Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Stand-In Wife

420 Free Colna

“Mr. Lincoln went off to study in Moweland, taking Ms. Reese and her mother along with him. The three of them lived there for several years. Eventually, Mr. Harold reached his limit and told Mr. Curtis that he would accept the relationship if he returned home. But, strangely, while they were still in Moweland, the woman jumped into a river and was never found. Mr. Curtis came back alone, bringing the child with him.”

Eva recounted the story with the flair of a novelist, weaving suspense and unexpected turns into every sentence.

This wasn’t just any love story—it was something extraordinary.

Adriana listened intently, completely captivated. “Why would she take her own life? Didn’t Mr. Harold already give his blessing?”

“People say she suffered postpartum depression after giving birth to Ms. Reese. On top of that, she believed she was growing too old for Mr. Lincoln and felt undeserving of his love. She was convinced that once her beauty faded, he would stop loving her. The thought of losing his love was unbearable, so she chose to die during the very year he loved her most.”

By doing so, she ensured she would live forever in Curtis’s heart.

No one could ever replace her.

Adriana slowly nodded as she nibbled on her pastry. That was a bold, calculated move.

The woman had been clever, indeed.

Yet trading her life for eternal love seemed like an extreme price to pay.

“After that, Mr. Harold became obsessed with getting Mr. Curtis married,” Eva added, stealing a few glances at Adriana as she spoke. “I don’t know if you’ve heard the rumors, but apparently, your appearance…”

Adriana blinked, cutting her off. “Don’t tell me I look like his old tutor?”

A stand-in for his first love? Really?

No wonder, back at the club where she first met Curtis, one of his friends had said she was exactly his type.

So, it was because of his first love. Adriana had become her substitute.

—

Just as their gossip reached a fever pitch, the front door clicked open. A young woman, around eighteen or nineteen, entered, her long ponytail bouncing with each step. She wore a ballet practice outfit, simple yet elegant.

Her face was bare of makeup, but her posture and the effortless confidence she radiated screamed of a privileged upbringing.

She carefully placed her shoes on the rack and, sounding tired, said, “Eva, bring me some water.”

“Oh, Ms. Reese is back,” Eva said brightly, quickly rising to pour a glass.

Adriana’s heart fluttered with nervousness. How was she supposed to face Belinda Reese—the pampered little princess Curtis had clearly spoiled with both a soft heart and an open wallet?

Belinda took the glass and gulped it down before finally noticing Adriana standing by the dining table. “Who’s she?”

“Ms. Reese, this is Mr. Lincoln’s future wife. They’ll be registering their marriage in a few days, and she’ll be the lady of the house,” Eva explained quickly.

Belinda’s expression darkened immediately, her hostility clear as day.

Adriana fell silent. She didn’t want to engage.

She wasn’t sure how Curtis would react if he found out.

If he was anything like Matthew—always siding with his family—this wouldn’t end well for her.

“This was Curtis’s decision,” Adriana replied politely.

“I’ll never accept you. You’re not good enough for Curtis,” Belinda said with a roll of her eyes, clearly seeing Adriana as nothing more than a leech—a woman who sold her body for money.

She was shameless!

“So, tell me, what kind of woman do you think is worthy of Curtis?” Adriana asked, curious despite herself.

Belinda thought for a moment. “Someone like Danielle.”

Adriana raised an eyebrow, amused. First, the tragic first love, and now a woman named Danielle? Curtis had more hidden history than she’d expected.

“Oh, Danielle is from the Barton family, an old-money family in Harborton. The Bartons and the Lincolns have a long history. She and Mr. Lincoln were once engaged, but he called it off. He never liked her,” Eva quickly explained.

Adriana made a mental note of this juicy gossip.

Clearly, marrying into a family like that wouldn’t be as simple as signing a contract. That money she was promised for this marriage might not be so easy to earn after all.

“Curtis only called off the engagement back then because of my mom. Now that my mom’s gone, Danielle’s the only one he’ll ever accept,” Belinda huffed, slapping her hand on the table as she stood. “Oh, and in case you didn’t know, Danielle’s the most famous architectural designer in all of Harborton.”