Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 132

**Chapter 132: No Hard Feelings**

Adriana sat there, her demeanor radiating an air of innocence; there was no trace of anger on her face.

Curtis, ever observant, leaned in, his brow furrowing slightly. “Did my grandpa swing by and get under your skin?” he prodded gently, his gaze fixed on her with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

With a soft shake of her head, Adriana replied, “No, it’s alright. I understand why he feels the way he does. After all, with someone like you, there are bound to be countless girls who would love to be in your orbit.”

Curtis fell silent, contemplating her words. Instead of responding, he pulled her closer, guiding her down onto the couch beside him. He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her onto his lap in a gesture that felt both comforting and intimate.

Adriana felt a flush creep up to her ears. Was this crossing a line? It felt a bit too close for comfort, but if Curtis, her sugar daddy, wanted to hold her like this, who was she to resist?

“My family has faced a lot over the years,” Curtis began, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. “My grandpa… he has a strong dislike for women who approach our family with hidden intentions. While I can see where he’s coming from, it doesn’t excuse him for blindly believing every piece of gossip he hears,” he continued, a hint of frustration creeping into his tone. He knew deep down that his grandfather had overstepped with Adriana. “But don’t worry—I’ll take care of him.”

Adriana frowned slightly, shaking her head. “But he’s your grandfather, Curtis. Confronting him would put you in an awkward position.”

She could sense the weight of the situation pressing down on him. It wouldn’t be easy for him to continually argue with someone who was supposed to be a pillar of his family.

“We have a follow-up appointment next week. If they confirm that I’m really pregnant, it might ease the conversation when you talk to him,” Adriana said, her voice hopeful yet tinged with anxiety. She desperately wanted the results to be positive, not just for her sake, but for Curtis as well.

With a gentle touch, Curtis placed his hand on her belly, a soft smile breaking through his earlier concern. “I’ve been putting in a lot of effort around here. Our little one better contribute too, right?”

Adriana couldn’t help but chuckle at his playful tone. “Yeah, let’s hope they’re a little overachiever!”

—

At the Silverwave Hotel, Irene returned to her room, her high heels discarded carelessly by the door as she flopped onto her bed.

“I’m absolutely drained!” she exclaimed, her voice echoing slightly in the spacious room.

Just then, a man emerged from the bathroom, his hair still damp from a recent shower. The buzz cut he sported added an extra edge to his already tough demeanor.

“Gary, come over here and give my legs a good massage,” Irene commanded, rolling onto her back, her legs stretching out invitingly for him to knead.

Gary felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. They had been involved for so long that it felt as if they were practically married. Yet, Irene insisted on keeping their relationship a secret, claiming it made things “more thrilling.”

“Your nephew’s wife is pregnant. Finally, your sister’s family is getting another generation,” Irene remarked, her tone weary as she tried to lighten the mood.

For a brief moment, Gary’s expression tightened, a frown flickering across his face. He fell silent, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.

People often joked that nephews tended to resemble their uncles, and in truth, Gary bore a striking resemblance to Curtis.

Noticing the silence enveloping him, Irene turned her head slightly. “How long are you planning to hold a grudge against him? You can’t place all the blame on him for what happened to your sister; he was just a kid back then. You can’t pin your sister’s death on him; he didn’t want to lose his mother either,” she said, her voice firm yet compassionate.

Gary continued to massage Irene’s legs, pressing a little too hard in his frustration.

Irene sensed a shift in his mood immediately. “Let me guess—your dad is pressuring you about marriage and starting a family?”

At thirty-five, Gary was no longer a young man, even if he was three years her junior.

After his sister’s tragic passing, Samuel Harrison had no other heirs, leaving Gary as the sole descendant…

Much like the Lincolns, where Curtis, too, stood as the only heir.

Both families were now intensely focused on the idea of grandchildren.

Adriana’s pregnancy with Curtis’s child meant she held a significant link to the Lincoln legacy.

“It’s becoming serious,” Gary admitted, his hands still moving as he playfully tugged at Irene’s clothes.

“I can’t give you a baby,” Irene stated firmly, her resolve unwavering.

A woman had to prioritize her own life.

Once she became a mother, she feared she would lose her sense of self.

She cherished her current lifestyle—simple and free. Gary was into her, and for now, that was enough. But the moment he wasn’t? She would simply walk away. No complications, no attachments, no hard feelings.