Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 82

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

**Chapter 82: Tense Car Ride**

Adriana remained silent, her body instinctively retreating against Curtis, seeking comfort in his presence, yet feeling the weight of uncertainty.

In her mind, she had already painted a picture where Matthew was the instigator of the conflict.

“Matthew…” As if the air itself had been waiting for her words, the car window slid down, and Natasha, who had been holding back her frustration for what felt like an eternity, finally broke her silence. Her voice was low but firm, cutting through the tension like a knife. “We need to leave now, or we’ll miss our flight.”

Matthew’s brow furrowed, his gaze flickering toward Adriana for a fleeting moment before he climbed into the vehicle.

Natasha’s eyes lingered on Adriana, her tone cool and almost menacing as she added, “See you in Haldoria, Adriana.”

The weight of her words hung in the air, leaving a chill in Adriana’s chest.

“Curtis, you guys didn’t really fight, did you?” Adriana huffed, her voice laced with frustration and a tinge of fear that kept her from unleashing her anger fully.

…

Fear still gripped her heart when it came to Curtis.

Curtis’s lips curled into a relaxed smile, as if the world around him was nothing but a fleeting distraction. “Since you stood up for me, I’ll treat you to two servings of dessert balls.”

Adriana, though hesitant, murmured her agreement, allowing Curtis to guide her toward the car, his hand warm against her back.

“Curtis!” Tom’s voice broke through the moment, and as he drove up, the rear window rolled down to reveal Nicole’s striking features, her expression a mix of eagerness and discomfort.

Tom, looking slightly out of place, stepped out and opened the door. “Mr. Curtis… Mr. Harold asked you to take Ms. Nicole shopping and show her around Harborton.”

In an instant, Curtis’s demeanor shifted, his earlier joviality replaced by a shadow of displeasure.

Nicole, blissfully unaware of the tension, patted the empty seat beside her. “Curtis, sit here.”

The car was designed for five, and with Nicole occupying the back seat, it meant that Curtis and Adriana would have to separate. There was simply no way the three of them could fit comfortably in the cramped rear seat.

Adriana began to move toward the front passenger seat, but Curtis’s hand shot out, stopping her in her tracks.

Curtis, for reasons she couldn’t quite fathom, wore an odd expression. He shot Adriana a frosty look. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Is she not even trying to shield me? Just pushing me toward another woman?

…

“I’m getting in the car?” Adriana replied, confusion evident in her voice.

“Sit in the back,” Curtis commanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Adriana nodded obediently and slid into the back seat next to Nicole, feeling the tension thicken around them.

Nicole huffed, clearly irked by the arrangement.

Adriana had expected Curtis to take the front, but instead, he squeezed himself into the back with her.

The look he had shot her earlier had been chilling, and she felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach.

She stared out the window, her thoughts racing. Don’t rush, she reminded herself. There’s plenty of time.

With the engagement between the Bartons and the Lincolns, along with all those familial ties, Curtis would inevitably be hers.

Once she secured her marriage to Curtis, her first act would be to send Adriana abroad, ensuring she never set foot back in Harborton.

As they drove toward the shopping district, Adriana remained perched on Curtis’s lap. Initially tense, the slow pace of the ride began to lull her into a sense of fatigue, prompting her to cautiously shift her weight.

Noticing her weariness, Curtis’s mood lifted slightly, and he quietly tightened his hold on her, murmuring, “Relax, don’t move around…”

Adriana’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. This guy could be such a jerk sometimes!

“Curtis, where exactly are we going?” Nicole attempted to steer the conversation back to a more neutral ground.

Curtis offered no reply, his silence echoing like a closed door.

Undeterred, Nicole pressed on, “Curtis, besides work, do you have any hobbies? Do you enjoy tennis? Or perhaps something else? I’m open to anything; we might share some common interests.”

“Free solo climbing. Want to try? You won’t get an insurance payout if you fall,” Curtis replied, his gaze fixed on Nicole, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.

Nicole visibly stiffened, her voice faltering as she fell silent, the conversation taking an unexpected turn.

Adriana couldn’t help but reflect on why Curtis had never engaged in a serious relationship before her, despite being nearly thirty…