Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 14

14 How Little My Life Means to Him

When Adriana returned to the apartment, she found Matthew already there, sprawled casually on the couch, waiting for her in silence.

“Don’t you think you’ve gone too far this time?” he asked quietly, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for an answer. “You even moved out. Is this your way of protesting now?”

Adriana took a hesitant step closer, her voice rough and strained. “You’re going to give that study abroad spot back, right? I told you about it six months ago. You knew how much it meant to me. You promised.”

She sank down in front of him, locking eyes with him, her body taut with tension and desperation.

She had reminded him countless times, yet every single instance, he dismissed it as if it were trivial.

Matthew faltered for a moment. A flicker of guilt crossed his face, but his pride wouldn’t let him admit he’d been wrong. “It’s just a study abroad program,” he muttered under his breath.

The truth was, he did remember—she had been talking about it for months. But when Natasha mentioned her cousin wanting the spot yesterday, it completely slipped his mind.

“This matters to me, Matthew,” Adriana’s voice trembled. “I’ve never begged you for anything before. Please… just this once, help me.”

He could call her weak or useless if he wanted. It no longer mattered.

All she needed was this one chance to change her life.

“I’ll take care of you if you can’t go,” Matthew said flatly. “Anything you want, I’ll give it to you.” He was reluctant to break his promise to Natasha—he’d already made the phone call.

Adriana stared at him, then suddenly stood up, her voice breaking as she shouted, “I don’t want that! I don’t want your pity or your gifts. I’m not some pet you keep around to throw scraps at when you feel guilty!”

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she backed away, her eyes fierce. “I want this opportunity.”

She would rather fight and claw her way forward than live trapped and silent forever.

But she was just an orphan, born with nothing. Everything she had fought for could be lost in an instant.

That’s why this chance mattered so much. Why she needed him.

“I earned it. I worked hard. My grades put me at the top. How could you just hand it away like it was nothing?” Her voice cracked under the weight of her frustration and pain.

She couldn’t turn to Curtis—he had told her not to go abroad yet.

All she wanted was this one year. Just one shot to learn from Devan Harrett.

So Matthew was her only hope.

And somehow, he had become the very person to shatter that hope. He stole it from her.

That’s why she was so furious with him.

“Why would you do this to me, Matthew…” she whispered, voice breaking.

We were together for four years. Doesn’t that mean anything to him?

Adriana had already been battling depression, and this blow hit her like a tidal wave. Her body went numb, her fingers digging into her palms so tightly that blood began to seep through.

“Adriana, stop,” Matthew said quickly, panic rising in his voice.

He pulled her into a hug, trying to soothe her. “I’ll talk to Natasha, okay? I’ll tell her cousin to give the spot back. Just breathe. Deep breaths…”

When Adriana was discharged from the hospital, she needed six months of therapy. The therapist had warned Matthew repeatedly not to trigger her.

At first, he had been cautious and patient.

But over time, Adriana grew so quiet, so compliant, that he forgot about the trauma and invisible scars she carried.

Clinging to his shirt like she was drowning, Adriana sobbed so hard she struggled to breathe.

“I’ll get it for you,” Matthew promised again, trying to calm her.

Her sobs gradually softened, but her face remained pale and distant. She let out a dry, bitter laugh.

He’s going to get it for me?

That spot was mine from the beginning. He took it from me and handed it over to Natasha’s cousin. And now he wants credit for trying to give it back?

“Matthew… this isn’t just some random thing to me,” Adriana said, her voice low but steady. “It means everything.”

This opportunity meant everything to her.

And Matthew knew it. He knew Adriana wouldn’t survive being crushed like this again.

She had battled self-harm and suicidal thoughts four years ago. If something like this pushed her over the edge now, it could break her completely.

He knew all of this. He always had.

She painted herself as the victim, saying William Pena abused her, that her family forced her into it, and that she had suffered for years.

Matthew’s grip tightened around the phone. His voice came out low. “I’m sorry…”

He blamed himself for not protecting her, for letting her get trapped in that marriage, and for everything she endured while she was away.

“I’m not scared anymore,” Natasha said softly through tears. “Now that I’m back, knowing you waited for me… it means the world.”

Matthew’s chest tightened painfully. I can’t tell her about Adriana or the program.

“Anyway, what made you call so late?” Natasha asked, sniffling.

***

“Nothing important. I just wanted to check on you. I was worried you’d have a bad dream.” His tone was gentle.

“Thanks…” she replied sweetly. “Will you come to the beach with me tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

After hanging up, Matthew leaned forward, rubbing his face with both hands. He just couldn’t say no to her. In the end, he decided to let Adriana take the fall, thinking he would make it up to her somehow. He would find a way to compensate her, no matter what it took.

Back at the apartment, Adriana stayed awake all night, sitting on the couch, staring into the darkness, waiting for Matthew’s call.

But it never came.

Not until ten the next morning.

When the phone finally rang, she scrambled to answer, her voice rough and barely above a whisper. “Matthew…”

“Adriana,” he said calmly. “I’m sorry. Just let Cheryl have the spot. Tell me what you want. I’ll make it up to you.”

He sounded as if he was doing her a favor—as if he were tossing her a reward from above.

Adriana froze, then began to tremble uncontrollably.

In the end, Matthew still decided I was the one who had to lose. All just to keep Natasha smiling.

Now I understand. This is how little my life means to him—not even enough to compete with a single smile from Natasha.