Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 238

apter 238 Nothing Comes for Free

Chapter 238 Nothing Comes for Free

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But ever since the announcement of Curtis’s departure from the Lincoln Group, Adriana ha developed a hardened edge.

She was like a hedgehog with its quills permanently raised, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

“Why are you still here for dinner? You already took someone else’s place. Isn’t that enough? Now you want his meal too? You’re not broke anymore, right? Who exactly are you trying to fool by acting pitiful?” Adriana snapped as Denton sat stubbornly at the table, slamming her fork onto the table.

Denton kept his head down, focusing intently on moving food around his plate, wisely choosing not to engage.

“What’s next? You going to treat him like family, too?” Adriana muttered, her frustration bubbling up, more for Curtis’s sake than her own.

“Well … if he’s got decent character, maybe handing over the Lincoln Group isn’t all bad. Could mean a quieter life for me,” Curtis murmured, the words a soft attempt to placate her.

Adriana fell silent, poking her food.

She knew, with a clarity that stung, that a storybook brotherly bond between Curtis and Denton was a fantasy.

Even if things seemed calm now, the moment Denton’s wings grew stronger and his ambitions solidified, friction was inevitable.

If even she could see it, how could Curtis not?

He just wanted to hold on to something–some scrap of family affection.

A father who was a walking disaster. A mother who’d lost her mind. A grandfather whose old age had turned unpredictable and cruel.

Everyone in his life had drained him of the very concept of family.

He just wanted something to anchor himself to.

Someone he could pour that fragile longing for family into.

After a long pause, Adriana let out a tiny breath and, in a show of reluctant compromise,

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Chapter 238 Nothing Comes for Free

reached over to refill Denton’s stew.

Please… just don’t let him down.

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Denton looked up, startled. A grateful, almost disbelieving smile broke through his guarded expression. He immediately buried his face in it, shoveling spoonfuls into his mouth. “Curtis, the food is great!”

Curtis gave an exasperated little laugh and kept eating.

Adriana watched him. He must trust Denton a great deal…

“You’re still growing. Get some meat in you,” she muttered, pushing a dish toward him.

Denton nodded eagerly.

He was a starved soul, too, wasn’t he? With parents who were present yet absent, leaving him fundamentally alone. Another casualty of this family.

And thinking that, Adriana found herself easing up on him. It wasn’t like he’d had a choice in

any

of this.

After Curtis withdrew from the Lincoln Group, life suddenly slowed for him. Adriana didn’t dare ask what his next step was. She didn’t want to poke at a wound.

Early the next morning, Curtis personally drove her to university before heading off.

While a part of her cherished having him so present, driving her to and from class, she knew a man like Curtis was born to stand at the summit.

He wasn’t the type to settle into obscurity. This sudden “idleness” was likely a mirage, a forced pause while those who’d relished his fall worked to ensure he stayed down.

“Adriana … “A voice pulled her from her thoughts as she walked distractedly toward her lecture hall. It was Matthew.

“Are you really planning to spend your whole life with the Curtis Lincoln you see now? He’s any serious lost all ambition. He wastes his days doing nothing. His so–called ‘ventures‘ lack commitment. He’ll become a burden to you.” Matthew’s expression was one of genuine, if condescending, concern.

“Mr. Langford,” she said, her voice cold. “Don’t you have a company to run? Did you come all the way here just to criticize my husband? If you’re so driven, perhaps focus on your own

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Chapter 238 Nothing Comes for Free

affairs instead of obsessing over others.”

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Matthew took a long breath, struggling to steady himself. “Adriana … I came because things are getting serious. Do you know how many companies Curtis registered under his own name? Every single one of them hit roadblocks. He’s at rock bottom, and no one wants to see a former titan rise again.”

Adriana’s heart tightened. She knew it wouldn’t be easy but she hadn’t realized it was this

bad.

…

“Adriana, if no one steps in to support him now, it will be nearly impossible for him to recover. Everyone is waiting for him to fail.” His gaze was intense. “If you want … I can help him.”

She studied his face. “You? Offering to help my husband out of the goodness of your heart? Since when?”

His Adam’s apple moved. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Silence.

“I know nothing comes for free, Mr. Langford, and I’m not interested in deals with hidden strings,” Adriana said, brushing past him. “Goodbye.”

Matthew watched her go, his hands clenching into futile fists at his sides.

He knew he and Adriana would never return to what they once were. But he still couldn’t let

1. go.

Ainsworth Group, CEO’s Office.

After dropping Adriana at school, Curtis headed straight for Ainsworth.

He came up through the private elevator, which meant almost no one saw him enter the building.

“Mr. Lincoln.” Ronan stepped inside, respectful. “Should we make your identity as Ainsworth’s chairman public?”

Curtis leaned back in his chair, a sharp, calculating glint in his eyes. “Where would be the fun in that? I’m rather enjoying this front–row seat, watching to see exactly who’s eager to kick a man when he’s down.”

Ronan’s spine went rigid. He coughed lightly. “Mr. Lincoln … about your new company … it hasn’t been progressing smoothly, right?”

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