Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 46

**TITLE: When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 46**
**CONTENT: Chapter 46 I’m Your Husband**

Curtis was inevitably going to be pulled into this mess.

Adriana’s heart raced, each beat echoing the chaos that had just erupted in her life. With trembling hands, she inhaled deeply, attempting to gather her scattered thoughts as she unlocked her phone. The bright glow of the screen illuminated her anxious face, revealing the turmoil brewing within. She quickly navigated to the trending news feed, her stomach twisting into knots as she braced herself for the worst.

Matthew had gone public, laying their history bare for the world to see, shamelessly declaring that he had kept her for four agonizing years.

“Yes, it was a transactional relationship.”

His words dripped with venom, poisoning the very air around her. Adriana felt as though the ground beneath her was crumbling away, leaving her teetering on the edge of despair. A transactional relationship… the phrase echoed in her mind like a haunting refrain.

Her knees buckled, and she slid down the cold wall, desperately trying to maintain her balance against the onslaught of emotions threatening to engulf her. A tempest raged inside her, and all she could think about was confronting him—demanding answers, demanding to know why he would stoop to such depths.

Just then, Curtis appeared from upstairs, draped in a black robe, a towel casually slung around his neck. The moment he spotted Belinda in the apartment, his demeanor shifted, a dark cloud settling over his expression. “I told you,” he said, his voice icy and resolute, “this apartment belongs to Adriana now. You can’t just waltz back in here without her permission.”

He had already secured a new place for Belinda near campus, making his loyalties unmistakably clear.

“Curtis, you should really check your phone,” Belinda chimed in, a smug smirk dancing on her lips as she cast a sideways glance at Adriana. “Mr. Harold has been calling you non-stop. When you didn’t pick up, he decided to call me instead.” Her delight in the situation was palpable, each word laced with malice as she taunted Adriana, relishing the chaos unfolding around them.

Adriana’s hands trembled more violently now, the panic rising like a tide within her.

Of course, Harold had seen the headlines. That was the reason for the relentless calls.

A tight knot of anxiety clenched at her heart. Curtis had only married her out of obligation, the pressure from his grandfather weighing heavily on him, and now, the weight of Matthew’s words threatened to crush her completely.

Curtis shot her a concerned glance before picking up his phone. The screen lit up with a barrage of missed calls, a stark reminder of the chaos that had just erupted.

“What happened?” he asked, his voice low and filled with concern, but his gaze remained fixed on her, searching for answers in her eyes.

She could feel the color draining from her face, her composure teetering on the edge of collapse.

“Matthew…,” Adriana’s voice trembled, cracking under the strain of her emotions. “Matthew went public with our past. He told reporters that I was… kept.” The realization of his betrayal hit her hard; she had never imagined he would sink this low.

He was intent on ruining her completely.

In their social circle, scandal was a lethal poison, especially since the Langfords and Lincolns still had business ties that could be severed by mere whispers of shame.

“He never kept me! He told me it was love. That’s what he said from the very beginning…” she stammered, panic rising in her chest. Her voice quivered as she struggled to articulate her truth, her body tense and her fingers frozen in place. She had so much to express, yet the words eluded her.

Would Curtis even believe her?

“I never used his money,” she insisted, desperation creeping into her tone.

Adriana had rarely touched Matthew’s card; he had only gifted her small things here and there, never once keeping her.

With shaking hands, she fumbled for her phone, her fingers too stiff to unlock the screen.

Curtis could sense the gravity of the situation.

He recognized this as the physical manifestation of her struggle with depression—a darkness that had taken root after the assault on campus.

“I believe you,” Curtis said firmly, stepping closer and wrapping her in his arms. His voice softened, yet there was an unmistakable strength beneath it. “Adriana, don’t waste a single moment worrying about slander. Those who seek to destroy others publicly are nothing but filth.”

“There was no arrangement,” she repeated, tears streaming down her face, her voice cracking as she cried out the phrase over and over. “There was no arrangement…”

This wasn’t merely a defense to the world; it was a desperate plea to herself to believe in her own truth.

“Don’t try to prove yourself. Don’t fall into their trap.” Curtis’s grip on her tightened, his voice low and deliberate, heavy with urgency. “Adriana, if you want to emerge from this unscathed, you cannot let anyone—or anything—sway you. What they are doing is intentional. They are using you, manipulating public opinion. Their ultimate aim is to break you down—to make you feel abandoned.”

Curtis understood Matthew’s motives all too well.

By publicly defaming Adriana, he was attempting to force the Lincoln family to sever all ties with her.

Once that happened, she would be left isolated, powerless, and no longer a figure to be reckoned with.

That was their true intention: to push her into withdrawing the case, to abandon her pursuit of justice for the assault that had occurred four years ago, allowing Mia, Rufus, and Camelia to walk away unscathed. It would be an effortless victory for them.

“Anyone else might give up on you,” Curtis said resolutely, gripping her wrist as he guided her into the study. He unlocked the safe, retrieving the marriage certificate, and placed it before her with a steady hand. “But you cannot give up on yourself—and I will not give up on you either. We are legally married. This has nothing to do with the prenuptial agreement. I am your husband.”

As the weight of Curtis’s words settled over her, a flicker of hope ignited within Adriana’s heart. In a world that felt intent on tearing her apart, his unwavering support became her anchor, grounding her amidst the chaos. The realization that she was not alone in this fight began to mend the frayed edges of her spirit. For so long, she had been haunted by Matthew’s betrayal, grappling with the shame he had thrust upon her. Yet here was Curtis, standing resolute, reminding her of her worth and the truth that had been obscured by lies. In his embrace, she felt the warmth of acceptance and the promise of solidarity, a stark contrast to the coldness of the accusations swirling around her.

With renewed determination, Adriana wiped her tears and faced the reality of her situation. She understood now that this was not just a battle against public perception but a fight for her own identity and healing. The scars of her past would not define her; instead, they would serve as a testament to her resilience. As she looked at the marriage certificate before her, she recognized it as more than just a legal document—it symbolized a commitment, not only to Curtis but to herself. In that moment, she resolved to reclaim her narrative and stand tall against the storm, knowing that with Curtis by her side, she had the strength to rise above the darkness.

**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**

In the upcoming chapter, readers can expect the tension between Adriana and Curtis to escalate as they navigate the fallout from Matthew’s shocking revelation. With the weight of public scrutiny bearing down on them, the couple must confront not only their past but also the implications of their marriage. Adriana’s struggle to reclaim her narrative will intensify, as she seeks to piece together her self-worth in a world that seems determined to tear her down. Will Curtis stand by her side as a steadfast ally, or will the mounting pressure reveal cracks in their seemingly unbreakable bond?

As the chapter unfolds, the stakes will heighten, with Belinda’s malicious interference adding fuel to the fire. Adriana’s resolve to fight back against the lies will be tested, forcing her to confront her deepest fears and insecurities. Meanwhile, Curtis’s unwavering support may lead to unexpected revelations about his own feelings and motivations. Will Adriana find the strength to rise above the chaos, or will the shadows of her past continue to loom large over her future? Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster as the battle for truth and love takes center stage, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the next twist in Adriana’s tumultuous journey.