Matthew had fooled her with nothing more than cake and flowers\u2014and she had fallen for it completely.<\/p>\n
Over the years, whenever Matthew visited, he\u2019d charm her with small gifts: cupcakes, ice cream, bouquets of flowers. The gestures weren\u2019t bad in themselves, but they always felt hollow\u2014like he never truly put his heart into them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, what you\u2019re saying is I didn\u2019t give you enough?\u201d Matthew\u2019s glare sharpened as he yanked her closer. \u201cWhat about Curtis? What promises did he make you? Are you really so desperate that you\u2019d throw yourself at him just to be his lover?\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana struggled to push him away. \u201cYes, I am. Curtis promised me thirty million a year. Can you match that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew frowned deeply, his eyes blazing with rage.<\/p>\n
Adriana laughed quietly, knowing that money wasn\u2019t the real issue. Matthew could easily offer more\u2014he just didn\u2019t believe she was worth it.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he touch you?\u201d Matthew snapped, losing control as he demanded to know if Curtis had been with her.<\/p>\n
Adriana remained silent, so Matthew grabbed her chin roughly and shouted again, \u201cI asked you\u2014did he touch you?!\u201d<\/p>\n
She had seen this side of him before. Three years ago, when her depression was at its worst and she couldn\u2019t stay away from him, Matthew had kept her close. He often invited her to his private parties with friends.<\/p>\n
One night, a wealthy kid got drunk and tried to hit on her. Matthew had lost his temper and punched the guy.<\/p>\n
Now, Adriana finally understood why her younger self had fallen so hard for him.<\/p>\n
Someone like Matthew\u2014powerful, radiant wherever he went\u2014was willing to buy her flowers and cakes, to lift her spirits, to fight for her, to give her a home.<\/p>\n
How could she not fall for him?<\/p>\n
She had been just a clueless teenager back then.<\/p>\n
But now, with clearer eyes, she realized that when Matthew fought that night, it wasn\u2019t truly for her\u2014it was for himself.<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t bear the thought of anyone touching what he considered his possession. He was protecting what he thought belonged to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew, let Anna talk to Jimmy alone,\u201d Natasha said softly from outside the door, having finally calmed enough to knock.<\/p>\n
Adriana shot Matthew a mocking glance. \u201cDon\u2019t waste your breath worrying about me. Between thirty million and a broke guy, I know exactly which one to choose.\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned to leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re really that desperate to throw yourself away?!\u201d Matthew\u2019s fury exploded.<\/p>\n
Adriana was taken aback by his anger. \u201cSo, following your plans, marrying someone you picked, letting you control my entire life\u2014that\u2019s not throwing myself away? Matthew, who do you think you are? Why do you think you get to decide who I marry?\u201d<\/p>\n
She shrugged off his arm, done with his control. \u201cOh, and by the way, Mr. Lincoln also promised to rebuild the orphanage\u2014on top of the thirty million a year.\u201d<\/p>\n
That way, Matthew would have no leverage left against her.<\/p>\n
Caught off guard, Matthew struggled to process this. He could believe Curtis offered thirty million to keep Adriana close. But to go as far as rebuilding the orphanage\u2014all for her?<\/p>\n
Adriana had been with him for four years, and not once had he thought about helping rebuild the orphanage.<\/p>\n
So what was Curtis really after?<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew?\u201d Natasha\u2019s voice came again from outside, urging him to decide.<\/p>\n
Finally, Matthew relented. \u201cIf it\u2019s about the money, fine. I\u2019ll give you thirty million a year. Just stay with me like before. You don\u2019t have to marry anyone\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
This chapter lays bare the tangled emotions and unresolved pain between Matthew and Adriana, exposing the raw wounds beneath their fraught relationship. Adriana\u2019s strength shines through as she confronts the past and refuses to be controlled or diminished by Matthew\u2019s anger and possessiveness. The clash of power, love, and betrayal underscores the complexity of their connection, where gestures of care are entangled with control and unspoken regrets.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the bitterness and accusations exchanged, there remains a fragile thread of longing and vulnerability between them. Matthew\u2019s reluctant offer at the end hints at a desperate desire to hold onto what he fears losing, even as Adriana asserts her independence and self-worth. Their story is a poignant reminder that healing is never simple, especially when pride and pain stand in the way of true understanding.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of power, control, and hidden motives that bind Matthew and Adriana. As emotions run high and past wounds resurface, readers can expect the fragile balance between them to be tested like never before. Will Matthew\u2019s sudden offer be a genuine attempt at reconciliation, or is it another move in a larger game of manipulation? Adriana\u2019s resilience and clarity are poised to challenge the boundaries of their complicated relationship, raising questions about trust and true intentions.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the shadows of Curtis\u2019s involvement loom larger, hinting at layers of ambition and strategy that could upend everything Adriana thought she knew. The emotional stakes are heightened as loyalties are questioned and the cost of freedom becomes painfully clear. Tensions simmer not only between Matthew and Adriana but also within the broader circle of characters, promising confrontations and revelations that will keep readers on edge. The next chapter is set to explore whether healing is possible when the past refuses to stay buried, leaving everyone to grapple with what they are truly willing to sacrifice.<\/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 32 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-23943","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\/23943","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=23943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23943\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}