Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 140

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**
**Chapter 140: Where Did You Learn That From?**

“Curtis, do you want a boy or a girl?” Adriana’s voice was gentle, almost like a whisper carried on the wind.

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“I like both. Boy or girl, I don’t care, as long as our baby comes into the world safely,” Curtis replied, reaching out to affectionately ruffle Adriana’s hair once more. The gesture was playful, yet it held a warmth that wrapped around her heart like a cozy blanket.

Adriana narrowed her eyes, a flicker of suspicion dancing in her gaze. That gesture felt oddly familiar, stirring up memories she couldn’t quite place.

“When I was a kid, I met this older boy who had a Labrador. He would always ruffle the Labrador’s head and then mine,” she recalled, her voice softening as she spoke. She turned to Curtis, her expression thoughtful.

Back in those days, when light was just a distant concept, she had no idea what the boy looked like. Yet, she distinctly remembered the Labrador, its warm body always beside her, tongue lolling out, eagerly waiting for a gentle scratch on the head just like she was.

Getting her head rubbed had become a source of comfort for Adriana, a simple pleasure that resonated deep within her.

I am probably just like a stray puppy, she mused internally. I just want a shelter, a place to belong.

Curtis’s fingers stilled momentarily, and he spoke with a quiet conviction. “I didn’t ruffle the Labrador’s head and then yours… I always ruffled your head first, then patted the Labrador.”

Adriana, lost in her thoughts while slurping up noodles, didn’t quite catch his words. She looked up at him, curiosity piqued. “What did you say?”

A smile blossomed on Curtis’s face, and he deftly shifted the conversation. “Do you want to get a puppy?” His hope was that Adriana could have a furry companion at home, a little creature to share her days with.

“Can I?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement, a light igniting within her.

There was a time when she had found a stray dog and brought it home without telling anyone. But Matthew had discovered her secret and had been furious, his disdain for animals leaving no room for negotiation. She had to give the dog away, her heart aching at the loss.

“Why not? This is your home,” Curtis said, resting his chin on his hand, watching her with a fondness that made her heart flutter.

Adriana’s heart raced at the thought. “But… since I’m pregnant, aren’t you worried a pet might be unsafe?”

“No. As long as you get a puppy from a reputable breeder, have it checked at the animal hospital, and bring it home after a bath, it’s totally safe,” he reassured her, his tone steady and calming.

“Then… can it be a Labrador?” A smile crept onto Adriana’s face, memories of her childhood flooding back. She had always had a soft spot for Labradors, perhaps because of that comforting memory.

Back then, when tears would flow, the Labrador would come to her side, offering solace just by being there.

The housekeeper had once told her that the Labrador was a therapy dog, meant to ease the pain of those who needed it most.

“Sure,” Curtis nodded, a smile breaking across his face.

Adriana’s heart soared, and she leaned over to plant a kiss on Curtis’s cheek, her joy bubbling over.

Sucking up to your sugar daddy always gets you more rewards—a classic Bonnie quote, she thought mischievously.

You really can’t judge a person by what you see or hear, she reminded herself.

“If you don’t want to go, you can just wait at home for me,” Curtis suggested, his voice gentle. He simply didn’t want Adriana to feel lonely while staying home alone. With Eva at the hospital with Cynthia, there was no one to keep her company.

“Let’s go together!” Adriana exclaimed, her mind racing with a plan. If she accompanied Curtis, Cynthia would have no reason to keep him there. With Eva and Belinda already present, Cynthia wouldn’t truly need Curtis’s presence. Just because he owed her didn’t mean she could use him like this.

“I’ll eat faster.” Adriana began to devour her pasta, though a hint of disappointment lingered in her heart. Curtis’s cooking was divine, and now she felt rushed to finish it.

“No need to hurry, eat slowly. Eva and Belinda are both there, and there are doctors at the hospital. We’re not the ones doing the emergency care, so we’d just be waiting around anyway,” Curtis said calmly, pouring her a glass of water with a reassuring smile.

He had already instructed Eva to keep an eye on things and to call if there was any real emergency.

Since it was Belinda who called instead of Eva, it likely wasn’t as urgent as it sounded.

Adriana’s fingers stilled for a moment as she glanced at Curtis, her thoughts swirling.

What he said made sense, and a sense of calm washed over her.

Quietly, she finished her pasta and took her plate to the sink, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Curtis wrapped his arms around her from behind, helping her wash the dishes in a way that felt intimately close.

Adriana’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she felt his warmth enveloping her. This move… is seriously way too intimate.