Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 163

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**
**Chapter 163: Only Praise Me**

Curtis and Justin existed as polar opposites in a world that thrived on contrasts. Curtis embodied the shadows, a tempest of darkness and fire, while Justin represented the serene calm of ice and light. They were two extremes, like the sun and the moon, destined to remain apart, unable to coexist in harmony.

Curtis’s voice fell to a low, menacing growl. “You don’t get to praise other men.” The words dripped with an intensity that sent a shiver down Adriana’s spine, a stark reminder of the possessive nature that lay beneath his surface.

Adriana blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sharpness of his tone. Her mind raced back to Bonnie’s advice, a mantra she had learned well: never forget the golden rule of a kept woman. The man who feeds you is the one who owns your attention.

“I wasn’t praising him,” she replied hurriedly, shaking her head in denial, her heart pounding in her chest. The last thing she wanted was to provoke Curtis further.

Curtis’s expression softened slightly, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through his fierce demeanor. He reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers as they began to walk back toward the living room. “His name’s Justin Hotchner. Jeremy adopted him years ago. Found him in an orphanage.”

Adriana’s eyes widened in surprise. A man like Justin—so poised, so refined, with an air of nobility—was an orphan? The revelation felt incongruous, as if it didn’t fit the polished image he projected.

Yet, somehow, this newfound knowledge only deepened her intrigue. She found herself drawn to him, a curiosity ignited within her.

Curtis brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his touch gentle yet possessive. “Don’t be fooled by that clean look. He’s not what he seems. Stay away from him.” His warning hung in the air, heavy with unspoken threats.

“Okay,” Adriana murmured softly, a sense of compliance washing over her. She didn’t fully understand why, but she felt compelled to agree, to placate the storm brewing within Curtis.

His approval seemed to lift his spirits, a flicker of satisfaction igniting in his eyes. Today was about them, about their escape from the world outside. Nothing—no one—would mar their time together.

**Haldoria, psychiatric hospital.**

The man who had nearly taken Adriana’s life was known as Keith Wallensby. Investigators delved into his past, sifting through the mundane details of his existence. They found nothing out of the ordinary. A quiet farmer, a devoted husband, a father of two—he was a man who lived life on the periphery, a shadow among the living. He had never exhibited even a hint of violence. Occasionally, he would have strange episodes, but the villagers dismissed them as harmless quirks, mere eccentricities of a simple man.

He claimed he was heading to the city for treatment, a journey that would culminate in chaos and bloodshed, a truth no one could foresee.

Keith’s village was nestled deep within the wilderness, a hidden gem between Haldoria and Hillcrest City. It was so far removed from the bustling world that many had forgotten it even existed. When news of the tragedy reached the village, his wife, distraught and frantic, rushed to the police station with their children and the village chief. They arrived bearing baskets filled with eggs and homemade goods, a desperate attempt to bridge the chasm of despair that had opened in their lives. Each time she fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face, she cried out, vowing that Keith was a good man, a decent man, someone who had never harmed a soul.

Even Joe, the investigator, found himself wavering in his conviction. Perhaps Keith had simply snapped under pressure. Perhaps it wasn’t intentional.

But Irene and Gary were not so easily swayed. They knew the truth behind the facade. They understood what had truly happened to Nicole’s parents. Keith was no harmless farmer; he was a wolf cloaked in sheep’s clothing, a devil masquerading as a saint.

“Maybe it really is just a coincidence?” Joe suggested hesitantly, glancing over at Gary, seeking validation in his uncertainty.

He was the one who had sought permission to visit Keith, who remained confined within the psychiatric hospital, undergoing mandatory treatment.

When they entered the room, Keith sat quietly, tears streaming down his cheeks, mumbling that he couldn’t remember anything. “I lost control,” he repeated like a mantra, his voice trembling with desperation.

Once the doors were shut, Irene’s demeanor shifted, her irritation bubbling to the surface. “What on earth did you tell that kid?” she snapped, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Gary.

Gary smirked, deftly sidestepping her question. “Justin’s in Haldoria. Jeremy sent him. Said he’s there to protect Nicole.”

Instantly, Irene’s expression hardened, her voice turning sharp as a knife. “Justin’s Jeremy’s most valuable piece. Don’t tell me he can’t see through that facade?”

Gary leaned back, his tone calm yet heavy with the weight of unspoken truths. “Justin’s been managing Jeremy’s overseas business for years. For Jeremy to summon him back so suddenly, under the guise of protection… that’s not the whole story. He’s suspicious. He wouldn’t employ Justin unless something was very wrong.”

He understood the implications of Jeremy’s actions. Justin was Jeremy’s last resort, his trump card for the real Nicole. He was not meant to be deployed unless absolutely necessary.

The mere fact that he had been called back signified one undeniable truth: Jeremy was beginning to doubt the girl who claimed to be Nicole.

Irene’s gaze remained fixed on Gary, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Then maybe,” she suggested, “it’s time Jeremy learned about Adriana.”

Gary let out a heavy breath, shaking his head in disapproval. “The less Jeremy knows, the better. The moment he finds out, Adriana’s life will become infinitely more complicated. Everyone around that man is a viper. Even Jeremy isn’t safe anymore.”

At this rate, he was bound to perish too.

Irene’s expression turned steely, resolve hardening her features. “You’re right. He couldn’t even protect his own son. Or my sister. I don’t trust him to keep Adriana safe either!”