Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 37

• • 10 Free Calls

Curtis wore a robe, his hair messy–clearly only just woken up. “It’s Monday,” he said. “City Hall’s open. Let’s to Lake care of the paperwork.”

Adriana was surprised. So soon? Wasn’t it supposed to be Friday?

“Um… okay,” Adriana nodded.

“We still have time. Are you sure you don’t want to think it over?” Curtis looked down at her.

His face showed little emotion, but his eyes held a deeper meaning. “Being my wife–even just on paper–isn’t going to be easy.”

“I understand,” Adriana nodded. “I’ll try my best. If I mess up, please tell me, Mr. Lincoln. I’ll fix it.”

Curtis looked at her, like he wanted to say more but didn’t.

He turned to go downstairs, then stopped at the top of the stairs and looked back at Adriana. “You’re here to be my wife, not housekeeper. There’s no ‘doing well‘ or ‘doing poorly.‘ Just be yourself.”

Adriana froze for a moment. She couldn’t quite figure Curtis out.

Thinking it over, she realized she’d never understood him from the start.

Logically, if Curtis wanted someone obedient and easy to control, he had plenty of options. There were plenty of orphans out there. So why did he choose her, especially when she’d been involved with Matthew for four years?

Wasn’t that risky? Did he really choose her because her face reminded him of his first love?

He called it a contract marriage, but Curtis had been unusually lenient with her. Sometimes, it almost made her believe… maybe he could be a good husband.

She shook her head, amused at her own thoughts.

No matter how many questions she had, she wasn’t going to ask Curtis anymore.

She needed this “job.”

City Hall.

On the way there, neither of them said a word.

“You still have time to back out,” Curtis said before they went in to complete the procedure.

He was giving her one last chance to change her mind.

Adriana looked up at him. “The contract ends when your grandpa … passes away, right?”

She just wanted to be sure, to know when she’d finally be free.

“Yeah.” Curtis nodded.

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7:01 pm G ppp

Chapter 37 Legally Married

Adriana smiled at hini. “Then I don’t have any other questions/

*19 Fine Coins

Curtis froze for a second at her smile, then came back to his senses and reached out to take her hand as they walked in.

Adriana’s fingers stiffened a bit. Being held so intimately it was a first for her.

During her four years with Matthew, he had never held her hand in public. Even at home, he’d only ever grab her wrist….

To Adriana, holding hands was something intimate.

Maybe Curtis is just doing it for show, to make it look real to the City Hall staff. That’s what she told herself anyway..

Curtis’s hand was big and warm. Somehow, being held like that made her feel safe.

Looking at Curtis’s back, Adriana suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity.

But… she and Curtis had only met a few times.

The whole process went smoothly, and soon, they had their marriage certificate in hand.

Adriana had never imagined she would get married one day–she always knew Matthew would never marry her.

But life could be full of surprises. Here she was, legally married, and to one of Harborton’s most powerful figures at that.

She couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

When Curtis saw her smiling, his eyes softened too.

“I’ll keep this,” he said, gently taking the certificate from her hand.

Adriana looked up at him and nodded. “Mr.–I mean, Curtis, aren’t you working today?”

Curtis naturally took her hand again and led her out. “Not today. I’m taking you shopping.”

Adriana was stunned, staring at their joined hands. Yes… even a contract marriage has to look real, right?

“Shopping?” she asked once they got in the car.

“Even if it’s just a contract marriage, Grandpa sees it as a real one. If I don’t buy you anything after we’re married, he’ll be upset,” Curtis explained.

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