In Chapter 173, titled \u201cShameless Cynthia,\u201d the tension escalates as Cynthia desperately pleads with Curtis to convince Adriana to drop the charges against her daughter, Belinda, who has been accused of a serious crime. Cynthia\u2019s emotional turmoil is palpable as she presents herself as a mother in distress, but her manipulative tactics become evident when she avoids mentioning that Belinda confessed to the crime. Curtis, however, remains resolute, emphasizing the importance of accountability and the consequences of Belinda\u2019s actions, which he believes are unforgivable.<\/p>\n
As the confrontation unfolds, Cynthia\u2019s desperation intensifies, and she attempts to manipulate both Curtis and Adriana, trying to shift the blame onto Adriana. This reveals the underlying animosity between the two women, as Cynthia fears losing her place in Curtis\u2019s life to Adriana. The emotional stakes rise when Curtis reveals that he was the one who called the police after Belinda confessed, shocking both women. This moment highlights Curtis\u2019s unwavering stance on justice, further straining Cynthia\u2019s already fragile emotional state.<\/p>\n
Cynthia\u2019s facade begins to crack as she tries to appeal to Curtis\u2019s past affection for her, claiming that her life was nearly lost for him. Adriana fiercely counters this, asserting that Cynthia\u2019s past sacrifices do not grant her the right to manipulate Curtis or use it as leverage against Adriana. The confrontation exposes Cynthia\u2019s true nature as she resorts to tears and feigned hurt, while Curtis stands firm beside Adriana, showcasing the strength of their bond amid the chaos.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the chapter concludes with Cynthia recognizing that she has overstepped her boundaries. Although she leaves the room defeated, a flicker of triumph ignites within her, as she believes that Adriana\u2019s recent loss gives her an advantage. Meanwhile, Curtis offers comfort to Adriana, who is visibly shaken and fearful of losing him. His gentle reassurance and decision to stay by her side reflect his commitment to their relationship, providing a moment of solace amidst the turmoil.<\/p>\n
**Chapter 173: Shameless Cynthia**<\/p>\n
\u201cCurtis, you\u2019re finally back!\u201d Cynthia exclaimed, bursting through the doorway, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, the redness hinting at sleepless nights and mounting desperation. Her voice quivered as she continued, \u201cCurtis, please, I\u2019ve never begged you for anything before. But this time, I\u2019m on my knees. She\u2019s my only child. You have to convince Adriana to drop the charges. Belinda is still just a student. If this case goes through, she\u2019ll end up in prison, and her entire future will be shattered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her tone was a delicate mix of softness and calculation, carefully crafted to tug at the heartstrings. She conveniently omitted the fact that Belinda had turned herself in, spinning the narrative until it was palatable enough to swallow.<\/p>\n
Curtis\u2019s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to see right through her. His voice became low and menacing, slicing through the tension in the room. \u201cWhen she pushed someone down the stairs, did she consider her future then? People who commit such heinous acts once are capable of far worse. Ms. Reese, you know better than most that when you commit a crime, you must face the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cynthia stepped closer, her tears spilling over as she pleaded, \u201cShe\u2019s just a kid! We can talk to her, mend this as a family. You helped raise her. How can you abandon her now?\u201d Her voice cracked as she turned to Adriana, desperation etched on her face. \u201cEven if you can\u2019t find it in your heart to forgive her, Adriana, at least do it for Curtis\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was still trying to twist the knife deeper, aiming to lay the blame at Adriana\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n
Cynthia could see the way Curtis looked at Adriana; it was as if the air crackled with unspoken feelings. Anyone could sense the bond between them, yet she refused to acknowledge it. The thought of being replaced by a woman who had only been his wife on paper gnawed at her insides.<\/p>\n
Curtis\u2019s voice cut through her thoughts like a shard of glass. \u201cI\u2019m the one who called the cops.\u201d<\/p>\n
A heavy silence enveloped the room, suffocating and thick. Cynthia blinked, her face draining of color as the weight of his words settled over her.<\/p>\n
Even Adriana appeared taken aback. \u201cCurtis\u2026 it was Belinda who called first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtis turned his piercing gaze toward her, unyielding. \u201cI called too. The moment Belinda confessed that she pushed you, I reported it. What she did was a crime, plain and simple. Those who commit such acts must take responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hadn\u2019t realized that Belinda had already confessed. Perhaps there was still a shred of decency within her after all.<\/p>\n
Cynthia shook her head vehemently, her voice trembling with disbelief. \u201cNo. You wouldn\u2019t do that. You watched her grow up. You can\u2019t possibly mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtis\u2019s jaw clenched, his tone dropping to a low growl. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly why I did it. I raised her. I trusted her. And she tried to kill my wife. Have you ever heard the tale of the farmer and the viper? That\u2019s what this is. You nurture it, and it bites you anyway. Tell me, Ms. Reese, does that sound wrong to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
His anger simmered just beneath the surface, flames of rage flickering in his eyes.<\/p>\n
Before he could continue, Adriana interjected, her voice sharp and unwavering. \u201cShe told Belinda to do it. If this is the farmer and the viper, then you, Ms. Reese, are the one who taught the snake to bite.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cynthia might have been Curtis\u2019s savior, but she was not Adriana\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Cynthia whipped her head around, her face contorting with fury. \u201cAdriana! How dare you speak to me like that!\u201d<\/p>\n
In an instant, her expression shifted from outrage to a fragile semblance of hurt. \u201cCurtis, I can\u2019t believe Adriana would say something like that to me,\u201d she said, her voice quaking. \u201cI never thought she harbored such hatred for me. I\u2019m genuinely hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her performance was flawless, each word dripping with a practiced innocence that could easily deceive.<\/p>\n
Curtis furrowed his brow, his expression hardening. \u201cMs. Reese, Adriana doesn\u2019t speak without reason.\u201d<\/p>\n
His tone was calm yet unyielding, the trust in his voice palpable.<\/p>\n
Adriana felt a lump form in her throat. She hadn\u2019t anticipated him standing up for her like this, especially considering how Cynthia had once risked everything for him.<\/p>\n
Cynthia\u2019s eyes glistened with unshed tears. \u201cCurtis, we\u2019ve known each other for years. You know me better than anyone. And yet you choose to believe her? I nearly lost my life for you, and this is the gratitude I receive? Not even a sliver of faith?\u201d<\/p>\n
Adriana\u2019s voice sliced through the tension, trembling yet fierce. \u201cEven if you saved him, that debt was settled long ago. And he never asked you to save him. You did it of your own volition. Stop using that as a weapon to control him. You can\u2019t keep waving it around to hurt me. You didn\u2019t save me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her chest heaved with anger. Cynthia had wielded that favor like a sword, using it to manipulate Curtis for years.<\/p>\n
She desperately wanted to prevent Curtis from dwelling on this any longer.<\/p>\n
Curtis\u2019s voice hardened, resolute. \u201cMs. Reese, it\u2019s time for you to go home. You\u2019re not well. This isn\u2019t the moment for an argument. As for Belinda, I\u2019ll determine what happens next. My wife just lost our baby. She needs peace, not chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cynthia\u2019s tears lingered at the corners of her eyes, but she chose not to push further. She wasn\u2019t foolish; she recognized when she had crossed a line. If she pressed on now, Curtis would never forgive her.<\/p>\n
Her fingers curled into tight fists as she shot Adriana one last, defiant look. Then, without another word, she turned and exited the room.<\/p>\n
But deep inside her heart, a flicker of triumph ignited. Adriana had lost the baby\u2014that was enough for now. With the aid of Danielle and Harold, she would ensure that Curtis walked away from Adriana soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cTry to get some sleep,\u201d Curtis murmured softly, brushing his fingers through Adriana\u2019s hair, a soothing gesture meant to calm the storm within her.<\/p>\n
As he prepared to leave, Adriana\u2019s hand shot out, gripping his wrist. \u201cYou\u2019ll come back, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice was gentle, yet the fear threaded through her words was unmistakable.<\/p>\n
The look in her eyes twisted something deep within him, causing his chest to ache. She seemed so vulnerable, like a child terrified of abandonment, afraid of being cast aside when she was no longer needed.<\/p>\n
Curtis hesitated, then sank back down beside her. \u201cI\u2019m not going anywhere,\u201d he assured her, his voice low and steady. He had intended to make a call, but seeing her like this compelled him to stay.<\/p>\n
He stayed.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of Cynthia\u2019s desperate plea, the emotional landscape shifted dramatically for everyone involved. Curtis stood resolute, no longer the man caught in a web of manipulation but a protector defending his wife against the very person who had once been a source of comfort. The confrontation had stripped away the layers of pretense, revealing the raw wounds and unhealed scars that each character bore. Adriana, feeling both the weight of her loss and the flicker of hope in Curtis\u2019s unwavering support, found herself grappling with vulnerability. The moment crystallized their bond, as Curtis\u2019s promise to remain by her side echoed in the silence, offering a fragile yet powerful reassurance amidst the chaos.<\/p>\n
Cynthia\u2019s departure marked not just a retreat from the confrontation but also a retreat from the fa\u00e7ade she had worn for far too long. In her heart, a flicker of triumph ignited, a cruel reminder that her manipulative tactics had not gone unnoticed. Yet, with each step away from the confrontation, she left behind a connection that was irrevocably altered. For Curtis and Adriana, the path ahead was uncertain, but the strength of their commitment to each other shone brighter than the shadows left by Cynthia\u2019s interference. As they faced the lingering pain of loss together, the promise of healing began to take root, suggesting that perhaps, in the end, love could indeed conquer the turmoil that had threatened to tear them apart.<\/p>\n
**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**<\/p>\n
In the upcoming chapter, tensions will escalate as the repercussions of Cynthia\u2019s desperate plea begin to unfold. With her manipulative tactics momentarily thwarted, Cynthia will resort to more cunning strategies to regain control over Curtis and Belinda\u2019s fate. Readers can expect a deep dive into her psyche, revealing the lengths she is willing to go to protect her daughter, even if it means further damaging her already fragile relationship with Curtis. The stakes will rise as she seeks out unlikely allies, and her machinations may lead to unexpected confrontations that threaten to shatter the fragile peace Curtis and Adriana have fought to maintain.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the emotional turmoil within Curtis and Adriana will reach new heights. As they navigate their grief and the fallout from the confrontation with Cynthia, their bond will be tested in ways they never anticipated. The chapter promises to explore the complexities of loyalty, love, and the struggle for autonomy in the face of manipulation. Readers will witness pivotal moments that could either solidify their relationship or drive a wedge between them, as secrets from the past resurface, challenging their commitment to one another. Will Curtis stand firm against Cynthia\u2019s influence, or will the shadows of their shared history cloud his judgment? The answers lie just beyond the horizon, and the tension is palpable as the story hurtles toward a climax that promises to leave readers breathless.<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 173 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-24084","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\/24084","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=24084"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24084\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}