Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Woman Before

Eva hesitated briefly, then offered a gentle smile and nodded in agreement. “Alright,” she said softly.

Adriana took a careful bite of the mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables and ground meat—it was absolutely delicious. She marveled quietly to herself: so this was the lifestyle of the wealthy, where no one ever had to lift a finger or worry about the little things. The grace and composure she had once admired so much in Natasha suddenly made sense—it was the kind of confidence that only comes from growing up surrounded by comfort and privilege.

Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Neville calling. Since the last time she’d involved the media, the university had been threatening to withhold her diploma. Now, he was reaching out again?

“Adriana, good news—we’ve secured your study abroad placement,” Neville’s voice was unusually sweet. “The university fought hard to get you an extra spot. So, um… could you maybe take down those posts you made online?”

Adriana’s lips curved into a slight, knowing smile. “Mr. Smith, wasn’t that placement arranged by someone else, not you?” she replied coolly.

Neville faltered for a moment, clearly caught off guard, then tried to regain control. “Adriana, this university is your alma mater. You shouldn’t do things that damage its reputation. You should be grateful.”

Adriana set her fork down and paused thoughtfully before answering with a smile that held a hint of steel. “When I was beaten until I lost hearing in one ear, had my fingers stomped on, and was nearly left to die in the equipment room… what did you say then? Something like, ‘If you report it or cause trouble, you won’t get your diploma,’ right?”

Silence stretched on the other end of the line. Neville offered no response, then abruptly ended the call.

Adriana couldn’t help but find the whole situation almost amusing.

Before she could even set her phone down, it rang again.

“Hello?”

“This is the HR department from Langford Group,” a firm voice announced. “You still haven’t officially submitted your resignation. If you continue missing work without notice—”

“I already handed in my resignation,” Adriana interrupted firmly.

She suspected Matthew was behind this, using HR to corner her.

“Ms. Xander, even with a formal resignation, you need to be present in person to sign the paperwork,” the HR representative responded, conceding for the moment.

“Fine. I’ll come by at 2 p.m. to sign it.”

After ending the call, Adriana exhaled deeply. The sensation of gaining the upper hand felt exhilarating—refreshing even. Yet deep down, she knew this newfound confidence wasn’t entirely her own; it was borrowed from Curtis.

“Mrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy breakfast?” Eva asked warmly, her smile genuine.

Adriana nodded. “It was wonderful, thank you.”

Eva smiled again. “It seems young, health-conscious women prefer lighter meals. Ms. Reese only eats light dishes, too.”

She wanted to learn more about Curtis because if this woman really was the daughter of someone he once loved, no matter how spoiled or demanding she might be, Adriana knew she would have to tolerate it.

She was well aware of the kind of women the upper class raised—women like Camelia and Mia, who were spoiled to the core.

And Curtis? He seemed even more protective than Matthew. If he had been the one spoiling Ms. Reese, there was no telling how entitled she might be.

“Ms. Reese’s mother was actually Mr. Lincoln’s first love,” Eva said quietly, “but there was quite an age difference—she was eight years older than him.”

Adriana’s ears perked up, completely captivated by the story.

“Back then, Mr. Lincoln was just a teenager—eighteen or nineteen. Falling in love with his tutor was considered scandalous. Mr. Harold thought the woman was unsuitable. She was unmarried and had a daughter, and he believed she was deliberately seducing Curtis. So, he broke them up.”

Eva’s voice softened as she continued, clearly enjoying the gossip. “I heard they had a huge fight, and Curtis left the country out of spite.”

Adriana listened in surprise, struck by how tragic this wealthy family’s love story really was.

She took another bite of the blondies, savoring the sweetness as she absorbed every detail.

Contract marriage did have its perks—no messy feelings involved meant she could enjoy the drama guilt-free.