Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 42

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen**
by Kael Niro Senn 42

“Honestly, with a daughter as foolish as you, it’s clear your father can’t be much better. I’d say he should brace himself for a pink slip,” Curtis said, his voice devoid of warmth, slicing through the tension like a knife. He then turned to Kenneth, his steadfast assistant, with a calculated calmness. “Bring in the lawyer, and don’t forget to call the police as well.”

Linda’s face blanched, a wave of panic washing over her as she grappled with the weight of Curtis’s words. What did he mean? The implications hung heavy in the air, suffocating her.

“Being this idiotic really takes skill,” Curtis continued, his frustration evident as he shook his phone in agitation. “Thanks to your blunders, the evidence from that crime four years ago is sitting here, perfectly preserved.”

He had instructed Kenneth to delve into the relentless bullying that Adriana had suffered years prior, meticulously gathering proof that now felt like a ticking time bomb. To his astonishment, that very evidence had found its way to him today, as if someone had handed him a loaded weapon.

Adriana, ensnared in a haze of confusion, stared blankly at Curtis, her mind swirling with dread and uncertainty.

“W-What do you mean?” Linda’s voice quivered, panic lacing her words as she instinctively took a step back, desperate to escape the oppressive tension. But standing like an immovable fortress in front of her was Tom, Curtis’s formidable bodyguard, his presence a silent warning.

Tom was a mountain of a man, capable of taking on ten adversaries without breaking a sweat. Just his stature alone was enough to instill fear in anyone who dared to challenge him.

“Adriana! Are you out of your mind? You know what happens when you cross me!” Linda whipped around, venom dripping from her words as she directed her fury at Adriana. “You’d better tell him to stay out of this.”

Adriana remained silent, her gaze flickering nervously to Curtis, who exuded an air of calm authority amidst the chaos.

“Don’t fret about this,” Curtis reassured Adriana, his voice steady and soothing. “I’ll take care of everything. Just sit back down and enjoy your meal while it’s still warm. We shouldn’t let good food go to waste.”

With a heavy heart, Adriana lowered her head, her appetite evaporating. Perhaps it was the steam rising from the dumplings, but her eyes felt unbearably warm, threatening to spill over.

The urge to cry tingled in her nose, yet she hesitated, fearing that Curtis might mock her vulnerability.

The memories of the bullying from four years ago lingered like a haunting specter, a festering wound that had never truly healed.

Throughout those years, Matthew had never once stepped up to defend her.

Yet here was Curtis, her contract husband and her boss, unexpectedly willing to stand up for her.

“Adriana, you’re finished!” Linda and her crew attempted to make their exit, but Tom and the bodyguards formed an unyielding barrier, preventing their escape.

Fury ignited within Linda as she grabbed her phone. “Camelia, get over here with some backup! That little witch Adriana has a guy with her, and they’ve got us cornered!”

Adriana’s heart raced at the thought of Camelia arriving. If Linda called her, there was no doubt Camelia would bring Mia along.

Facing one Linda was manageable—her family lacked the clout of Curtis’s—but if the Langfords stepped in, who knew what kind of trouble it could stir up for Curtis?

“What would you like to eat?” Curtis asked casually, as if the rising tension around them didn’t faze him in the slightest.

Adriana shook her head, her appetite completely vanished.

She had always appeared sweet and demure, her quiet demeanor making her an easy target for bullies.

Curtis studied her for a moment, then said, “Honestly, it might be beneficial if they all show up. It saves me the hassle of tracking them down individually.”

“Curtis, why are you helping me?” Adriana asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper, laden with disbelief.

“Ridiculous. Do you even know who we are? Picking a fight with us in Haldoria—you must be blind, what a waste of a handsome face,” Linda declared, her arrogance palpable as she stepped behind Camelia, emboldened by the crowd.

“Camelia, he’s got the bullying videos from four years ago and has already called the cops,” Linda sneered, her voice dripping with malice.

Camelia narrowed her eyes at Curtis, her expression shifting from disdain to a misguided flirtation. “Hey, handsome, I’d suggest you back off. Since you’re good-looking, just delete the video and come have a drink with us. We’ll let it slide.”

Adriana’s jaw dropped in disbelief. Camelia had to be the most foolish person alive to even think of flirting with Curtis.

“Camelia, get your filthy hands off him!” Adriana snapped, rising to her feet to shield Curtis from her advances.

“Hah.” Camelia smirked, raising her hand as if to strike Adriana. But in a burst of defiance, Adriana caught her wrist and retaliated with a slap of her own.

Her breath quickened, heart racing, as she clenched her fists tightly. Perhaps it was the presence of Curtis behind her, but a surge of courage coursed through her veins, igniting a fire she hadn’t known she possessed.

In the tumultuous aftermath of confrontation, Adriana stood firm, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and newfound strength. The weight of years spent in silence and subjugation began to lift, replaced by a sense of empowerment she had never anticipated. With Curtis by her side, she felt a flicker of hope ignite within her; he was not just a shield against her past but a catalyst for her transformation. As she faced Camelia and her entourage, the defiance that surged through her was a testament to her resilience. No longer would she allow the shadows of her bullying to dictate her worth or her actions. The tears that threatened to spill were now ones of liberation, a release of the burdens she had carried for far too long.

As the chaos unfolded around her, Adriana realized that time, which had once felt stagnant and oppressive, had begun to work in her favor. Curtis’s unwavering support illuminated a path she had thought was forever obscured by doubt and fear. In that moment of confrontation, she not only reclaimed her voice but also her identity, stepping out of the shadows of the past and into a future where she could define her own narrative. The journey ahead would not be without its challenges, but with the strength she had discovered within herself and the unexpected allyship of Curtis, Adriana felt ready to face whatever came next. It was a pivotal turning point, a moment where time, instead of healing in silence, had finally urged her to embrace her truth and fight for her place in the world.

**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**

In the upcoming chapter, readers can expect the tension to escalate dramatically as Adriana finds herself at the center of a brewing storm. With the arrival of Camelia and her entourage, the stakes have never been higher. The confrontation is poised to ignite old rivalries and unearth buried secrets, forcing Adriana to confront not only her past but also the unexpected ally standing beside her—Curtis. Will he truly stand by her side, or will the weight of their newly formed bond crumble under the pressure of their adversaries? The dynamics of power and vulnerability will be tested as the confrontation unfolds, and Adriana must decide whether to embrace her newfound strength or retreat into the shadows of her past.

As the chapter progresses, readers will witness the unfolding drama through the eyes of both Adriana and Curtis, revealing the depths of their characters and the complexities of their relationship. Will Curtis’s calm demeanor be enough to quell the chaos that Linda and Camelia bring with them? Or will Adriana’s defiance spark a chain reaction that leads to an explosive showdown? The anticipation of who will emerge victorious looms large as alliances shift and the true nature of friendships is put to the test. Expect shocking revelations, fierce confrontations, and a pivotal moment that could change everything for Adriana as she grapples with her identity and the courage to stand up for herself.