Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 117

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**
**Chapter 117: Adriana’s Restless Heart**

Adriana approached the back seat of the car with the intention of slipping inside, but the stubborn door refused to cooperate. With a slight frown, she leaned forward and caught Curtis’s eye. “Curtis, the door won’t open,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

“Just sit up front,” he replied softly, his gaze steady on her.

With a resigned nod, Adriana climbed into the passenger seat, the familiar scent of the car enveloping her like a comforting blanket.

“Do you want to grab some of those dumplings near your school?” Curtis asked, his tone casual, yet there was an undercurrent of concern in his voice.

A flicker of excitement sparked in Adriana’s eyes, and she nodded enthusiastically. But then, reality struck her like a cold wave. “Wait, how did you know I haven’t eaten yet?” she asked, her surprise evident.

Curtis let out a small sigh, a sound that spoke volumes.

It was obvious to him that she had rushed out at this hour, a clear indication that something was amiss—most likely a spat with Matthew that led her to skip dinner.

“You had a fight with Matthew?” he ventured, glancing at her with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

“No,” she replied, her voice dropping to a whisper, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.

Curtis shifted the conversation, trying to lighten the mood. “How did that girl you’re sponsoring do on her exams?”

Adriana froze momentarily, the question catching her off guard. She hesitated, the silence stretching between them like a taut string.

He studied her face but chose not to push further.

“She did well. She got top 20 in the whole state,” Adriana finally responded, her fingers nervously twisting together, betraying her inner turmoil.

“It’s not me sponsoring her. It’s Matthew,” she added softly, almost as if she were trying to convince herself.

Curtis remained silent, the understanding between them palpable.

The rest of the drive unfolded in a blanket of quietude. Adriana gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting far from the present moment.

Upon reaching their destination, Curtis parked the car, stepped out, and without a word, extended his hand toward her.

Adriana stole a glance at him, but her mind was still tangled in the web of thoughts surrounding that photo and video Matthew had shown her. The lengths he had gone to for Cynthia—scheming, paying her to pose as a decoy—only to end up marrying someone else. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Want some yogurt?” Curtis asked as they passed a small stand, breaking her reverie.

Snapping back to reality, Adriana nodded eagerly. “My treat.”

Curtis remained silent, a subtle hint of disapproval in his demeanor. After she had placed her order for two fruit yogurts, he quietly took out his wallet and paid for them.

“Hey, I said I’d pay,” Adriana protested, a flush creeping up her cheeks. She could at least manage to cover the cost of yogurt.

“You’re right,” Adriana replied quietly, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in. She didn’t have the energy to explain the humiliating compromises she had made just to secure Matthew’s financial support for her education.

“So, Adriana, what we should focus on is how to be more useful to Matthew,” Liana suggested with a newfound confidence, her words dripping with challenge. It was clear she saw this as a competition. “Good grades don’t mean everything.”

What did it matter if Adriana had better grades? Liana didn’t seem to think she was any less capable.

“Good luck,” Adriana said after a long pause, her voice steady. “I don’t need to be useful to anyone. I just need to live with myself. And by the way, I’m married.”

A stunned silence enveloped the line. “You’re married?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s your husband like? Bet he’s not as good as Matthew, right? You gave up because you couldn’t have him? Adriana, that’s such a loser move.” Liana’s laughter rang out, mocking and sharp.

“I’m busy. Study hard,” Adriana replied calmly, cutting the conversation short as she hung up the phone.

Curtis, meanwhile, had been quietly preparing their meal. He broke apart the disposable cutlery, smoothing the rough edges to ensure they wouldn’t prick her hand, and then handed it to her.

Setting her phone aside, Adriana managed a faint smile. “Thanks.”

Curtis didn’t respond, but the silence between them was heavy with unspoken words. No matter how hard he tried to bridge the gap, there always seemed to be an invisible barrier between them—and he loathed it.