Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 161

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 161**

**Chapter 161: Jeremy’s Plan**

The clock ticked steadily as Jeremy let out a deep, weary breath, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on him. The insatiable hunger for power that had consumed Chandler had morphed into a grotesque beast, one that Jeremy had never anticipated.

Reflecting on his past decisions, he realized that his greatest error had been extending a hand of mercy to the family. He had welcomed them into the Bartons’ fold when he should have firmly closed the door. Now, they had grown too entrenched, too powerful to simply be cast aside.

All he could do now was wait. Wait for Nicole to return home.

“Chandler and Danielle are gaining strength,” Jeremy murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “When Nicole comes back, she’ll need someone strong by her side. You must protect her.”

Justin nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Jeremy’s words.

Danielle had labeled him the Bartons’ lapdog, and perhaps there was some truth to that. Yet, if he were to serve anyone, it would be the genuine Nicole, the one who deserved his loyalty.

At the Blakes’ extravagant banquet, Nicole had caused quite the stir, a spectacle that echoed through the halls of high society long after the event had ended. Whispers spread like wildfire, painting her as nothing more than a common girl masquerading in the finery of the elite.

They ridiculed her, likening her to a swan raised among ducks, destined to waddle like the rest.

That night, Adriana had intentionally provoked Nicole, hoping to see her unravel and humiliate herself. What she hadn’t anticipated was the collateral damage it would inflict on the Bartons as well.

Yet, Jeremy remained unfazed. The Barton Group was a fortress, impervious to the slings and arrows of gossip. Nicole’s misstep was merely a scratch on their polished surface—painful, yes, but far from fatal.

“Adriana! Get out here! Can you hear me? Get your ass out here!”

Nicole’s voice sliced through the calm air surrounding the villa, sharp and demanding. She had bided her time, waiting until she was certain Curtis was absent before daring to confront Adriana.

On the second-floor balcony, Adriana was methodically folding clothes into her suitcase. The sound of Nicole’s outburst drew her attention. She stepped over to peer down, spotting Nicole at the gate, her face flushed with rage.

Adriana sighed, her patience wearing thin. She felt no sympathy for Nicole; the girl was not just foolish—she was utterly pathetic. An embarrassment to Jeremy, who had once held her in high regard.

“Adriana! You think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you?” Nicole shouted up at her, her voice dripping with venom. “Well, guess what? My grandpa knows everything you people did to me. He sent someone to protect me! He’s powerful too, stronger than Curtis! Just wait—you’ll be the one begging for mercy when I’m through with you!”

Nicole’s voice cracked under the strain of her shouting, her certainty that Adriana’s marriage would crumble fueling her anger.

“You hear me, you fake?” Nicole screamed louder when Adriana remained silent. “When Curtis leaves you, you’ll be nothing but a joke. Just a sad little nobody who thought she mattered!”

Adriana leaned against the railing, observing Nicole’s meltdown with a detached amusement. The girl was stomping and flailing her arms like a street performer in the midst of a tantrum.

So this is what a clown truly looks like, she mused to herself.

“Adriana! Don’t ignore me! Get down here right now!”

Adriana almost chuckled at the absurdity of it all. But just then, her gaze caught a familiar car turning into the driveway. Curtis was back. Her heart soared, and a radiant smile broke across her face. She turned away from the balcony and dashed down the stairs, her steps light and quick.

For the first time in a while, her mood was effervescent. Curtis had promised her a getaway.

When he had asked her where she wished to go, she hadn’t hesitated for a moment. “Neocoralis,” she had declared, her heart racing at the thought.

As they walked away, Nicole felt a tremor run through her. “Curtis! I’m still a Barton! You can’t treat me like this! I know why you won’t end that damn engagement. You’re too scared to walk away. You’re a coward! The same coward who got his mother killed!”

Curtis halted mid-step, his body going rigid as if struck by lightning. The air around him chilled, thick with a palpable tension. Adriana had never witnessed such a fierce transformation in him before. His warmth evaporated, replaced by a sharp, dark intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

Her heart raced, caught in a whirlwind of fear and concern.

She had known Curtis for years, but this level of rage—real, deadly rage—was foreign to her. It terrified her.

Adriana instinctively reached for his hand, her fingers trembling. “Don’t listen to her,” she whispered urgently. “She’s not worth it. Let’s just go inside.”

Her voice quivered, but Curtis remained unmoved.

He was seething.

Everyone in Harborton understood one fundamental truth about him. Insult anyone, anything—but never his mother. That was the one line you never crossed.

His knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists, veins bulging in his arms. When he turned, his eyes blazed with a cold fury that could incinerate. “If you’re in such a hurry to meet Hades, Nicole, I’d be more than willing to give you a ride.”

Nicole’s breath caught in her throat, her body instinctively recoiling as panic flickered across her features.

She hadn’t thought through her words. They had tumbled out before she could rein them in.

During her time with the Bartons, she had overheard snippets of conversations between Danielle and Chandler—talks about why Curtis couldn’t sever his engagement. The details had been murky, but one thing had resonated: something about his mother’s death was intricately linked to it.