Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 396

Chapter 396 A Proposal in the Dark

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Maggie smiled at Savannah. “Justin, Silas, and Matthew. They’re the standouts in our circle, and they’re all still single.”

It was true. Right now, they were the best targets for any woman looking to climb, to connect, to marry well.

Savannah also knew she couldn’t beat Mister on her own. That was why she’d planted herself here tonight, waiting for chances to get close to Justin, to make him notice her.

Her gaze slid to the girl beside Justin, and jealousy sharpened her voice. “Give it up. Justin only has eyes for his first love.” She said it through clenched teeth, half spite, half warning. She didn’t just envy that girl. She didn’t want Maggie turning into another rival.

Maggie’s smile didn’t change. “Justin is a good choice,” she said calmly. “But the competition around him is too fierce. He’s not my first pick.”

Savannah let out the breath she’d been holding.

“So I’m leaning more toward Silas or Matthew.” Maggie set her champagne down as if the decision were nothing. “Unfortunately, both of them seem to have only one woman in mind, the Barton heiress who just came back.”

Savannah studied her, and it clicked. Maggie hadn’t come over just to chat.

“Ms. Gill,” Savannah said, smiling sweetly, “if you have something to say, you can say it.”

The Gills were one of the few families Mister had wanted and still hadn’t managed to swallow.

An enemy’s enemy could be useful. Savannah had every reason to pull Maggie into an alliance against Mister, but that kind of partnership required proof. Something concrete.

Maggie’s tone stayed mild. “Adriana’s reputation isn’t great. They say she brings ruin, that she’s cursed. But Silas and Matthew aren’t the sort of men who scare easily. A little ugly gossip isn’t enough.”

It wasn’t just a statement. It was a test, measuring whether Savannah could offer something better than cheap rumors.

Savannah’s eyes flicked as she thought. “I heard Adriana was kept by Matthew for four years. They’ve got history. The media loves a story they can twist. If we can get those two back together, then Adriana and Silas won’t have a chance.”

As she said it, another idea slid into place.

Using Adriana to seduce Silas had too many variables. But if Maggie went after Silas herself, the odds were cleaner.

Maggie had the Gills behind her, yes, but she was adopted. If Marcus ended up as the heir to Gill Group, Maggie could spend her whole life building an empire just to hand it to someone else.

An adopted daughter and an illegitimate son, thrown together, would make for dangerous ambition.

Silas belonged to Mister. If he and Maggie got tied together, it would become a fight between two predators. Either Silas and Maggie would turn on Mister together, or Silas and Mister would turn on the Gills together.

Either way, Savannah could sit in the middle, stir the pot, and fish out whatever fell loose.

Maggie’s smile deepened. “You know Adriana and Matthew better than I do. Would that be difficult for you?”

1/2

11:13 am DDD.

Chapter 396 A Proposal in the Dark

+10 Free Coins

“Not for me.” Savannah sounded almost pleased with herself. “Matthew already likes Adriana. Curtis is dead. If I put her in his bed, I don’t believe he won’t take the bait.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “And I’ve got leverage. Something that’ll make Adriana behave.”

Maggie’s smile widened, slow and satisfied. So she’d gambled on the right fool after all.

Silas drove Adriana home.

“Thanks,” Adriana said, reaching for the door.

“Adriana.” Silas called her, and when she paused, he hesitated, then spoke again. “Maybe… in your situation, a marriage alliance would help. I heard Justin refused the match. If you’re willing, you could consider me. I won’t hurt you, and I won’t lie to you.”

He looked at her with steady sincerity. And Adriana couldn’t pretend he was wrong.

Her position in Barton Group was fragile, and Justin had made his refusal plain. If he could ignore Jeremy’s dying wish, he was never going to get in the same boat as her, let alone row it.

Curtis was gone. In this circle, plenty of men would take Adriana now, for the name, for the headlines, for the leverage she carried. But the real options at the top were limited. Him, Matthew, Marcus. If she was going to choose anyone, Silas wanted it to be him.

Adriana’s hand paused on the handle. Then she stepped out onto the pavement and shut the door. “I’ll think about it.”

She didn’t reject him outright. Anything she said to Silas now might end up in Mister’s hands.

Her situation was delicate. A marriage alliance would be profitable in every way, and it would give her a shield.

Only an idiot would refuse a platform like that. Only an idiot would forget how to borrow power when she needed it.

“When you’ve decided,” Silas said, smiling, “tell me anytime.”

He drove off while Adriana stood at her gate for a long moment, feeling the night air press close around her.

It had been years. They had both changed, becoming strangers wearing familiar faces. With a quiet sigh, she went inside.

The moment she turned on the living room light, she froze. Curtis was standing by the window, half in shadow, his eyes dark, his expression heavy with resentment.