Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 401

Chapter 401 The Betrayal

Chapter 401 The Betrayal

Just when Danielle thought she might never be able to turn her life around, the living room door opened.

Warm light from inside shone out.

In that instant, Danielle felt as if she had seen a ray of light in hell.

She struggled desperately, her face streaked with tears.

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In that moment, she didn’t care about the pride she once had–when she used to look down on Justin and treat him like he was nothing. Now, she was on the ground, crying and begging him to save her.

She wanted to live. She only wanted to live.

Just to stay alive.

The living room door opened. Justin stood in the doorway, his aura heavy with tension.

Outside the front gate, more than a dozen of his bodyguards stood watch, their faces cold as they blocked the entrance.

‘Showing up at my house to start trouble? Chandler Barton’s got more nerve every day,” Justin said. His voice was low, but it carried an authority that was impossible to ignore.

The men holding Danielle stiffened, quickly let go of her, and stepped back.

‘Mr. Hotchner, this is a misunderstanding. We’re just here to take Ms. Barton home,” the lead bodyguard said stiffly.

‘She doesn’t seem to want to go home.” Justin looked down at Danielle, who was on the ground in a pitiful state. Behind him stood Susan, her timid eyes peeking out as she hid behind his back. She looked at Danielle with pity in her eyes.

Danielle’s breathing came fast and ragged. Her eyes were red as she looked to Justin for help.

Her eyes locked onto Susan’s, and jealousy and anger flared up inside her like a brushfire. Susan was just a fake–someone she and Savannah had set up. So why was she the one receiving Justin’s soft side? Why did a stand–in get to look at her like that–like she was above her, like she felt sorry for her? Why?

Danielle’s fists tightened until her knuckles turned white. She couldn’t accept it but she didn’t dare tell the truth.

If she told Justin that Susan was part of a setup she had planned to use against him, he’d never lift a finger to help her agam

Fear tightened around her heart. Her mind spun, and her fingers trembled.

“Do you want to go back?” Seeing her avoid his eyes and remain silent, Justin lowered his head and asked again, his voice cold as

ice.

He was always like a priest, devoid of desires, so sacred that he seemed detached from all human ties.

His cold expression, like that of soul who would never fall for anyone, was so calm it drove Danielle mad.

When they were kids, she used to bully Justin. She wanted to drag this aloof, detached figure down into the mire. She wanted to see even a flicker of emotion in those calm, desireless eyes.

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10:21 am DXXM.

Chapter 401 The Betrayal

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She had even crazily wondered what kind of woman could ever make a man like Justin fall in love–make him willingly step down from his pedestal and sink into ruin with her.

But all these years, those cool, distant eyes of his had never wavered for anyone.

Even when he was gentle with Susan, his eyes never truly changed.

“I don’t want to go back. Justin, please save me. If you help me just this once, I’ll do anything you ask. If you want the Barton Group, I can help you. Please…” Danielle begged, reaching desperately to grab his arm.

But Justin stepped away coldly, as if avoiding something filthy.

Danielle’s hand froze midair.

She slumped numbly, finding herself utterly ridiculous.

Back then, when Justin helped her steal Adriana’s design draft, she thought maybe he still had feelings for her.

It wasn’t until Adriana stunned everyone at the design competition–using the plagiarism scandal to make a name for herself and gain a firm footing in the Bartons–that Danielle truly understood. Justin had never helped her.

He had known all along that she planned to frame Adriana. He had played along on purpose. From beginning to end, the only person he had ever truly protected was Adriana.

Only Adriana–the granddaughter Jeremy truly cherished.

After realizing the truth, Danielle hated, envied, and resented her. She was Jeremy’s granddaughter, too. Why were their lives so different?

But slowly, she fell into despair and stopped struggling. Maybe… from the moment she was born, she was meant to rot in the mud.

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