\u00a0<\/p>\n
In \u201cWhen Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen,\u201d Adriana grapples with the emotional turmoil stemming from her past and the recent revelations about her biological parents. After a heavy conversation that leaves her questioning her worth and the reasons for her abandonment, she succumbs to exhaustion and drifts into sleep on the couch. The following morning, she wakes up disoriented but is greeted by the familiar scent of breakfast and the presence of Curtis, her protector, who reminds her of an upcoming visit to the orphanage.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the day unfolds, Adriana encounters a tense interaction between Curtis and Danielle. Curtis\u2019s fierce protectiveness over Adriana becomes apparent when he confronts Danielle, warning her to stay away from Adriana despite their contractual marriage. This confrontation reveals the complex dynamics of their relationships and raises questions about Curtis\u2019s true feelings for Adriana. Meanwhile, Danielle\u2019s plans to manipulate the situation for her benefit introduce an element of intrigue and danger, hinting at ulterior motives that could threaten Adriana\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
On their way to the orphanage, the atmosphere is thick with unspoken emotions. Adriana finds herself leaning against Curtis, who instinctively cushions her against the jolts of the car. This moment of tenderness sparks confusion within her; she struggles to reconcile her feelings for him with the reality of their contractual arrangement. Curtis\u2019s unexpected kindness leads her to question the boundaries of their relationship, making her anxious about the mixed signals he seems to be sending.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The tension escalates when Curtis demands that Adriana inform him immediately if anyone approaches her, emphasizing the seriousness of her safety. His sharp tone leaves her feeling vulnerable and aware of the precariousness of her situation. As Adriana reflects on her relationship with Curtis and the looming threats from Danielle, she is caught in a web of emotions, torn between her growing attachment to Curtis and the fear of potential heartbreak. The chapter ends on a note of uncertainty, leaving Adriana at a crossroads as she navigates her complicated feelings and the dangers that surround her.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**<\/p>\n
Adriana hung up the phone, the weight of the conversation lingering in the air like a thick fog. She sank into the couch, her mind swirling with questions that had haunted her for years. What kind of people were her biological parents? What had driven them to abandon her so many years ago? Was it simply because she was a girl, or was it that they had never loved her at all? Each thought was like a stone thrown into a still pond, creating ripples of doubt and sorrow that spread through her consciousness.<\/p>\n
As she leaned back into the cushions, the exhaustion of the day washed over her, and her eyelids grew heavy. In a matter of moments, the world around her faded into a comforting darkness, and she succumbed to sleep.<\/p>\n
The morning light crept through her window, casting soft beams across her face. Adriana stirred awake, disoriented, her surroundings slowly coming into focus. She blinked, trying to piece together how she had ended up in her own bed. Hadn\u2019t she fallen asleep on the couch? Yawning widely, she stretched her arms above her head, feeling the stiffness in her muscles. After a quick wash-up, she made her way downstairs, the aroma of breakfast wafting through the air.<\/p>\n
As she descended the staircase, she caught sight of Curtis, and a flicker of surprise danced in her chest. \u201cCurtis?\u201d she called out, her voice tinged with curiosity. \u201cWhen did you get back?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLast night,\u201d he replied coolly, his demeanor as composed as ever. \u201cI\u2019ve got some things to take care of this morning. Be ready by ten. I\u2019ll pick you up for the orphanage visit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana nodded, a sense of obedience washing over her. After Curtis left the room, Eva, her ever-cheerful housemate, looked at her with a knowing smile. \u201cYou fell asleep on the sofa last night. Mr. Lincoln carried you back to your room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana froze, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. Was it really Curtis who had lifted her? The thought sent a rush of warmth through her. She exhaled softly, reminding herself to keep her feelings in check. She couldn\u2019t afford to develop any romantic notions about Curtis. If she allowed herself to fall for him, she feared it would end in heartache far worse than what she had experienced with Matthew.<\/p>\n
The atmosphere shifted as she arrived at Nera Club later that day. Danielle was a vision in a pure white gown, exuding an angelic aura that starkly contrasted her usual mature demeanor. She stepped out of the elevator, her smile radiant as she approached Curtis. \u201cCurtis, what brings you here to see me?\u201d she asked, her tone light and teasing.<\/p>\n
However, Curtis\u2019s expression was anything but warm. His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. \u201cDid you go see Adriana?\u201d<\/p>\n
Danielle\u2019s smile faltered for a brief moment, but she quickly recovered, forcing a smile that didn\u2019t quite reach her eyes. \u201cCurtis, are you really that protective of her? Am I not even allowed to visit her now? You don\u2019t love her; it\u2019s a contractual marriage. Don\u2019t act like she\u2019s your daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, the tension in the air thickening. \u201cDanielle, stay away from her. Contract or not, Adriana belongs to me. If you touch her, you\u2019ll regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Danielle\u2019s face tightened, the fa\u00e7ade of her smile wavering under the weight of his warning. \u201cCurtis, I understand,\u201d she replied, though the defiance in her eyes suggested otherwise.<\/p>\n
He glanced at his watch, the finality of his tone leaving no room for argument. \u201cThis is your first and final warning.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Danielle\u2019s expression twisted with fury as she clenched her fists, watching him go. What was it about Adriana that made Curtis so fiercely protective? Did he see her as more than just an obligation, or was it simply because she was an orphan, easy to control?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is Curtis so protective of Adriana? Are they really just pretending it\u2019s a contract marriage?\u201d Natasha asked, stepping into the scene with a curious glint in her eyes.<\/p>\n
Danielle settled onto the couch, lighting a cigarette, a smirk playing on her lips. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand Curtis. He\u2019d defend anyone living under his roof, even a stray dog.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha frowned, concern etched on her face. \u201cIf he keeps shielding Adriana, she\u2019ll never sign that letter. My brother and Mia could both end up behind bars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Danielle shot her a calm, reassuring look. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. I have another plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha raised an eyebrow, intrigued. \u201cOh? What kind of plan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy grandfather has been searching for his long-lost granddaughter, Nicole Barton, for years. Once he finds her, the engagement between the Bartons and Lincolns will move forward. When that happens, Harold will force Curtis to divorce Adriana and marry Nicole,\u201d Danielle explained, her grin widening with each word.<\/p>\n
She and her father had already chosen the perfect impostor to pass off as \u2018Nicole\u2019 and deceive her grandfather.<\/p>\n
Natasha smirked, her interest piqued. \u201cThen I\u2019ll wait for your good news.\u201d<\/p>\n
As they drove to the orphanage, Curtis maintained his usual silence, the air heavy with unspoken thoughts. Adriana, feeling restless and unsure of how to break the ice, leaned against the window and let her mind wander. The road through Francisca County was bumpy, jolting the car with every uneven patch. Half-asleep, she felt her head bob dangerously close to the glass, but when she opened her eyes, she found herself resting against Curtis\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n
In a moment of surprise, she realized he had positioned his hand between her head and the window, providing a cushion against the jolts of the car. Her heart raced, and she straightened up abruptly, glancing nervously at him. \u201cCurtis\u2026 thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing,\u201d he replied casually, but his nonchalance did little to calm her racing heart.<\/p>\n
Adriana looked down, too flustered to meet his gaze directly. Was he always this considerate? Wasn\u2019t he being a little too kind for someone who had a life outside of their contract? Annoyance bubbled within her. Curtis was crossing boundaries, especially since his heart belonged to someone else. He was sending mixed signals, and she wasn\u2019t sure how to interpret them.<\/p>\n
She longed to ask him about Belinda, but the words caught in her throat. After all, she was merely a wife on paper, devoid of any real claim to his personal life. Their agreement was crystal clear: no involvement in each other\u2019s affairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday, Danielle came to see you,\u201d Curtis said suddenly, his tone shifting to something more serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes\u2026\u201d Adriana admitted quietly, the memory of the encounter flashing through her mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom now on, Adriana, if anyone approaches you, you need to tell me immediately. If I ever find out you\u2019ve been hiding things or acting on your own again, I won\u2019t bother protecting you anymore.\u201d His voice was sharp, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air, leaving no room for misinterpretation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the quiet aftermath of the tumultuous events, Adriana found herself grappling with a whirlwind of emotions. The protective stance Curtis had taken ignited a flicker of hope within her, a glimmer of possibility that perhaps she was more than just a contractual obligation in his eyes. Yet, the shadows of her past loomed large, whispering doubts that threatened to unravel any budding affection. As they drove toward the orphanage, the juxtaposition of her longing for connection and the fear of heartache created a tumultuous storm within her. She yearned for clarity, but the tangled web of their circumstances made it difficult to discern reality from the illusions her heart conjured.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the car jolted over the bumpy road, Adriana realized that she stood at a crossroads of her own making. The warmth of Curtis\u2019s gesture lingered, a reminder that kindness could exist even within the confines of their arrangement. Yet, the specter of Danielle\u2019s manipulations and the looming threat of her own past created a heavy burden on her heart. Adriana understood that healing would require more than just time; it would demand courage to confront her fears and embrace the uncertainty of what lay ahead. With each passing moment, she resolved to reclaim her narrative, to seek clarity in the chaos, and to allow herself the chance to connect\u2014not just with Curtis, but with the parts of herself that had long been buried beneath layers of abandonment and doubt.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the next chapter, readers can expect the tension between Adriana and Curtis to reach a boiling point as the stakes grow higher. With Curtis\u2019s warning echoing in her mind, Adriana must navigate the complex web of relationships surrounding her, especially as she grapples with her feelings for him while trying to maintain her independence. As the visit to the orphanage unfolds, secrets will be unveiled, and Adriana will confront the ghosts of her past, forcing her to question not only her identity but also the very nature of her relationship with Curtis. Will she be able to assert her voice amidst the chaos, or will she find herself further entangled in the web of Curtis\u2019s protective instincts?<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the subplot involving Danielle\u2019s scheming takes a darker turn, as her plans to manipulate the situation come to fruition. The introduction of Nicole Barton, the supposed long-lost granddaughter, will add another layer of complexity to the already fraught dynamics. Adriana will find herself caught in a power struggle that could ultimately decide her fate. As the chapter unfolds, expect unexpected alliances to form and betrayals to surface, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover how Adriana will respond to the mounting pressure around her. Will she stand her ground, or will she succumb to the forces conspiring against her?<\/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 57 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-23969","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\/23969","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=23969"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23969\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}