Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 316

Chapter 316 His Praise

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Sometimes, the ones who stayed quiet the longest were the ones who could strike the hardest.

Justin didn’t argue. Curtis knew Adriana better than anyone.

“If you’re sure she’s not some delicate little thing hanging off your arm, then fine. I’ll take that gamble.”

He just hoped she wouldn’t make him regret it.

Back at Adriana’s place…

She walked through the door, dropped her bag, and sank into the couch. She didn’t say a word. Didn’t even move.

Denton and Yolanda finished making dinner. The smell filled the room. Adriana still didn’t budge.

“Adriana, are you okay?” Yolanda sat next to her. Her voice was soft. Her eyes were full of

worry.

“Yolanda, you only became friends with me because we got along, right?” Her voice was quiet.

Yolanda nodded. “At first, yeah. I mean, I wanted to know more about Curtis. But then I got to know you. You were just … honest. Like a blank canvas.”

Adriana shook her head slowly.

She wasn’t a blank canvas. That had just been the mask.

She had picked Yolanda as a friend because she’d wanted someone real. Someone who didn’t play games. Someone who didn’t hide behind a smile.

“Then tell me,” she said, her voice even softer now, “why do you think Irene treats me like this?”

People always had a reason when they got close.

Just like Yolanda had, once. She wanted to get closer to Curtis.

But Irene was different.

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She had shown up out of nowhere. Kept her distance on purpose. But when Adriana hit rock bottom, Irene was always the one who showed up. Always the one who helped her back up. Always the one who made sure the baby was safe.

That kind of loyalty didn’t come from casual kindness.

“Irene?” Yolanda lowered her voice. “I heard she’s secretly dating Gary. You know who he is, right? Curtis‘ uncle.”

Maybe Irene cared because technically, she’d be the baby’s aunt one day.

Adriana shook her head. “I thought that at first too. But Curtis and Gary hate each other. They’re not even civil.”

There was no way Irene was doing all this for Gary’s sake.

“The way she looks at me,” Adriana said slowly, “her eyes get glossy. Like there’s grief in them. Like there’s something she can’t say. She doesn’t look at me like I’m me. She looks at me like I’m someone else.”

She drew in a shaky breath. Then she turned to Yolanda. “Help me find out who Irene really is I don’t think she’s who she says she is. And Jeremy …

… he came to see me too. I thought he’d tel me to walk away from Curtis. But he just watched me eat. That was it.”

Her smile cracked at the edges.

It wasn’t the first time she’d felt like something didn’t add up. She had been questioning things for a while. She just hadn’t said it out loud.

The upcoming trip overseas was being handled by Irene’s people. Adriana had only filled out a few

papers. Irene took care of everything else.

She was too careful. Too thorough. Too consistent.

Even Yolanda had picked up on it.

No one else knew about Irene’s involvement. But Adriana and Yolanda did. “Adriana,” Yolanda said in a low voice, “she treats you better than a mom treats her own kid. If I didn’t know for a fact that she never had children, and that she’s not the right age to have a daughter your age, I’d honestly believe you were hers. And have you noticed something else? You two kind of look alike.”

She pulled out a picture of Irene and held it beside Adriana’s face. “The eyes. The brows. You two look way too alike.”

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Chapter 316 His Praise

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Adriana’s chest tightened as she took a deep breath. Her lungs filled slowly, and the pressure in her chest refused to ease. “Yolanda, did you find out what I asked you to look into?”

“Yeah. Irene’s never had kids. She’s a celebrity, so all her records are sealed tight. I had to dig deep, but I found out she’s pregnant. She’s a little behind you.” Yolanda paused and lowered her voice. “She’s so thin that you can barely see it. She plans to go with you to Pastalia for maternity leave.” Yolanda glanced around the room, cautious and alert. “She’s really pushing herself. At her age, doctors would call it high risk. That baby is Gary’s for sure. Those two are serious about each other.”

Adriana’s thoughts drifted. Irene is pregnant too.

Am I overthinking this? Is Irene just using me as cover so she can leave the country without attention? Or is there something else?

“Irene’s older sister is Jeremy’s daughter–in–law. She’s from the Murder on 817 case that shocked Harborton and Haldoria. The victims were Gilbert and Lucinda Barton.” Yolanda sucked in air fast, and her shoulders stiffened. “That case went worldwide. The Bartons‘ only heir and his wife were murdered. Their newborn daughter, Nicole, was taken from her crib. No one ever found her. The case went cold.”