Ms. Escape Marrying to Run Fighting to Rise novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49 Curtis Won’t Be in Love with Me

Adriana could tell something was off with Belinda.

Finished.

“You’ve been seeing someone, haven’t you?” she asked softly, remembering what Curtis had said the night before. “If something happened–if anyone’s bothering you–you can always tell Curtis.”

Belinda’s head snapped up, eyes blazing. “Mind your own damn business. Don’t you dare tell him–or I’ll … ”

She trailed off, lips trembling. She couldn’t risk Curtis finding out. He was too strict, too intimidating.

The next second, her composure cracked. She sniffled once–then burst into tears.

Adriana sighed. Belinda was still so young, barely a freshman.

She had no mother, no one to confide in about things like this.

Watching her

cry, Adriana’s anger softened into pity.

She pulled out a tissue and handed it to her. “Finish breakfast first. I’ll take you to campus after.”

Belinda’s school, Haldoria Dance Academy, wasn’t far from Haldoria University–both were in the same university district.

“I don’t need your fake kindness. I’m not going,” Belinda muttered, pushing her plate away. “And it’s all because of you. Ever since he married you, he kicked me out!”

“Funny, you act so fierce at home, yet you let people walk all over you outside.” Adriana was curious. “Didn’t he buy you a place near campus so you’d have somewhere safe to stay?”

“None of your business,” Belinda mumbled, staring into her plate.

Adriana let it go.

After breakfast, she asked Tom to get the car ready.

But when it was time to leave, Belinda locked herself in her room.

“Belinda, if you don’t open the door, I’ll call Curtis,” Adriana warned, knocking firmly.

The door flew open. Belinda glared at her. “You’re so annoying.”

She slung her backpack over one shoulder, jammed a cap on her head, shoved in her earbuds,

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Chapter 49 Curtis Won’t Be in Love with Me

and stomped off toward the car.

M

Finished

Adriana sighed. Kids these days carried so much anger–they fought the world just to feel seen.

Tom dropped Belinda off first since she was a freshman and had a heavier workload.

She didn’t say a word or even glance back, just walked straight toward the gates.

But before she could reach the entrance, a few girls blocked her way.

“Belinda, you’re such a leech. Even Curtis’s done with you.”

“Stop pretending you’re some star student. Flirting with the school’s golden boy doesn’t make you the campus sweetheart–you’re a joke.”

The girls from the art school were even wilder than Adriana had imagined, bold enough to pick a fight right at the entrance.

Adriana’s expression darkened. She stepped out of the car, raised her phone, and started recording. “Harassing a student in public?” she said coldly. “Good. I’ll post this online. Let’s see how much attention you really like.”

The girls froze, staring at Adriana. “Who the hell are you? This isn’t your business.”

“I’m her aunt.” Adriana’s tone sharpened as her eyes fixed on them. “And this video? It’ll go straight to Curtis. You know him, right? The kind of man who doesn’t take kindly to people targeting his family. Think carefully about what that might cost you.”

“W–We were just messing around … ” one stammered, glancing nervously at Belinda. “Say something!”

Adriana looked at Belinda and, for a moment, saw her younger self from four years ago.

She hadn’t expected that even with Curtis behind her, Belinda could still be bullied.

Maybe it was because those girls knew she and Curtis shared no real blood relation.

They called her a leech, using the words “the one Curtis’s done with” to hurt her.

“I can choose not to post this,” Adriana said coldly, “but you’re going to apologize to her right now. And if you ever bully her again, I’ll not only post the video online–I’ll have Curtis come to your school himself.”

“Sorry…” The girls froze and exchanged glances, then muttered unwillingly before snorting and running off.

Belinda shot Adriana a glare. “Who asked you to butt in?”

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Chapter 49 Curtis Won’t Be in Love with Me

C

Finished

Adriana sighed. “When I was a freshman, I was bullied too. I didn’t fight back because I was an orphan–1 had no one behind me, no protection. I couldn’t afford the consequences of resisting. But you’re Curtis’s niece. He clearly cares about you. Why don’t you stand up for yourself?”

Belinda’s eyes reddened. She clenched her backpack straps. “What do you know? I’m an orphan too! I just live in his house… If I cause trouble and make him angry, what if he doesn’t want me anymore?”

She was afraid–afraid that if she upset anyone, Curtis would lose patience and abandon her.

“You really don’t seem to understand Curtis at all,” Adriana said softly. “If he didn’t care about you, he wouldn’t have kept you by his side and raised you all these years.”

Belinda let out a shaky laugh. “He raised me because of my mom. He loved her. After she died, he took me in. But I’m not his daughter, not even his real niece…

་་

Her voice cracked. “What if one day… he stops loving my mom and falls in love with you instead?”

Tears welled up and fell. She didn’t actually hate Adriana; she was just terrified–terrified of losing the only sense of security she had.

She was scared that Curtis would get married, scared he’d fall in love with someone else.

“Curtis won’t fall in love with me,” Adriana said quietly, lowering her gaze–though she didn’t know why those words made her chest ache just a little.

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