Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 159

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**

**Chapter 159: Observation**

Jeremy’s gaze was fixed intently on the butler, Arthur, whose expression shifted subtly, reminiscent of a fleeting shadow dancing across a pane of glass. Despite the undercurrents of tension, Arthur’s voice remained steady and composed. “Arthur, remind me. How long have you been in my service?”

With a slight adjustment of his posture, Arthur stood tall. “I began my journey as your assistant when I turned 38. Subsequently, I took on the role of the Bartons’ butler. It has been over two decades now, sir.”

Jeremy nodded slowly, the weight of those words sinking in.

More than two decades.

A vivid memory flooded back to him. Arthur had stepped into the Barton household the very same year that Jeremy had lost both his son and daughter-in-law in that tragic accident in Haldoria.

So, that was when the descent into darkness had truly begun.

A heaviness settled in Jeremy’s chest, akin to a boulder pressing against his heart. He tried to convince himself that he was unscathed, but deep down, he knew that was a lie he couldn’t quite accept.

For nearly thirty years, every individual he had nurtured and placed his trust in had revealed themselves as wolves, lurking and waiting for the moment to pounce on his vulnerability.

“I’m exhausted. I’ve grown too old for this,” Jeremy declared, rising from his seat. He clasped his hands behind his back, exhaling a long, weary sigh as he retreated to his room, seeking solace in the embrace of sleep.

Not long after, the front door creaked open, and the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. Danielle had returned home.

“Where’s Grandpa?” she inquired the moment her eyes fell upon the butler.

Arthur rushed to respond. “Ms. Danielle, Mr. Jeremy is resting. He mentioned he was feeling fatigued.”

Danielle nodded slightly, her expression contemplative. “Then I’ll wait for him.”

Her gaze lingered on Arthur for a moment, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “Has Grandpa done anything out of the ordinary lately?”

Arthur hesitated, weighing his words carefully before replying. “He called for Justin. Instructed him to come home.”

Danielle froze, her heart skipping a beat. “Justin?”

Justin Hotchner, the Bartons’ adopted son, was a name that carried both weight and complexity. Jeremy had plucked him from the depths of an orphanage years ago and raised him as if he were his own flesh and blood, grooming him to become the future heir of the Barton Group.

Everything within the family was meant for Nicole, but Jeremy harbored deep-seated doubts about her capacity to lead. Thus, he had prepared Justin to step into her shoes.

Danielle and her brother Chandler both harbored disdain for Justin. He was astute, perhaps too astute, and utterly unyielding.

Danielle had tried every trick in the book to win his favor—flattery, wealth, promises of a bright future. Yet, nothing had worked. Not even the most audacious of temptations.

She recalled the day she had boldly entered his room, completely bare, and he had still turned her away.

The memory ignited a fire of frustration within her. Her jaw clenched tightly, her molars grinding together in a futile attempt to suppress her anger.

She hated to admit it, but Justin had transformed into something extraordinary. A man who had clawed his way out of an orphanage, yet still radiated the brilliance of a polished gem. His elegance was not derived from wealth or lineage; it was an intrinsic quality woven into his very being. Anyone observing him would never suspect he had once been cast aside.

In the past, she had pursued Curtis, not out of love, but for the power his family name promised. She had never deluded herself into thinking it was anything more than that. Curtis wielded a tongue sharp enough to cut through steel, and no woman could genuinely fall for a man who wielded such venomous words with ease.

But Justin was different. He bore the scars of an orphaned past, yet he exuded the same quiet authority that characterized the Bartons. This created a peculiar illusion in her mind, as if he were someone she could possess, someone she could manipulate if she so desired. That notion alone quickened her pulse. Yet, he had never once acknowledged her presence.

“Where’s Grandpa?” Justin’s voice sliced through the room like a knife. He didn’t even spare her a glance.

“Mr. Justin, Mr. Jeremy is asleep,” the butler replied with a courteous smile. “You’ve grown even more impressive, sir.”

Justin’s reaction was minimal. His kind of beauty was not loud or flamboyant; it didn’t demand attention like Curtis’s boisterous charm. Rather, it was a clean, cold elegance, almost ethereal. He resembled a figure from a painting, a saint who had renounced all things human. His eyes were void of warmth and desire, embodying an unsettling stillness.

Danielle realized she couldn’t recall a single instance when his expression had shifted.

Perhaps the abandonment he had endured in his youth had constructed impenetrable walls around his heart. He did not flinch, did not yearn. Nothing seemed capable of stirring him.

For years, he had remained untouched by women, scandal-free, devoid of any trace of greed. Sometimes, Danielle mused that the only thing keeping him tethered to life was the sense of duty he felt towards Jeremy.

“I’m right here, you know!” Danielle snapped, her irritation bubbling to the surface.

Finally, Justin turned his head, his tone flat and devoid of emotion. “I didn’t see you there.”

He stood before her, devoid of any adornments—no jewelry, no watch, no embellishments. Just a tailored black suit that seemed to have been crafted specifically for him. His cuffs were simple, his hands unadorned. He had nothing to prove.