Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 312

Chapter 312 Her Tears

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Adriana’s breathing sped up. Her fingers started shaking, and she couldn’t stop them.

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She couldn’t miss it. The girl in the photo–the one with her eyes burned by smoke and fire- was her. She was the same girl her adoptive family had taken to Govendale all those years ago.

“Biggie…” Adriana’s voice cracked. She slapped a hand over her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks without pause.

Curtis was Biggie. He was the one who had saved her from the fire. He was the one who had helped fix her eyes.

They had already known each other.

“It was you. It’s always been you.”

Adriana lowered her head. Guilt weighed heavily on her chest. Her fingers gripped the photo so hard they started to hurt. Why had she only realized it now?

Why hadn’t she seen it sooner?

Her body shook as she cried until there was nothing left. Her strength ran dry. After a long while, she turned the photo over. On the back, Curtis had written something in his own handwriting. Youth.

In the darkest stretch of his life, Adriana had been the one bright light he had.

Their connection had begun back then.

Yolanda and Denton had just finished dinner when they noticed Adriana wasn’t in the living room. They called her name a few times. No answer. Their stomachs dropped. They bolted toward the bedroom and study.

They searched every room. They spotted Adriana curled up in a corner of the study,

She was holding an old photo. Her tears had soaked her hair.

“Adriana…” Yolanda called out. Her voice was full of worry.

Adriana looked up at her and shook her head. “I’m fine. Just let me cry one last time.”

She wasn’t going to cry so easily anymore.

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18:17 Sat, Jan 3

Chapter 312 Her Tears

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She understood now that hiding in the dark and crying didn’t help anything.

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If tears were going to fall again, then they needed to be for something that was worth it.

Yolanda’s chest tightened. She wanted to comfort her, but she didn’t know how.

Denton stood at the door. His hands clenched into fists.

Ever since he learned he was a Lincoln, ever since he was pulled into this world, everything he thought he understood had collapsed–over and over again. He didn’t want stock. He didn’t want money or power. He only wanted a family. He just wanted his brother to acknowledge him. But all he saw now was how everyone around him was playing a game.

Things were already tough for him, but Curtis had been trapped in this nightmare his whole life. He had grown up in it. How had he made it this far?

The more Denton thought about it, the more his heart ached for his brother.

People assumed his life in the fishing village was hell. But at least the folks there were real. They were decent. They didn’t play games. Some even slipped him extra pay when no one was looking. His body had been tired, but his heart had stayed warm.

But Curtis? Curtis was born right into the Lincolns–a life that shredded people down to the bone. How was someone supposed to survive in that? The coldness and the madness–it was just how he defended himself.

“Denton, dinner’s ready. Where are you going?” Yolanda asked as she saw him heading for the door, his face clouded over.

There was nothing she could do.

Curtis was gone. Everyone was carrying some kind of weight. Denton too.

Maybe he had really cared about his brother.

Denton didn’t say a word. He needed to figure out how to handle Savannah and the others, gain control, grow up fast, stand tall for the Lincoln Group. He had to become the one his sister–in–law could lean on, and make them pay for what they did to his brother.

Justin’s place.

After Curtis went down, Justin stayed in Haldoria because Harold told him to handle everything that came next.

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Chapter 312 Her Tears

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When you staged a death, you had to sell it. Curtis’s “death” erased a huge threat. To the one pulling the strings, it was a victory.

And with the problem gone, that person was going to get cocky. They’d make a move soon.

“Right after the incident, Matthew froze the money in his own account,” Justin said quietly. “Raymond couldn’t get near it. Nobody could. Once those two go at each other for real, the puppet master’s going to act.”

Curtis sat in a sealed room inside the study, covered in blood, while the family’s only trusted doctor worked quickly to patch him up.

“You really didn’t hold back,” Justin muttered. “At the funeral home, I thought you were actually gone.”

“If it doesn’t look real, they won’t fall for it,” Curtis said. His voice came out ragged.

“You already have someone in mind?” Justin asked.

Curtis‘ tone turned sharp. “Who could leak secrets, keep tabs on Harold every second, never raise suspicion, and still be within the family? Who fits that bill?”

Justin stared at him. “Your grandfather trusted Ernest more than anyone. That’s Savannah’s father. But Ernest always treated you well. He practically raised you. I used to suspect him. I told you

to look into him. You swore he couldn’t be the traitor.”

“He played the role too well,” Curtis said, his tone flat. “He had me fooled for years. But he finally slipped, and it’s all thanks to his spoiled, delusional daughter.” He let out a bitter laugh. “You really think a guy who’s been the Lincolns‘ butler for decades is just some average house servant?”

Justin gave a slow nod. “Anyone who can survive in a household like that has to be sharp.

“Harold always said Ernest was smart. Whenever things got messy, he’d ask Ernest for advice. You think someone that clever wouldn’t have known his daughter was teaming up with Danielle and Chandler to trap rich heirs? You think he didn’t know what she’s been doing overseas? Or that she’s targeting Denton now?”

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