Curtis wakes up on a Monday morning and suggests going to City Hall to take care of their marriage paperwork, surprising Adriana since she thought it would be later in the week. Despite Curtis\u2019s warning that being his wife, even just on paper, won\u2019t be easy, Adriana is determined to try her best and asks him to correct her if she makes mistakes. Curtis reassures her that she doesn\u2019t need to be perfect or a housekeeper, just herself, which leaves Adriana feeling uncertain about his true intentions.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the way to City Hall, the atmosphere is quiet and tense. Curtis gives Adriana one last chance to back out, reminding her the contract ends when his grandfather passes away. Adriana confirms this and smiles, signaling her acceptance of the arrangement. Curtis reacts to her smile by taking her hand, an intimate gesture that surprises Adriana since her previous relationship with Matthew lacked such affection. Holding Curtis\u2019s warm hand makes her feel unexpectedly safe, though she wonders if it\u2019s just for appearances.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The marriage registration goes smoothly, and soon they have their marriage certificate. Adriana reflects on how she never imagined getting married, especially not to someone like Curtis, a powerful figure in Harborton. Curtis gently takes the certificate and tells her he will keep it. He then surprises her by saying he\u2019s taking the day off to go shopping with her, explaining that his grandfather treats the contract marriage as real and would expect him to buy her something.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the drive to the mall, heavy traffic causes a sudden brake, and Curtis instinctively pulls Adriana into his arms to protect her. The closeness makes Adriana\u2019s ears turn red and stirs a strange sense of familiarity she can\u2019t explain. Nervously, she asks Curtis if they had ever met before the night at the club, hinting at unresolved questions about their past encounters.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Curtis wore a robe, his hair messy\u2013clearly only just woken up. \u201cIt\u2019s Monday,\u201d he said. \u201cCity Hall\u2019s open. Let\u2019s to Lake care of the paperwork.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana was surprised. So soon? Wasn\u2019t it supposed to be Friday?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUm\u2026 okay,\u201d Adriana nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still have time. Are you sure you don\u2019t want to think it over?\u201d Curtis looked down at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His face showed little emotion, but his eyes held a deeper meaning. \u201cBeing my wife\u2013even just on paper\u2013isn\u2019t going to be easy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand,\u201d Adriana nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll try my best. If I mess up, please tell me, Mr. Lincoln. I\u2019ll fix it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Curtis looked at her, like he wanted to say more but didn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned to go downstairs, then stopped at the top of the stairs and looked back at Adriana. \u201cYou\u2019re here to be my wife, not housekeeper. There\u2019s no \u2018doing well\u2018 or \u2018doing poorly.\u2018 Just be yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana froze for a moment. She couldn\u2019t quite figure Curtis out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thinking it over, she realized she\u2019d never understood him from the start.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logically, if Curtis wanted someone obedient and easy to control, he had plenty of options. There were plenty of orphans out there. So why did he choose her, especially when she\u2019d been involved with Matthew for four years?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wasn\u2019t that risky? Did he really choose her because her face reminded him of his first love?\u00a0<\/p>\n
He called it a contract marriage, but Curtis had been unusually lenient with her. Sometimes, it almost made her believe\u2026 maybe he could be a good husband.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shook her head, amused at her own thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No matter how many questions she had, she wasn\u2019t going to ask Curtis anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She needed this \u201cjob.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
City Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the way there, neither of them said a word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou still have time to back out,\u201d Curtis said before they went in to complete the procedure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was giving her one last chance to change her mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana looked up at him. \u201cThe contract ends when your grandpa \u2026 passes away, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She just wanted to be sure, to know when she\u2019d finally be free.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d Curtis nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
7:01 pm G ppp\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 37 Legally Married\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana smiled at hini. \u201cThen I don\u2019t have any other questions\/\u00a0<\/p>\n
*19 Fine Coins\u00a0<\/p>\n
Curtis froze for a second at her smile, then came back to his senses and reached out to take her hand as they walked in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana\u2019s fingers stiffened a bit. Being held so intimately it was a first for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During her four years with Matthew, he had never held her hand in public. Even at home, he\u2019d only ever grab her wrist\u2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To Adriana, holding hands was something intimate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe Curtis is just doing it for show, to make it look real to the City Hall staff. That\u2019s what she told herself anyway..\u00a0<\/p>\n
Curtis\u2019s hand was big and warm. Somehow, being held like that made her feel safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking at Curtis\u2019s back, Adriana suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But\u2026 she and Curtis had only met a few times.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The whole process went smoothly, and soon, they had their marriage certificate in hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana had never imagined she would get married one day\u2013she always knew Matthew would never marry her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But life could be full of surprises. Here she was, legally married, and to one of Harborton\u2019s most powerful figures at that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She couldn\u2019t help but smile at the thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Curtis saw her smiling, his eyes softened too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll keep this,\u201d he said, gently taking the certificate from her hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana looked up at him and nodded. \u201cMr.\u2013I mean, Curtis, aren\u2019t you working today?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Curtis naturally took her hand again and led her out. \u201cNot today. I\u2019m taking you shopping.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana was stunned, staring at their joined hands. Yes\u2026 even a contract marriage has to look real, right?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShopping?\u201d she asked once they got in the car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if it\u2019s just a contract marriage, Grandpa sees it as a real one. If I don\u2019t buy you anything after we\u2019re married, he\u2019ll be upset,\u201d Curtis explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adriana quickly replied, \u201cIf he asks, I\u2019ll just tell him you already bought me something.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Curtis didn\u2019t say anything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thinking she might\u2019ve said the wrong thing, Adriana went quiet too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If the boss wanted to shop, she\u2019d just go along with it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Traffic was heavy on the way to the mall. When another car suddenly cut in, the driver slammed on the brakes. Curtis reflexively pulled Adriana into his arms and asked in a low voice, \u201cYou okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Protected in his embrace, Adriana could clearly hear his heart beating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
7:01pm G PPP\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 37 Legally Married\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her ears turned red, and she quickly moved away, shaking her head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The braking didn\u2019t startle me\u2026 being held by him did..\u00a0<\/p>\n
She glanced at Curtis nervously. There it was again, that strange sense of familiarity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she couldn\u2019t quite put her finger on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCurtis, did we ever meet before that night at the club?\u201d The question slipped out before she could stop it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38 Danielle\u2019s Plan\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
This chapter gently unfolds the delicate beginnings of Adriana and Curtis\u2019s contract marriage, revealing layers of vulnerability and unspoken emotions beneath their formal arrangement. Adriana grapples with her uncertainty and the unfamiliarity of Curtis\u2019s kindness, while Curtis offers subtle reassurances that hint at a deeper connection. Their tentative hand-holding and shared moments suggest a fragile but growing trust, a tentative bridge between past pain and a hopeful future.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the practical nature of their union, there is an undeniable tenderness that colors their interactions, highlighting themes of protection, acceptance, and the possibility of genuine companionship. As they navigate the complexities of their new reality, both Adriana and Curtis seem to silently acknowledge that this contract may be more than just a legal bond\u2014it might be the start of something real, something neither of them expected but both might need.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the complexities of Curtis and Adriana\u2019s relationship, revealing layers of their past that neither fully understands yet. Adriana\u2019s growing curiosity about the mysterious sense of familiarity she feels toward Curtis hints at secrets waiting to be uncovered, possibly changing the way she views their contract marriage. As she seeks answers, emotional tensions are bound to rise, challenging the fragile trust they\u2019ve begun to build.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the introduction of Danielle\u2019s plan suggests new conflicts on the horizon, potentially threatening the delicate balance between Curtis and Adriana. With the stakes rising, both characters might find themselves navigating unexpected obstacles that test their resolve and force them to confront truths they\u2019ve been avoiding. The next chapter will surely stir anticipation as it explores how these developments will impact their evolving bond.<\/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 37 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-23948","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\/23948","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=23948"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23948\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}