Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 97

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 97**

Curtis had always been fiercely protective of Adriana, unwilling to let anyone with malevolent intentions near her. Yolanda, however, was a different case altogether; her intentions were transparent, making her relatively easy to manage. In the grand scheme of things, Curtis found a certain comfort in this simplicity.

Adriana’s circle of friends was small, so Curtis felt a swell of satisfaction at her desire to forge a new friendship. It was a positive sign, a glimpse of Adriana’s social spirit emerging from the shadows of her solitude.

Moreover, Yolanda’s quick success in winning over Adriana, the wife of the CEO of Lincoln Group, spoke volumes about her capabilities. It became increasingly clear that earning Adriana’s trust was far more significant than simply gaining Curtis’s approval.

“Did Grandpa call you?” Curtis inquired, his voice steady but tinged with concern.

“Yeah…” Adriana murmured, her gaze drifting to the floor as if it held the answers to her worries. “Nicole… she moved in, and she’s taken over the main bedroom.”

The words tumbled out, laced with a mix of frustration and reluctance. Adriana hated to be the one to complain, but sometimes, silence felt like a betrayal.

“I’ll take care of this,” Curtis declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. He had always been the one to shield Adriana from the chaos of life, stepping in to resolve issues before they could weigh her down.

“Okay…” she replied softly, a hint of relief washing over her. She knew she could count on him.

After ending the call, Adriana exhaled deeply, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease. Curtis allowed her the freedom to make friends, and that was a comforting thought. She recalled Bonnie’s words about her sugar daddy, who wouldn’t even let her hang out with acquaintances. The controlling nature of that relationship made Adriana shudder.

“Thank goodness Curtis isn’t like that,” she thought, a small smile creeping onto her lips.

Meanwhile, Kenneth approached Adriana, his voice barely above a whisper. “Mr. Lincoln was furious today. I heard Lincoln Group cut several partnerships with Chandler.”

Adriana’s heart raced at the news. She had never witnessed Curtis in such a state of anger—not even yesterday.

“What?” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief. “They cut partnerships with the Bartons? Aren’t the Lincolns and the Bartons old family friends?”

“Not anymore,” Kenneth replied, his brow furrowed in concern. “Chandler started his own company, leveraging the Bartons’ connections over the years. The truth is, not everything the Bartons own actually belongs to him. With Nicole back, she’s reclaimed everything, including the Barton Group. Chandler is left with nothing, so he’s been scrambling to expand his own influence.”

Adriana nodded slowly, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. She now understood that Chandler was working tirelessly to carve out his own niche in a world that had once favored him.

As they drove back to the villa, Adriana was taken aback by the sheer number of cars and people gathered outside. It felt like a scene from a chaotic movie. Among the throng, she spotted Danielle, her expression stormy as she approached.

“Adriana, I’m sorry,” Danielle said, her voice strained.

Before Curtis took action against Chandler’s company, Danielle had tried to convince herself that Curtis didn’t truly love Adriana, that he was merely using her to sever the marriage deal with the Bartons. But now, witnessing Curtis’s extreme reaction to what she deemed a minor head wound sent her into a spiral of panic.

Who was Adriana to Curtis? Wasn’t he still in love with Cynthia? Had he truly changed his mind?

Danielle frowned, grappling with her conflicting emotions. She secretly hoped Curtis might reconsider, that if he could fall for Adriana, he could just as easily fall for someone else in the future. But for now, the anger and jealousy she harbored toward Adriana felt insurmountable.

“Always leave yourself an escape route, or…” Danielle hissed through clenched teeth. “One day, when he decides to abandon you, you’ll see just how quickly your world crumbles.”

She wanted Adriana to ponder this reality—without Curtis, her life would be a constant struggle. Having offended so many, she would face a relentless uphill battle without his protection.

“So this is your idea of apologizing?” Adriana retorted, a playful smile gracing her lips. “Who knows what the future holds? Just because things suck now doesn’t mean they won’t get better later. Enjoy your moment while you can, because what if you don’t even live to see the day I get dumped?”

Danielle’s fists clenched in fury. In that instant, she saw Adriana for who she truly was—not some innocent little bunny, but a formidable force. Both she and Natasha had seriously underestimated her.

Adriana was a wild card, a tempest waiting to unleash chaos. In front of Curtis and Matthew, she appeared harmless, but stripped of their presence, she revealed a reckless side that could wreak havoc.

“Adriana!” Danielle shouted, her voice laced with threat, though deep down, she knew she had no real power now. Curtis was unwavering in his protection of Adriana, making it clear that any attempt to undermine her would be futile.