Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 57

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

Adriana hung up the phone, the weight of the conversation lingering in the air like a thick fog. She sank into the couch, her mind swirling with questions that had haunted her for years. What kind of people were her biological parents? What had driven them to abandon her so many years ago? Was it simply because she was a girl, or was it that they had never loved her at all? Each thought was like a stone thrown into a still pond, creating ripples of doubt and sorrow that spread through her consciousness.

As she leaned back into the cushions, the exhaustion of the day washed over her, and her eyelids grew heavy. In a matter of moments, the world around her faded into a comforting darkness, and she succumbed to sleep.

The morning light crept through her window, casting soft beams across her face. Adriana stirred awake, disoriented, her surroundings slowly coming into focus. She blinked, trying to piece together how she had ended up in her own bed. Hadn’t she fallen asleep on the couch? Yawning widely, she stretched her arms above her head, feeling the stiffness in her muscles. After a quick wash-up, she made her way downstairs, the aroma of breakfast wafting through the air.

As she descended the staircase, she caught sight of Curtis, and a flicker of surprise danced in her chest. “Curtis?” she called out, her voice tinged with curiosity. “When did you get back?”

“Last night,” he replied coolly, his demeanor as composed as ever. “I’ve got some things to take care of this morning. Be ready by ten. I’ll pick you up for the orphanage visit.”

Adriana nodded, a sense of obedience washing over her. After Curtis left the room, Eva, her ever-cheerful housemate, looked at her with a knowing smile. “You fell asleep on the sofa last night. Mr. Lincoln carried you back to your room.”

Adriana froze, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. Was it really Curtis who had lifted her? The thought sent a rush of warmth through her. She exhaled softly, reminding herself to keep her feelings in check. She couldn’t afford to develop any romantic notions about Curtis. If she allowed herself to fall for him, she feared it would end in heartache far worse than what she had experienced with Matthew.

The atmosphere shifted as she arrived at Nera Club later that day. Danielle was a vision in a pure white gown, exuding an angelic aura that starkly contrasted her usual mature demeanor. She stepped out of the elevator, her smile radiant as she approached Curtis. “Curtis, what brings you here to see me?” she asked, her tone light and teasing.

However, Curtis’s expression was anything but warm. His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. “Did you go see Adriana?”

Danielle’s smile faltered for a brief moment, but she quickly recovered, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Curtis, are you really that protective of her? Am I not even allowed to visit her now? You don’t love her; it’s a contractual marriage. Don’t act like she’s your daughter.”

His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, the tension in the air thickening. “Danielle, stay away from her. Contract or not, Adriana belongs to me. If you touch her, you’ll regret it.”

Danielle’s face tightened, the façade of her smile wavering under the weight of his warning. “Curtis, I understand,” she replied, though the defiance in her eyes suggested otherwise.

He glanced at his watch, the finality of his tone leaving no room for argument. “This is your first and final warning.”

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Danielle’s expression twisted with fury as she clenched her fists, watching him go. What was it about Adriana that made Curtis so fiercely protective? Did he see her as more than just an obligation, or was it simply because she was an orphan, easy to control?

In a moment of surprise, she realized he had positioned his hand between her head and the window, providing a cushion against the jolts of the car. Her heart raced, and she straightened up abruptly, glancing nervously at him. “Curtis… thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” he replied casually, but his nonchalance did little to calm her racing heart.

Adriana looked down, too flustered to meet his gaze directly. Was he always this considerate? Wasn’t he being a little too kind for someone who had a life outside of their contract? Annoyance bubbled within her. Curtis was crossing boundaries, especially since his heart belonged to someone else. He was sending mixed signals, and she wasn’t sure how to interpret them.

She longed to ask him about Belinda, but the words caught in her throat. After all, she was merely a wife on paper, devoid of any real claim to his personal life. Their agreement was crystal clear: no involvement in each other’s affairs.

“Yesterday, Danielle came to see you,” Curtis said suddenly, his tone shifting to something more serious.

“Yes…” Adriana admitted quietly, the memory of the encounter flashing through her mind.

“From now on, Adriana, if anyone approaches you, you need to tell me immediately. If I ever find out you’ve been hiding things or acting on your own again, I won’t bother protecting you anymore.” His voice was sharp, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air, leaving no room for misinterpretation.