Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 147

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**
**Chapter 147 Goodnight, Adriana**

It was painfully clear that Adriana was utterly drained.

Perhaps it was the pregnancy that left her feeling so fatigued, but lately, the weariness had become a constant companion.

Curtis, ever the attentive husband, chose not to rouse her from her slumber. Instead, he gently lifted her in his arms, cradling her as he made his way home, careful not to disturb her rest.

As he stepped out of the bedroom after laying Adriana down, Kenneth awaited him, a stack of invitations in hand. “Mr. Lincoln, I wanted to let you know that there’s a homecoming party tomorrow for Mr. Yannick Blake’s daughter. You know, the president of the Haldoria Chamber of Commerce? Since you’re in Haldoria, I assume you’ll be attending, right?”

Curtis sighed, taking the two invitations—one for himself and one for Adriana. “Alright, I got it.”

He loathed these insincere social gatherings, where smiles were as fake as the pleasantries exchanged. However, he knew he couldn’t escape this one. Adriana, as his wife, was expected to accompany him.

If he didn’t bring her, he would be inundated with women vying for his attention all night long, and that was a scenario he wanted to avoid at all costs.

Meanwhile, in the sanctuary of their bedroom, Adriana tossed and turned, trapped in a restless sleep. Ever since she had married Curtis, she had enjoyed peaceful nights, but whenever he was absent, nightmares would creep in, shattering her tranquility.

Perhaps this fear stemmed from her childhood. Safety had always felt like a fleeting concept for her.

“Curtis… don’t leave me…”

The whisper of her plea echoed in the stillness, a reflection of her deep-seated terror of abandonment.

Having been adopted twice only to be returned each time had left scars on her heart. Then came Matthew, who she had thought would be her savior, but he too had walked away, leaving her in despair.

She couldn’t shake the nagging thought that Curtis, too, would eventually leave her.

“Curtis!”

Adriana jolted awake, her heart racing. She gasped, her eyes darting around the room, searching for the familiar silhouette of her husband. But he was nowhere to be found.

A wave of panic washed over her.

“Curtis…”

With bare feet hitting the cold floor, she dashed out of the bedroom, desperate to find him. Those fleeting moments between sleep and consciousness were always the most terrifying for her. In that hazy state, rational thought eluded her, and fear took the reins.

“Adriana?” Curtis, hearing the commotion, rushed upstairs and enveloped her in his arms. “What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream?”

In that moment, as he held her close, reality began to seep back into Adriana’s mind. The more aware she became, the more her fear intensified. I think I’m starting to depend on Curtis. The thought sent shivers down her spine. What if she lost him?

With Matthew, she had always maintained a sense of distance, reminding herself that their relationship was doomed from the start. But with Curtis, the stakes felt different. Even though she understood that their marriage was temporary, her heart had inexplicably begun to entwine with his.

Her thoughts spiraled as she wondered how that little girl was faring now.

With a click, the apartment door swung open; the passcode remained unchanged, known only to Irene and Gary.

Gary entered, holding a paternity test report. “The results are back.”

Irene, just out of the shower, her hair damp and clad only in a bathrobe, looked up with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. “Will it disappoint me?”

“I didn’t peek. You should see for yourself,” Gary replied, placing the report beside her.

“My nephew, Joe, is at the police station. I asked him to keep tabs on your sister and brother-in-law’s murder case. He mentioned they recently apprehended a suspect—a man who attempted to harm an orphan in the hospital, muttering that ‘she should have died long ago.'” Gary’s voice was laced with uncertainty, unsure if it was mere coincidence.

Irene stood abruptly, her heart racing as she fixed her gaze on Gary. “Where’s the suspect?”

“Joe said the man is mentally ill. He’s been sent to the psychiatric ward following his evaluation.” Gary sighed, wrapping his arms around her, sensing her disappointment yet aware that her instincts were still on high alert.

“How could a mentally ill man pick out a specific orphan in a hospital full of people? Get in touch with Joe for me. I want every detail about that case.”

Gary nodded, picking up the paternity test report once more. “Aren’t you going to open it? I remember you saying… if this is your niece, you’d marry me.”

He teased, hoping to coax a smile from her amidst the tension.