Ms. Escape Marrying to Run Fighting to Rise novel Chapter 174

Ms Escape Marrying to Run, Fighting to Rise

Chapter 174 He Stayed

99

Finished

“Curtis, thank you,” Adriana’s voice wavered as she whispered, “Thank you for trusting me.”

Curtis helped her lie back, his palm brushing gently over her hair. “Thank me?” His tone dropped lower.

“You really think we’re still strangers?”

Adriana blinked fast, her throat tightening. “Belinda’s just a kid. Maybe this’ll scare her straight. If she really ends up in prison, I’ll feel terrible.”

Curtis’s jaw stayed tight. “We’ll deal with it later.” His voice left no room for debate.

But the truth stung him. Belinda’s betrayal cut deeper than he wanted to show.

He didn’t trust many people. Hardly anyone. And she’d been one of the few he thought he could count on. She’d grown up right in front of him, and still, she’d stabbed him where it hurt

most.

Adriana’s hand slid into his, her fingers trembling as she squeezed. She didn’t say a word, but he felt it. She understood.

Then a sudden buzz broke the quiet. The phone on the table vibrated hard against the wood.

Curtis frowned as he picked it up. The screen showed an unknown number from Haldoria. Not many people had that line. Only family. Only the ones who mattered.

He answered anyway. “Yeah?”

“Curtis.” The voice on the other end was rough and bitter. Michael. The sound of it alone made Curtis’s skin crawl. “Your grandfather said to call you. He told me I can’t come back to the Lincolns unless you agree.”

Curtis’s blood started to boil.

His fingers tightened around the phone, So that was it. Harold had handed his number over. Set him up like this.

He could feel his temper rising, slow and sharp.

“Is that right?” Curtis said, his voice flat and cold. “Then you can forget it. Because as long as I’m breathing, you’re not coming back.”

Michael’s tone hardened. “I’m calling out of respect, Curtis. I’m still your father. Whether you like it or not, everything tied to the Lincolns belongs to me before it ever belongs to you.”

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Chapter 174 He Stayed

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Curtis’s lips curled. His laugh came out short and sharp. “When you walked away, the Lincolns. were drowning in billions of debt. How about you pay that off first before you start talking about what’s yours?”

“You-!” Michael’s voice snapped with rage, but Curtis hung up before he could finish.

Adriana stared at him, startled. “What was that?”

Curtis set the phone down, his expression calm again. “Nothing. Just some scammer pretending to be my dad.”

Adriana let out a breath. “Seriously? That’s insane. They didn’t even bother to check your father’s been dead for years.”

Curtis smiled faintly but said nothing.

The anger still burned somewhere inside him, but looking at Adriana–so fragile, so alive- dulled it. Michael had always been a shadow that poisoned everything he touched. But here, in this quiet room, with her lying in front of him, the darkness felt lighter.

Adriana spent three days in the hospital before Curtis finally brought her home.

He put his job on hold and began working from home so he could watch over her himself.

During those few days, the police called Adriana about Belinda’s case.

Nothing had been settled. Adriana, the victim, didn’t want to press charges. Curtis, who filed the report, refused to drop it. And Belinda, the offender, wouldn’t leave the police station.

Everything was stuck like a three–way standoff.

“Curtis … can you just stop going after Belinda?” Adriana stood by the study door, leaning in with her head slightly tilted, her voice soft and careful.

Curtis shut his laptop and met her eyes. “Being kind to someone who hurt you is the same as betraying yourself.”

Adriana went still, her gaze falling to the floor.

He was right. She shouldn’t pity Belinda. But something in her still felt sorry for that girl.

“But the one who deserves my anger is Cynthia, not Belinda … ” Adriana’s voice dropped to a whisper, almost trembling.

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Chapter 174 He Stayed

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Cynthia was the woman who had once saved Curtis.

Curtis could be harsh with Belinda, but not with Cynthia.

Maybe it was because he didn’t have proof. Adriana didn’t dare to test that line.

“I understand.” Curtis stopped pressing her. He rose, crossed the room, and pulled her into his arms. “Tell me what you want to cat.”

He didn’t want anyone meaningless getting between them.

Once Michael returned to the Lincolns, Curtis would be swamped again.

Michael had no drive and no real talent. But he was greedy and petty, always scheming for his own gain.

“Curtis you’ve seemed upset lately.” Adriana’s voice trembled as she studied him. She wanted to ease his heart but didn’t know where to start.

“Don’t worry about it.” Curtis gave a small shake of his head.

Adriana just nodded, her lips pressed tight.

Haldoria. Langford Group.

Matthew had barely stepped into his office when his phone started ringing. It was Michael.

He glanced at the screen and smirked. “Hey there.”

“Hello, Mr. Langford. This is Michael.”

Matthew had known this call would come.

Curtis had full control of the Lincoln Group now. Even Harold couldn’t touch it. If Harold wanted Michael to come back, he’d have to think twice.

And Curtis would never allow that man to walk back into the Lincolns.

Michael had nowhere else to turn. Matthew was his only move left.

“Michael,” Matthew said with a calm grin.

Michael went quiet for a long moment. Then his voice came through the line. “Mr. Langford, I’m taking my kid to Haldoria tomorrow to tour the school. If you’re free, we should meet.”

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