Ms. Escape: Marrying to Run, Fighting to Rise Novel

Chapter 46 I'm Your Husband Curtis was bound to get dragged into this . Finished With trembling fingers , Adriana unlocked her phone and opened the trending news feed . Matthew had gone on record , admitting to the media that he'd kept her for four years . " Yes , it was a transactional relationship ." The words came straight from his mouth . Adriana's whole body shook . A transactional relationship ... Her knees weakened ; she slid against the wall , struggling to stay upright , wanting desperately to call him - demand to know why he'd said that .

Upstairs , Curtis came down in a black robe , towel slung around his neck . When he saw Belinda back in the house , his expression darkened . " I told you , " he said coldly , " this apartment belongs to Adriana now . Without her permission , you don't come back here . " He'd already bought Belinda a place near campus . " Curtis , you should check your phone ," Belinda said , smirking as she glanced at Adriana . " Mr. Harold's been calling you nonstop . When you didn't answer , he called me ." She was clearly enjoying the show - taunting Adriana with every word .

Adriana's hands shook harder . Of course , Harold had seen the headlines . That's why he'd been calling nonstop . Her heart twisted in fear . Curtis had only married her because of his grandfather's insistence . Curtis shot her a look , then picked up his phone . Dozens of missed calls . " What happened ? " he asked - not calling back , but watching her instead . Because she looked pale , ashen , on the edge of breaking . " Matthew ... " Adriana's voice cracked . " Matthew went public with our past . He told reporters I was kept . " She hadn't thought he'd ever stoop this low . ...

He was trying to destroy her completely . 1 / 4 / 2 Finished Scandal was poison in their circle . Especially when the Langfords and Lincolns still had business ties . " He never kept me . He told me it was love . That's what he said at the start ... " she said quickly , panicking . Her voice trembled , her body locked up , and her fingers were frozen . She was barely able to speak . She had so much she wanted to say but didn't know how . She didn't know if Curtis would believe her . " I never used his money ... " Adriana barely ever used Matthew's card .

He only gave her little things now and then . She was never kept . Adriana fumbled for her phone , her fingers too stiff to unlock the screen . Curtis could tell something was seriously wrong with her . This was the physical manifestation of depression . He'd read the report his assistant compiled . After the campus assault , Adriana had developed severe depression with somatic symptoms . " I believe you , " Curtis said instantly , stepping forward to pull her into his arms . His tone softened , but there was steel beneath it . " Adriana , don't waste a second caring about slander .

People who publicly destroy others are filth . " Wrapped in Curtis's arms , Adriana's breathing slowly calmed down . Her heart was racing , her mind totally blank for a moment . Belinda jumped up , furious , and snapped at Adriana , calling her a gold - digger . " Curtis ! You're still defending her ? She's only with you for money ! " Adriana's hands shook as she opened her chat logs with Matthew . There were barely any messages . He never texted her much - when he wanted to see her , he simply showed up . And the money transfers - each had a reason . " This one , 100,000 dollars .

That was after Camelia , Rufus , and Mia pushed me into the pool- he sent it after . " This one , 50,000 - Mia hit me at his company , he sent that ... 2/4 " This one , 10,000 - he was drunk , made me pick him up from the club . I missed a shift , so he said it was compensation ... " Every payment - she could explain . She was never kept by him . He'd lied to her . Lied that it was love . She'd been nineteen and naïve enough to believe him . " He said it was love , " Adriana whispered . She tried her best to explain , but she wasn't just telling Curtis - she was trying to convince herself .

Matthew's words to the press had snapped the last thread of her self - worth . " There was no arrangement , " she repeated , crying harder , over and over , her voice breaking . " There was no arrangement ... ་ ་ She wasn't defending herself to the world - she was begging herself to believe it . " Don't try to prove yourself . Don't fall into their trap . " Curtis's arms tightened around Adriana . His tone was low , deliberate , and heavy with warning . " Adriana , if you want to stand undefeated , you can't let yourself be swayed by anyone - or anything . What they're doing is intentional .

They're using you , manipulating public opinion . Their ultimate goal is to break you down - to make me abandon you . " Curtis understood exactly why Matthew had done it . By slandering Adriana in such a public , humiliating way , he could force the Lincoln family to completely cut ties with her . Once that happened , she'd be alone - isolated , powerless , and no longer worth fearing . That was their real intention : to push her into withdrawing the case , to stop pursuing the assault that had happened four years ago , to let Mia , Rufus , and Camelia walk free without consequence .

It would be an effortless victory . " Anyone else might give up on you , " Curtis said firmly , gripping her wrist as he led her into the study . He unlocked the safe , took out the marriage certificate , and placed it before her . " But you can't give up on yourself - and I won't give up on you either . We're legally married . This has nothing to do with the prenuptial agreement . I'm your husband ." AdminJ