Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 19

19 Move In With Me

Adriana meant every single word she had spoken. Matthew had cornered her too many times, always for Natasha’s sake. Whatever feelings she once harbored for him had completely vanished. She refused to hold on to any foolish hope that he might change.

“Adriana!” Matthew finally snapped, his voice sharp with frustration. He reached out, gripping her chin firmly, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Are you seriously going to keep making this so difficult for me?”

Without warning, he pushed her down onto the bed. Though he despised the cramped, stifling motel room they were in, his anger made him crave control over her. The only time Adriana ever seemed to relent was when she was lying in bed.

Suddenly, a sharp slap echoed through the room. Adriana’s hand struck him hard, her breath uneven, eyes blazing with defiance. Matthew froze, caught off guard by her unexpected resistance.

The air in the tiny room grew heavier, thick with tension and unspoken emotions. Adriana’s eyes glistened with tears as she looked up at him, her voice trembling but firm. “Mr. Langford, what exactly are we now? I don’t live with you anymore. If you lay a hand on me again, I’ll call the cops. That’s assault.”

Matthew’s expression darkened, a storm of emotions crossing his face. He had lost control for just a moment, but her cold rejection struck him deeply. Anxiety gnawed at him, though he couldn’t understand why. All he wanted was the old Adriana back—the one who would listen.

“What will it take for you to do what I say?” he asked quietly, his tone almost pleading.

Adriana curled into the corner of the bed, still breathing heavily. “Please, Mr. Langford… just leave. I don’t want you anywhere in my life.”

That was it—her final, resolute statement. She had spent so long trying to escape him; there was no way she was turning back now. When she was nineteen, she had been easy to fool. A little kindness from Matthew, and she had given him everything. She despised that version of herself.

But time had changed her. She had moved on. She had forgiven herself for the mistakes of the past, but she was done making the same foolish choices again.

“Adriana!” Matthew’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and urgent. “Fine. You want to study abroad, right? If I make it happen, will you finally cooperate?”

Was that really all she wanted? Just that scholarship?

Adriana glared at him, her whole body trembling with anger.

“Alright, I’ll take care of it,” he said, already planning to visit the university the next day, maybe pull some strings or contact the professor in Pastalia to see if he could accept one more student.

He was giving in. There was no use denying it. He hated seeing her fight him like this. The fire burning in her eyes made him uneasy.

Just as he was about to speak again, his phone buzzed insistently. Annoyed, he answered. It was Rufus. “Matthew! Something’s happened to my sister. She crashed after leaving your place! She’s at Haldoria Hospital!”

Rufus’s voice was frantic, full of panic.

Matthew’s face drained of color. He rushed out of the room, visibly shaken and overwhelmed.

Adriana remained seated, watching him go. Her eyes were red, but a faint, bittersweet smile touched her lips. The difference between love and indifference felt vast and unbridgeable.

Haldoria Hospital

She was beginning to panic. Maybe Matthew’s feelings for Adriana were stronger than she had thought.

I have to cut off whatever remains between them—fast.

Back when Matthew proposed, she hadn’t accepted immediately. She wanted to use the engagement to secure more power for the Jones family first. She understood well how a woman could turn love and marriage into influence.

But now, she was worried. If she delayed any longer, Matthew might stop waiting for her altogether.

Matthew hesitated.

Helping Adriana get that overseas placement was his way of maintaining some control, making Adriana dependent on him again. Once he married Natasha and Adriana was sent abroad, everything would fall into place.

But if he moved in with Natasha now…

“Matthew?” Natasha looked up anxiously.

After a pause, he said, “Sure, but we should fix the place first. Once it’s renovated, you’ll move in as my wife. It should feel new, like a real home for both of us.”

That was his excuse.