Ms. Escape: Marrying to Run, Fighting to Rise | Read Free Preview

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Chapter 1 — The Marriage Deal

A thirty-year-old man's desire was raw and blunt.
Adriana Xander had lost track of how long the sex had lasted. Her body felt like it was falling apart, drowning in lust so intense she could barely breathe.
Matthew Langford knew her body too well. He hit every sensitive spot with precision. Not a single touch was wasted. He was smooth and skilled.
"Clear my schedule for the week starting tomorrow. I'm taking time off. Book two tickets to Neocoralis." Finally done, Matthew stood by the bed, slowly getting dressed.
Adriana shifted her sore waist a bit, her eyes lighting up. "Matthew, you're taking me on vacation?"
Matthew paused, frowned slightly, and looked at her. "I'm going with Natasha."
The smile froze on Adriana's face. She lowered her head awkwardly, saying, "Okay, Mr. Langford ... "
Seeing her pale face, Matthew spoke again. "Adriana, you're just an orphan. You're young. I can't marry you."
Adriana looked up at him, forcing a bitter smile. "I never expected you to marry me ... But now that Ms. Jones is divorced and back, should we end this affair?"
Matthew's face darkened. He rubbed her head, trying to soothe her, and placed a card on the nightstand. "Be good. Buy whatever you want."
"Mr. Langford, I don't want to be a mistress ... " Adriana stared at him stubbornly. She knew he'd marry Natasha Jones eventually.
"You're talking too soon. We'll deal with it when the time comes. Don't throw tantrums. Whether we end this or not isn't up to you." Clearly impatient, Matthew glanced at her one last time and left.
As the door shut, Adriana's ears buzzed. She couldn't hear a thing.
Adriana was an orphan. Freshman year, her looks drew a rich mean girl Mia Langford's envy. Mia didn't stop at jealousy. She went so far as to bully her.
The bullying left her deaf in one ear, crushed her pinky toe, and nearly blinded her with a cigarette burn ...
Someone filmed it and posted it online. The scandal blew up.
The school called in the parents. Standing in for Mia was Matthew—her brother.
Maybe it was for the Langford Group's reputation, maybe out of pity, but Matthew reached out to the battered Adriana. The first thing he said to her was, "Don't be scared. I won't let anyone hurt you again."
Spineless. Pathetic. Adriana fell for him. At her most vulnerable, Matthew fed every fantasy she had about love and safety.
She used to think he was her salvation. But now ... he didn't love her. He just wouldn't let her go.
...
At the Langford Group.
Matthew had a meeting to handle his handover. Natasha waited in his office.
Soon, they'd be flying to Neocoralis together ... to spend seven romantic days ahead.
Adriana placed the coffee in front of Natasha, her chest aching like it was being sliced open. "Ms. Jones, enjoy your coffee."
Natasha glanced at her, smiling gently.
She came from a good family, perfectly matched with Matthew. They were childhood sweethearts. Natasha had that classy, elegant vibe. Born into wealth, effortlessly graceful—just sitting there, her confidence burned Adriana's eyes.
Adriana knew she lost. She never stood a chance.
A prince never really falls for a poor girl. He just used her to kill time.
Setting down the cup, Adriana practically fled the office.
She had no confidence. The orphan label, the poverty, the scars from the abuse—every inch of her screamed insecurity.
"Mr. Langford and Ms. Jones are going on their honeymoon? I heard they're official now. Once they're back, the engagement will be announced. Both families already gave their blessing."
In the pantry, coworkers gossiped about Matthew and Natasha's wedding.
As Adriana filled her cup, the boiling water splashed on her hand, turning her skin red.
The cup slipped from her hand and shattered. Startled, she rushed to rinse her burn under cold water.
Matthew and Natasha were getting married.
This meant she and Matthew were done. And so was her internship at the Langford Group.
"Adriana, Mr. Langford wants you to drive him and Ms. Jones to the airport at 11," a coworker called out.
Adriana forced a bitter smile. Matthew ... is ruthless.
She knew he was doing it on purpose. There were drivers available, but he picked her—to remind her of her place and to kill off any foolish hopes.
In the end, both Matthew and Mia were bullies. They just had different ways of breaking people.
One shattered her body. The other crushed her already broken heart.
Pulling out her phone, Adriana hesitated for a long time before dialing a number she had once blocked.
"Hello, Mr. Lincoln. You once said ... if I agreed to marry you, you'd sponsor my studies in Pastalia. Does that offer still stand?" Her voice trembled.
Marriage might be her only way out of Haldoria, also the only way to escape Matthew.
"Think it through," the man replied in a deep voice. "Come to Clarke Residence on the 13th at 7 p.m. We'll discuss the details."
The 13th. Eight days left.

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Chapter 2 — Will She Die?

"Hey, Anna." Adriana had just hung up when Natasha called her softly.
She turned around nervously, facing Natasha, who was standing in the pantry.
Too gentle. Too graceful. Even standing there with a smile made Adriana feel suffocated.
"M-Ms. Jones, what can I do for you?"
"I just remembered I still need to pick up a few things for the trip. Could you help me get them?" Natasha handed her a handwritten list.
Her handwriting, like her, was neat and delicate.
Adriana froze for a moment. One word hit her like a knife—condoms.
"Thank you. Keep it between us," Natasha whispered with a wink.
Adriana nodded awkwardly and almost fled the pantry.
She had just turned 19 the first time with Matthew. It was her birthday. He gave her flowers and a cake.
As an orphan, she'd never even had birthday cake. That little cake and bouquet completely swept her off her feet. She gave him everything.
Bitterly, Adriana smiled at herself. What a joke.
Girls really do need to grow up rich. Otherwise, one cake is all it takes for a man to trick you.
Four years with Matthew, yet she had never once bought condoms. He didn't like them, so he always made her take pills.
But for Natasha? Of course, he couldn't bear to make her take pills. Too harmful, right?
...
On the way to the airport, Adriana stayed silent the whole time.
"We're tight on time. Drive faster," Matthew deliberately reminded her, sensing her mood.
"Yes, Mr. Langford." Adriana nodded and turned left on the green light.
The car ahead had just crossed when suddenly a boy ran through the red light. Adriana swerved hard to avoid him and crashed straight into the median.
"Natasha!" At the moment of impact, Matthew shielded Natasha in his arms.
Luckily, the speed wasn't high. Only the driver's side was badly damaged.
The airbag burst out. The crumpled frame pinned Adriana tightly against the seat. Her left leg was trapped, pain blurring her senses.
"Matthew ... " Terrified, her voice trembled. "Help me ... "
She was terrified of being trapped in tight spaces, unable to move.
Back in her freshman year, Mia once shoved her into a wooden crate and locked her inside. No matter how hard she screamed, cried, or pounded, no one came.
The crushing pressure, the suffocating air—it was pure hell.
If the janitor hadn't noticed the urine stain on the floor the next morning, she would've died in there.
"Matthew!" Seeing him about to get out of the car, Adriana panicked, forgetting that Natasha was right there. "Don't leave me—"
"Let the rescue team and traffic police handle it."
Matthew stepped out, shielding Natasha, his face dark. He called for rescue.
"She's still in there." Natasha glanced at him, a bit suspicious. Assistants weren't supposed to call their boss by name like that.
Matthew pulled Natasha into his arms, shot a cold glance at the trapped Adriana, and then checked the time. "No time. The crash wasn't bad. We'll grab a cab to the airport. They'll get her out."
Matthew nodded, glanced at Adriana with meaning, but said nothing. She followed him away from the wreck.
Adriana lost it. She pounded on the window, struggling wildly. But Matthew never once looked back.
She knew he was afraid Natasha would get the wrong idea.
Watching him leave, her emotions finally broke. She sobbed uncontrollably. "Matthew! Help me ... You promised you'd never leave me ...
"Liar! You're a liar, Matthew! You said you'd protect me!"
Her breakdown spiraled quickly. The depression and mania sent her into a frenzy, thrashing in the tiny space.
Her injuries weren't serious at first, but now she was hurting herself without even realizing it.
"Let me out ... Let me out!" she screamed, pounding on the window.
The old trauma from freshman year clouded her mind, making it impossible to think straight, until the sharp smell of smoke from the engine filled the car.
"The car's on fire!"
"There's no one inside; I saw them leave!"
People on the road were shouting.
Adriana sat trapped, hopeless, counting under her breath.
"One, two, three, four ... "
The night Mia locked her in that box, she counted all the way to 6,788.
She wondered, At what number will I die this time?

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Chapter 3 — Out of Matthew's Reach

Guess she was just too stubborn to die. Thankfully, she was saved.
When she woke up, it was already the next morning.
"Fractured right arm, mild concussion, multiple soft tissue injuries ... "
The doctor stood by her bed, looking at her. "Anything else uncomfortable?"
Adriana shook her head, picked up her phone, and checked it. Not a single call from Matthew.
But the man who never posted anything on his Instagram had, for once, posted a picture. The photo showed a crystal blue sea with a gorgeous view ...
Of course, the real focus was on Natasha in her Bohemian dress. She looked stunning—more beautiful than the scenery itself.
Adriana curled up, pulled the blanket over her head, and cried.
Four years with Matthew, and what was she to him?
Nothing.
...
Adriana returned to her tiny apartment after her discharge, took an ibuprofen, and fell asleep.
She had nerves of steel—slept a whole day and finally felt human again.
After sticking on a few pain relief patches, she dragged herself back to work.
She needed that intern paycheck.
"Did you see Mr. Langford's post? God, he's so whipped! He never posts anything but made an exception just for Ms. Jones!"
"OMG, He's such a good guy! Stayed single all these years and kept his distance from other women. He's always waiting just for her!"
The moment Adriana stepped into the office, she overheard her coworkers gossiping.
She let out a bitter laugh and sat at her desk.
Yeah, Matthew loves Natasha.
But kept his distance from other women? That's so funny.
Adriana found it ironic. Men are all the same. Love and sex are two separate things for them.
He loved Natasha with his heart. But his body? That had been with her plenty of times.
"Ms. Langford, this is a work area. Mr. Langford said—"
Suddenly, noise came from the elevator.
Adriana glanced over—and her blood instantly ran cold.
Mia had arrived.
"Get out of my way!" Mia stormed in, high heels clacking, dressed head-to-toe in luxury. She walked straight up to Adriana.
Adriana shrank back, head down, shoulders hunched. The shadow of that bullying from freshman year had never really faded.
"Adriana, Matthew's coming back today," Mia whispered in her ear like a devil. "He and Natasha are getting married."
She let out a mocking laugh. "Four years ago, I told you—the day Matthew dumps you is the day you die ... "
Adriana froze.
Four years had passed, and Mia still wouldn't let her go.
Smack! In front of everyone, Mia slapped Adriana across the face.
Adriana didn't fight back. She didn't even say anything.
She had no choice. She just had to take it, because there was no way she could mess with Mia.
Even though she'd fantasized about killing her a million times, as long as she wanted to stay alive, she couldn't make a move.
If one day she really had enough of living, she'd take Mia down with her.
But for now ... she was pathetic and desperate to live.
"Remember this slap?" Mia sneered. "Back then, Matthew hit me because of you. The first time in my life he ever laid a hand on me—and then he shipped me off overseas! All because of you!" She grabbed the coffee on the table and poured it right over Adriana's head.
"You think landing Matthew means you've won? Who do you think you are? An orphan. That's all you'll ever be. Do you really think he'd marry you?"
Mia shoved Adriana's head down, her tone getting nastier. "Get out of the Langford Group. Or I'll leak all your dirty secrets to the company chat."
Adriana kept her head down. Silent.
Dirty secrets? Does she mean when she and her friends stripped me naked during freshman year and took those photos? Or the fact that I slept with Matthew?
No one in the office dared to speak up for Adriana, because Mia was the heiress of the company.
After Mia finally left, a coworker cautiously whispered, "Adriana ... how'd you get on the wrong side of the Langfords?"
Adriana smiled and wiped her face with a tissue. "We were classmates in college. Had some drama."
...
In the restroom.
Adriana hid in a corner, fixing her clothes.
She didn't cry.
Back in her freshman year, she would've cried like a child over how unfair life was.
Was it her fault that she was an orphan?
Did having no family mean she deserved to be bullied?
Now she understood. Being an orphan was original sin. No background, no protection—that's all people needed to crush you.
Bullies never need a reason.
Beep!
Her phone buzzed. A transfer notification—Matthew had wired her 50 grand through PayPal.
The drama at work today was loud enough. He must've heard Mia slapped her.
Wow! Fifty grand for a slap.
Not bad.
"I already called and yelled at Mia. Go buy yourself something."
His voice message came right after.
Same line as always—go buy something.
"Thank you, Mr. Langford."
Adriana accepted the money. She earned it. She'd take it.
She stared at their chat for a while. Some part of her was hoping for more. Hoping he'd at least ask if she got hurt in that car accident. But nothing.
She shut off her phone and went to HR to file her resignation. Since she was just an intern, the process was simple.
Tomorrow is the 13th. She had a meeting that night at the Clarke Residence with Curtis Lincoln.
If she nailed this deal, she could finally get out of the Haldoria city.
Out of Matthew's reach.

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