Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 276

ary nodded. “For now, this really is the best option.”

Finding a stand–in for the real Nicole doesn’t require her to step forward and claim the identity herself. As long as there was a slight trail to follow, more people would shift their attention to the decoy.

But doing this would carry some risk for the stand–in.

If Chandler and the person behind him focused their target on the stand–in, she would definitely be in danger.

“Find a girl with strong situational awareness. Pay her well,” Irene said. She felt a bit uneasy, but for a job this dangerous, plenty of people would be willing as long as the money’s right.

This stand–in would basically serve as a human shield, drawing all attention away from the mastermind.

“Understood.” Gary nodded. “I’ve got someone. An orphan. She was adopted at five and taken to Tenesia by her foster parents. After that, she fought in underground boxing rings there. She looks soft and weak on the surface, but she’s extremely capable. She worked as a mercenary for a few years. A few years ago, I saved her during a mission when I was still in the military. After I retired, she came back to the country and joined me. She’s the only female bodyguard by my side.”

Irene fell silent for a moment.

She knew the female bodyguard around Gary. Her name was Mae, which was supposedly a codename. No one knew her real name.

Last year, when Irene attended an offline fan meeting, Gary worried about her safety and had that bodyguard protect her.

The girl looked good. She was cool with an androgynous vibe and a detached air. You could tell she’d been through a lot.

But Irene’s very female intuition also clearly sensed something else. Mae had feelings for Gary.

She’d stayed by Gary’s side for years and was one of the people he trusted most.

“Is she reliable?” Irene asked.

This had to stay absolutely confidential. Whoever they used had to be trustworthy.

“If she isn’t reliable, then no one is,” Gary reassured her. “Back when I was undercover in Southeast Astoria, she knew my identity. She was beaten and interrogated for three days straight and never sold me out.”

“She’s into you. You know that, right?” Irene was always cautious. She didn’t allow any loose ends.

Just like back then, when she realized Adriana resembled her niece, she immediately pulled her hair for a DNA test. She hated guessing and especially waiting.

“It’s important to make sure she’s completely trustworthy. I’m just putting all the risks on the table,

1/2

16:00 Wed, Dec 31 G

Chapter 276 See What Happens.

+30 Free Coins

Feelings aren’t torture, but sometimes they’re what shake people the most,” Irene added when she saw Gary freeze.

Gary stayed silent for a long time. He was a bit slow in this area. If someone else joked that Mac liked him, he wouldn’t have believed it. But if Irene said it, he did.

He thought back carefully. “She followed me at first, and I thought it was gratitude. Later, I thought it was for the money. I pay her very well. But the way you’re saying this… I do need to think it through. Still, all these years, she’s never crossed any lines. Even when I got drunk, she’d call another male colleague to come get me. She knows boundaries.”

Mae was someone with a strong sense of boundaries.

She hid her feelings for Gary very well. “Even colleagues who shared the same space never noticed anything. How did you figure it out?” Gary was genuinely shocked.

“When a woman is in love, her eyes give it away. That year, when that crazy fan rushed at me, you were the first to step in and protect me. Her assignment that day was to protect me, but instinctively, she moved in front of you. That’s when I knew. The look in her eyes when she shielded you was too obvious…”

Irene had never mentioned this to Gary before. First, she didn’t really care whether someone might try to steal Gary away. Men weren’t the most important thing in her life. Second, she trusted Gary.

“Then I’ll switch to someone else,” Gary said. He didn’t want Irene worrying.

“That’s not necessary. Do a risk assessment yourself. If you think she’s fine, then we’ll go with her,” Irene said, looking at him.

“You know what drives people crazy about you?” Gary’s voice carried a hint of helplessness.

Irene rolled her eyes. She was rebellious from head to toe. Everything about her annoyed people. How would she know?

“You never get jealous of me. If you already knew she had feelings for me, why bring it up only now?” Gary was a little unhappy.

“Anyone could fall for you. It’s their right. But whether you respond or get led astray is your self–control issue. If you could be taken so easily, what use do I have for a worthless dude like you?” Irene reached out. He grabbed Gary’s tie, pulled him close, and straddled his lap. “There are over 3.5 billion men in the world. I can trade up anytime.”

Gary looked at Irene with dark eyes. After a moment, he retaliated, pulling her close and biting down in a kiss. “Go find someone else and see what happens…”

2/2