\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana is overwhelmed by the shocking revelation that someone has hired a professional assassin to kill her. Confused and frightened, she struggles to identify who could want her dead, as she has few close connections besides Matthew. Joe, the officer helping her, rules out known suspects and warns her to be extremely cautious, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat and urging her to keep in touch.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, at the Coastline Restaurant, Curtis and Matthew confront each other over Adriana. Matthew demands Curtis stay away, claiming Adriana belongs to him despite his upcoming engagement to Natasha. Curtis challenges Matthew\u2019s possessiveness, insisting Adriana is free to choose who she wants. Their tense exchange reveals deep rivalry and Matthew\u2019s unwillingness to relinquish control over Adriana.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Curtis leaves, Matthew\u2019s assistant shows him an old photo of a younger Curtis with a little girl and a woman resembling Adriana. Matthew is intrigued and suspicious, wondering if there is a hidden connection between Adriana and the woman in the photo. He orders further investigation to uncover Curtis\u2019s true motives.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back at the Clarke residence, Adriana wakes feeling unexpectedly refreshed after a good night\u2019s sleep. As she steps out to get water, she accidentally bumps into Curtis, leaving her startled and nervous. This sudden encounter hints at the growing complexity of their relationship amid the unfolding dangers surrounding her.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 36: The Photo<\/p>\n
Adriana sat quietly, her mind swirling with uneasy thoughts. The idea that someone wanted her dead\u2014so badly that they\u2019d hire a professional assassin\u2014felt almost surreal. Who in her small circle could harbor such hatred? Aside from Matthew, she barely knew anyone well enough to imagine such a thing.<\/p>\n
Joe had already dismissed the Joneses and the Langfords as suspects. \u201cThe Joneses are under too much scrutiny right now; they wouldn\u2019t risk stirring up more trouble,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cAnd Matthew? He has no reason to silence you.\u201d Joe\u2019s confusion mirrored Adriana\u2019s own. She was just an orphan with no enemies\u2014who would pay a fortune to have her killed?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoever made that attempt failed once, but they might try again,\u201d Joe warned, his voice laced with concern. \u201cBe extra cautious from now on. If anything feels off, call me immediately.\u201d Adriana nodded, unsure whether to share this alarming news with Curtis.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it possible this was just a mistake? Maybe they targeted the wrong person?\u201d she whispered, clinging to a shred of hope.<\/p>\n
Joe shook his head. \u201cNo, Adriana. That was a professional hit. Professionals don\u2019t make rookie mistakes. You can\u2019t afford to take this lightly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grateful for his support, Adriana replied, \u201cThank you, Officer Richardson.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe\u2019s voice softened with memory. \u201cRemember, four years ago when Mia and her friends bullied you? I was the only one who stepped in. It\u2019s my job to keep you safe. Keep your phone on.\u201d<\/p>\n
The seriousness in Joe\u2019s tone made it clear: this was far more than just a random threat. Adriana still felt as if she were trapped in a nightmare. Someone was trying to kill her? The thought was almost too absurd to grasp\u2014more unbelievable even than the idea of marrying Curtis.<\/p>\n
Exhausted from a sleepless night and jolted awake by Belinda\u2019s shouting at noon, Adriana quickly drifted into sleep once she lay down. Her phone buzzed relentlessly, breaking the fragile calm. It was Matthew calling.<\/p>\n
At the Coastline Restaurant, Curtis sat by the window, watching Matthew enter with a stormy expression clouding his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou called me out of the blue. What\u2019s so urgent, Mr. Langford?\u201d Curtis asked, his tone calm but wary.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay away from Adriana,\u201d Matthew said bluntly, cutting to the chase.<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s possessiveness was clear\u2014he didn\u2019t want anyone touching what he considered his territory, not even Curtis. \u201cI don\u2019t want our families\u2019 relationship to be ruined because of her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtis smiled faintly, unconvinced. \u201cI don\u2019t really get it. Adriana\u2019s single, and you\u2019re about to get engaged\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCurtis, don\u2019t make this harder than it needs to be,\u201d Matthew interrupted, his voice low and firm. \u201cAdriana is mine. Even after I\u2019m married, that won\u2019t change. So keep your hands off what belongs to me.\u201d His words were sharp, as if wielding a sword.<\/p>\n
Curtis met Matthew\u2019s gaze with a steady, meaningful look. It was clear he saw through Matthew\u2019s plan\u2014marry Natasha but keep Adriana as a secret mistress.<\/p>\n
Chuckling softly, Curtis replied, \u201cI\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t agree with that, Mr. Langford. Adriana is free to be with whoever she chooses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s expression hardened. \u201cShe\u2019s been with me since she was nineteen,\u201d he said coldly, deliberately provoking Curtis. \u201cI know her better than anyone. She can\u2019t live without me. And I know you won\u2019t stay interested for long. So why make things ugly?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t know me at all,\u201d Curtis shot back, rising to his feet and locking eyes with Matthew. \u201cI\u2019m serious about Adriana, maybe always will be. She met you at nineteen, but you never truly cherished her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s annoyance grew. He couldn\u2019t understand Curtis\u2019s determination. They had barely spoken in private, only met a handful of times\u2014so why was Curtis so intent on challenging him over Adriana?<\/p>\n
After Curtis left, Matthew\u2019s assistant, Peter, approached quietly and placed a photo before him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Langford, take a look at this,\u201d Peter said.<\/p>\n
Matthew glanced down at the image. It was old\u2014a younger Curtis, maybe in his early twenties, holding a little girl. Standing beside them was a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Adriana\u2014about seventy percent similar.<\/p>\n
Matthew froze, his eyes narrowing as he looked up at Peter. \u201cWho is this woman?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t find any information,\u201d Peter explained hurriedly. \u201cThe Lincolns have gone to great lengths to keep her identity a secret.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew sank into deep thought. So Curtis did have a motive for getting close to Adriana. Was he treating Adriana as a replacement for this mysterious woman? Or was there some hidden connection between Adriana and the woman in the photo?<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep digging,\u201d Matthew ordered coldly. He needed to uncover why Curtis was so invested in Adriana.<\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n
At the Clarke residence, after a night of restful sleep, Adriana woke feeling more refreshed than she had in a long time. Maybe that harsh slap from Matthew had finally broken through her defenses, forcing her to let go of some of the weight she\u2019d been carrying.<\/p>\n
The morning light filtered softly through the drawn curtains. She was certain she hadn\u2019t closed them before falling asleep. Had Eva come in during the night?<\/p>\n
Stretching lazily, Adriana rose from bed and opened the door to fetch some water. The moment she stepped out, she collided with a solid chest.<\/p>\n
Her heart leapt, and she instinctively stepped back, nerves prickling. \u201cMr.\u2014Curtis, sorry,\u201d she stammered, caught off guard by the sudden encounter.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The chapter delicately unravels the tangled emotions and hidden tensions surrounding Adriana, revealing the shadows lurking beneath her seemingly quiet life. The threat on her life, the confrontations between Curtis and Matthew, and the mysterious photograph all serve to deepen the complexity of her world, where love, possession, and secrets intertwine. Adriana\u2019s vulnerability is palpable, yet beneath it lies a quiet resilience, as she navigates the storm of danger and conflicting affections with cautious hope.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In this moment of uncertainty and revelation, the characters\u2019 true intentions and feelings begin to surface, exposing the fragile balance of trust and control that defines their relationships. The chapter closes on a note of suspense and emotional intensity, leaving Adriana\u2014and the readers\u2014poised on the edge of discovery, where the past and present collide, and where the choices she makes will shape her future in profound ways.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of Adriana\u2019s relationships and the shadowy secrets that seem to surround her. As Matthew\u2019s possessiveness clashes with Curtis\u2019s unwavering determination, the tension between these two men escalates, hinting at a power struggle that could have far-reaching consequences for Adriana. The mysterious photo introduces a new layer of intrigue\u2014what hidden connections might link Curtis, Adriana, and the enigmatic woman in the picture? This revelation is bound to stir emotions and raise questions about loyalty, identity, and the past.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Adriana\u2019s own journey remains fraught with danger and uncertainty. The threat on her life looms larger, and the uneasy feeling that someone close to her harbors deadly intentions will test her trust and resilience. The unexpected encounter at the Clarke residence could mark a turning point, bringing unexpected alliances or conflicts to the surface. Readers can anticipate a chapter filled with emotional confrontations, subtle revelations, and the slow unraveling of secrets that have long been buried.<\/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 36 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-23947","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\/23947","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=23947"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23947\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}