Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 44

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 44**

“You think this is merely a trivial issue, don’t you?” Adriana’s voice quivered, laden with a potent mix of frustration and deep-seated pain as she faced Matthew. Her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, reflected the turmoil within her. “My left ear is irrevocably deaf, my pinky is crushed beyond any hope of repair, and this has fundamentally changed my entire existence. I nearly lost an eye in that incident… and they recorded every moment of it. Do you even have the guts to watch it?”

Her voice trembled under the weight of her experiences, each word a testament to her struggle. “I am determined to see this through to the bitter end…”

“Adriana! Do you genuinely think Curtis will want you forever?” Natasha’s voice sliced through the atmosphere, sharp and accusatory, like a blade aimed at Adriana’s heart.

“Ms. Jones, you are overthinking this,” Curtis interjected, his tone flat, a stark contrast to the emotional tempest swirling around them. “Even if we were to part ways someday, the heights she has reached are places that individuals like you will never attain in your lifetime.”

His conviction was unyielding, a fortress of support for Adriana, as he endeavored to equip her with every resource necessary to stand tall, fierce, and unapologetically independent.

Natasha’s expression soured further, her features contorting into a mask of disdain. She shot a venomous glare at Curtis, her voice dripping with contempt. “I am the eldest daughter of the Jones family, and my future husband is Matthew. Without you, what is she?”

In the depths of her mind, she sneered, Just an orphan, a mere stepping stone meant to be trampled upon.

Curtis’s gaze shifted to Matthew, his words sharp and cutting. “I must not comprehend Mr. Langford’s taste: a woman who trades marriage for business advantages, yet somehow believes she stands above everyone else.”

He turned back to Natasha, his tone icy as a winter’s breath. “If you were a nobody without a family name, you wouldn’t even measure up to a single strand of Adriana’s hair.”

Some individuals thrive on wielding their advantages to crush those who lack them, and Curtis was no stranger to this ruthless game.

“Curtis, don’t push your luck,” Matthew replied stiffly, feeling the tension escalate like a brewing storm. Natasha was his childhood love; he felt the need to maintain his dignity in front of her.

“This is ‘pushing my luck’?” Curtis didn’t even flinch, his resolve unwavering. “You know as well as I do that she married William, the head of Gloria Sheonia, to fatten the Joneses’ coffers. And you also know he had a wife before her—your ‘first love’ chased that position as a mistress to secure those benefits.” He offered Natasha no mercy, his eyes flashing with indignation.

Matthew’s expression darkened, frustration simmering just beneath the surface, ready to boil over.

Natasha had long manipulated his guilt for not protecting her back in the day. If he were to discover that she had pursued William, the disappointment would be profound, a wound that would cut deeper than any physical injury.

Panic flickered across Natasha’s features, a tempest of emotions swirling within her.

She clutched Matthew’s arm tightly, her voice trembling like a fragile leaf in the wind. “Matthew… the engagement… my family forced it upon me.”

“That’s utterly ridiculous.” Curtis intertwined his fingers with Adriana’s, casting a sidelong glance at his aide. “The campus assault—handle it with an iron fist. Whoever is responsible, we will pursue them relentlessly.”

That was a clear message directed at Matthew, a warning wrapped in resolve.

Mia would be held accountable for her actions.

And Curtis wanted Matthew to grasp that this was his decision, not Adriana’s. Harassing his wife would yield no favorable results.

Mia broke down in tears, her voice a desperate plea that echoed through the charged atmosphere. “Matthew… please, save me. I can’t bear the thought of going to prison!”

Matthew’s head throbbed, his expression turning to stone, a mask of determination.

He had no intention of letting Mia serve time, but with Curtis as the opponent, the cost would be exorbitant, a price too steep to contemplate.

Rubbing his brow in frustration, he turned to Curtis. “Mr. Lincoln, do we truly need to make this adversarial?”

Francisca County, the place where her childhood unfolded, the orphanage nestled there, a site filled with memories both sweet and bitter.

“The Lincoln Foundation has already spoken with your director,” Curtis continued, his tone matter-of-fact, steady as a rock. “The endowment ceremony is happening this weekend. If you want to go, I—”

“I do!” Adriana blurted out, her breath hitching as excitement surged through her, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, a torrent of emotions threatening to overflow.

She nodded vigorously, a goofy grin spreading across her face, illuminating her features in a way that felt almost miraculous.

Curtis watched her for a long moment, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, before he ducked into the car, his demeanor softening just for her.

During the drive back, he fell silent again, his gaze fixed on the window, his expression unreadable, a mask of contemplation.

Adriana stole a few glances at him, searching for a topic to bridge the gap between them, but the words eluded her, slipping through her fingers like sand.

They were still strangers in many ways, two souls navigating through uncharted territory, each turn fraught with uncertainty.

“Curtis… the evidence could convict Mia. If the Langfords decide to push back…” She hesitated, not wanting to drag him into a war that could consume them both, her heart heavy with the weight of her thoughts.

In the midst of chaos and emotional turmoil, Adriana emerges from the shadows of her past, grasping the possibility of a future that is finally hers to shape. The confrontation with Matthew and Natasha has forced her to confront the painful truths of her life, the scars that have marred her existence. Yet, standing beside Curtis, she feels a flicker of hope igniting within her—a chance to reclaim her narrative, to rise above the limitations imposed upon her. The prospect of returning to Francisca County, the very place where her journey began, symbolizes not just a physical return but an emotional one as well. It is a chance to confront her past, to embrace the strength she has cultivated through adversity, and to step into a new chapter where she defines her identity on her own terms. As they drive towards an uncertain future, the bond between Adriana and Curtis begins to take shape, hinting at the potential for a partnership built on mutual respect and understanding. Though they remain strangers in many ways, there is an unspoken connection that promises to deepen as they navigate the complexities of their lives together. Adriana’s heart swells with the realization that she is no longer merely a victim of her circumstances; she is a survivor, ready to face the challenges ahead. With Curtis by her side, she feels empowered to confront whatever lies ahead, knowing that time may not have healed her wounds, but it has certainly guided her towards the strength she never knew she possessed. In this moment of clarity, Adriana embraces the uncertainty of the future, ready to carve out a path that is uniquely her own.

**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**

In the upcoming chapter, readers can anticipate a deepening of the emotional turmoil that Adriana faces as she grapples with her past and the looming threat of Mia’s potential conviction. The tension between the characters will escalate, especially as Curtis and Matthew’s conflicting loyalties come to a head. Will Adriana’s newfound partnership with Curtis empower her to reclaim her identity, or will the shadows of her past continue to haunt her? As the endowment ceremony in Francisca County approaches, the stakes will rise, forcing Adriana to confront not only her painful memories but also the very real consequences of the choices made by those around her. Additionally, the chapter promises to delve into Natasha’s desperation as she fights to maintain her status and the fragile grip she has on Matthew. The revelation of her manipulations and the truth about her engagement will undoubtedly create a rift that could alter the dynamics of their relationships forever. With tensions flaring and secrets threatening to spill into the open, readers will be left on the edge of their seats, eager to see how these intertwined lives will navigate the dangerous waters of ambition, betrayal, and the quest for healing. The clash of past and present will unfold in ways that no one expects, leaving readers hungry for more.