Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 176

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

**Chapter 176: Blaming Himself**

“Does it still hurt?” Curtis’s voice was barely above a whisper as he enveloped Adriana in his embrace, pulling her close against his chest. The warmth of her body provided a fleeting comfort, but it did little to alleviate the turmoil brewing within him.

For days, he had wrestled with self-reproach, each passing hour a relentless reminder of his perceived failures. The guilt gnawed at him, a venomous creature that refused to let go, coiling tighter with every thought that crossed his mind.

Adriana shook her head softly, her dark hair brushing against his cheek. “No. It doesn’t hurt anymore,” she reassured him, her voice steady, yet tinged with a hint of vulnerability.

Curtis let out a shaky breath, resting his forehead against her shoulder. His voice emerged raspy, laden with remorse. “I should’ve protected you. I should’ve seen the danger before it was too late.”

Adriana’s response was immediate, her head shaking fervently. “It wasn’t your fault,” she insisted, her eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness and strength.

She paused, her gaze drifting as if lost in the recesses of her memories. “I was the one who messed up. I should’ve seen it coming when Belinda showed up.” The weight of her words hung in the air, a shared understanding of the chaos that had unfolded.

Just as Curtis was about to respond, the sudden chime of the doorbell sliced through the heavy silence of the house, startling them both.

Outside, a sleek black Phantom glided to a halt at the gate, its engine purring to a stop. Matthew’s assistant stepped out, the polished exterior of the car reflecting the sunlight as he opened the door with a slight bow, ushering in a family of three.

Michael, with his chin held high, surveyed the villa with a calm intensity. In his mind, he believed everything Curtis possessed had always belonged to him, a notion that simmered beneath the surface.

Juliet’s voice, filled with wonder, broke through Michael’s thoughts. “Honey, this place is amazing. Is it ours?” Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of admiration and envy.

Michael’s laughter was dry, almost bitter. “No. This is one of the Lincolns’ homes in Haldoria. It belongs to my son from my first marriage.” The admission hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the life he had left behind.

Juliet’s expression shifted, jealousy seeping into her features. “What a waste. If only this house were ours. Your first son has had it easy for years while our boy grew up with nothing.” Her voice cracked as she fought back tears, the raw emotion spilling forth.

Denton, sensing the tension, frowned and turned to his mother. “Mom, that’s not right. Dad said he left the Lincolns on his own. You met him after that. If he hadn’t left, you wouldn’t even be together. So it’s not my brother’s fault.” His tone was calm but firm, a protective instinct rising within him.

Yet, inside, he felt adrift. Just like that, his life had transformed from simplicity to the complexities of a wealthy family he barely knew. Doubts clouded his mind—did he even want this new reality? And would his brother accept him?

No matter how Michael rationalized it, Denton couldn’t shake the feeling that his father’s departure from the Lincolns had deeper implications, secrets that lay buried beneath the surface.

In the corner of the yard, Belinda sat hunched over, tracing circles in the dirt with a stick. Her legs were numb from sitting too long, but she jolted upright when she spotted the approaching family. Steadying herself against the wall, she asked hesitantly, “Who are you looking for?”

Curtis raised his arm, blocking Michael’s path with a fierce determination. “This is property of the Lincolns. You can’t just waltz in here like you own the place.”

Michael’s expression twisted into one of disbelief. “Curtis, I’m your father. Everything you have is because of me.”

Juliet interjected sharply, her tone cutting through the air. “You can’t just slam the door on your own dad!”

Curtis remained unmoved, his eyes locked onto Denton instead. So this was the kid—the perfect brother, the one Harold had been so eager to bring into the fold.

“I’m sorry,” Denton stammered, his voice low and filled with nervousness. “We shouldn’t have just shown up. My dad—”

Curtis interrupted him, his words heavy as lead. “Years ago, the Lincolns were drowning in debt—over ten billion, might I add. He didn’t fight for this family. He ran. He signed away his inheritance and vanished from the face of the earth. He left my grandfather and me to pick up the pieces of what he destroyed. And now he has the nerve to show his face here?”

Denton’s eyes widened in shock as he turned to Michael. “Dad… is that true?”

An icy silence enveloped them, the weight of the revelation hanging thick in the air. Adriana and Belinda exchanged glances, their faces etched with disbelief.

So he hadn’t died back then; he had chosen to run. The Lincolns, shrouded in shame, had spun a tale of his death to the world, concealing the truth behind a veil of lies.