Ms. Escape Marrying to Run Fighting to Rise novel Chapter 44

Ms, Escape: Marrying to Run, Fighting to Rise

Chapter 44 Francisca County

“You think it’s a ‘small matter‘ too, don’t you?” Adriana looked at Matthew. “My left ear… is permanently deaf. My pinky is crushed, and my life is affected. I nearly lost an eye… They filmed all of it. Do you even dare watch it?”

Her voice shook. “I’m pursuing this to the end….

“Adriana! Curtis won’t want you forever!” Natasha shouted.

“Ms. Jones, you’re overthinking,” Curtis said, voice flat. “Even if we divorce someday, the height

your

lifetime.” she stands at will be a place people like you will never reach in

Because he would give Adriana every resource she could use to stand tall on her own.

Natasha’s face curdled. She glared at Curtis. “I’m the Joneses‘ eldest daughter, and my future husband is Matthew. Without you, what is she?”

Natasha thought, Just an orphan, someone to be stepped on.

Curtis’s gaze slid to Matthew. “I must not know Mr. Langford’s taste: a woman who barters marriage for business terms, and somehow thinks she’s above others.”

He then glanced back at Natasha. “If you were a nobody with no family name, you wouldn’t measure up to a single strand of Adriana’s hair.”

Some people love using what they have to trample what others lack.

“Curtis, don’t go too far,” Matthew said stiffly. Natasha was his childhood first love; he had to save face.

“This is ‘too far‘?” Curtis didn’t blink. “You know perfectly well she married William, head of Gloria Sheonia, to line the Joneses‘ pockets. And you also know he had a wife before her–your ‘first love‘ chased that position as a mistress to secure those benefits.” He gave Natasha no

quarter.

Matthew’s expression grew uglier by the second.

Natasha had long manipulated his guilt over “not protecting” her back then. If he learned she’d thrown herself at William, he’d be disappointed, deeply.

Panic flickered across her face.

She grabbed Matthew’s arm. “Matthew … the engagement … My family forced it.”

“Ridiculous.” Curtis laced his fingers with Adriana’s and glanced at his aide. “The campus assault

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Chapter 44 Francisca County

-handle it strictly. Whoever they are, we prosecute to the end.

That was meant for Matthew.

Mia would be held to account.

Finished

And Curtis wanted Matthew to understand: this was his decision, not Adriana’s. Harassing his wife would be pointless.

Mia dissolved into tears. “Matthew … please, save me. I don’t want to go to prison!”

Matthew’s head throbbed. His face was stone.

He would not let Mia serve time, but because the opponent was Curtis, the price would be

steep.

Rubbing his brow, he looked at Curtis. “Mr. Lincoln, must we make this adversarial?”

They could be mutually beneficial–on paper.

Curtis didn’t bother answering. He walked off with Adriana.

“Adriana! You tramp! It’s been so long–still clinging to that tiny thing!” Mia sobbed, trying to bolt and getting blocked by the police.

Curtis led Adriana to the hot dog stall and scanned to pay.

“I said I’d pay … ” She tried to stop him.

The owner grinned at Curtis, giving him a thumbs–up.

Curtis looked almost … pleased. He nodded to the owner and left with Adriana.

Crowds lined the street. Curtis walked openly, hand in hers.

No dodging. No hiding.

Adriana let him lead her, eyes stinging until the world blurred.

Four years with Matthew … she’d been a shadow that couldn’t see the sun, stashed in a pit where no one could look.

But Curtis–this was a “partnership,” something that shouldn’t be public–and he still lifted her up into the light.

“Before we head back to Harborton, swing by Francisca County?” he asked as they reached the

car.

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Chapter 44 Francisca County

951

Finished

-handle it strictly. Whoever they are, we prosecute to the end.”

That was meant for Matthew.

Mia would be held to account.

And Curtis wanted Matthew to understand: this was his decision, not Adriana’s. Harassing his wife would be pointless.

Mia dissolved into tears. “Matthew … please, save me. I don’t want to go to prison!”

Matthew’s head throbbed. His face was stone.

He would not let Mia serve time, but because the opponent was Curtis, the price would be steep.

Rubbing his brow, he looked at Curtis. “Mr. Lincoln, must we make this adversarial?”

They could be mutually beneficial–on paper.

Curtis didn’t bother answering. He walked off with Adriana.

“Adriana! You tramp! It’s been so long–still clinging to that tiny thing!” Mia sobbed, trying to bolt and getting blocked by the police.

Curtis led Adriana to the hot dog stall and scanned to pay.

“I said I’d pay …” She tried to stop him.

The owner grinned at Curtis, giving him a thumbs–up.

Curtis looked almost … pleased. He nodded to the owner and left with Adriana.

Crowds lined the street. Curtis walked openly, hand in hers.

No dodging. No hiding.

Adriana let him lead her, eyes stinging until the world blurred.

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