Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 109

**Chapter 109: You’re Not Alone Anymore**

Quincy felt a jolt of panic shoot through him as the realization hit. He blurted out, “Mr. Lincoln, I swear I had no idea this student had skipped so many classes! I’ll get the student affairs office on it right away!” His heart raced, knowing full well that the implications of such a revelation could be disastrous.

In the back of his mind, he understood that comparing the Joneses to the Lincolns was a grave mistake. The Lincolns were a lineage of respect and authority, and Quincy was acutely aware of the weight their name carried in the school’s hierarchy.

With reporters buzzing around like bees, and Curtis himself stepping in with an air of authority, Quincy felt the pressure mounting. He had no choice but to diffuse the situation before it escalated further.

Meanwhile, Cheryl stood frozen, her complexion turning a sickly shade of white. She turned to Natasha, her eyes wide with anxiety. “What should we do now?” she whispered, the tremor in her voice betraying her fear.

Natasha’s expression hardened, a steely resolve forming in her eyes. Standing on the stage, she felt as if the ground had been pulled from beneath her. She shot Curtis a fierce glare, but quickly averted her gaze, slipping backstage before her embarrassment could reach new heights.

With the cameras flashing like a strobe light, she couldn’t bear the thought of facing the crowd, not now, not like this. She opted to retreat into the shadows until the ceremony concluded, hoping to gather her thoughts.

Cheryl, in a state of panic, dashed after Natasha, her voice sharp with urgency. “Natasha, what’s going on between Curtis and Adriana?!” she demanded, her frustration boiling over.

Natasha frowned, irritation flickering in her eyes as she shot Cheryl a cold stare. “You have some nerve asking me that! This entire mess started because you decided to skip class!” Her tone was biting, laced with the tension of the moment.

Cheryl dropped her gaze, guilt washing over her. “Don’t worry. Once we’re in Pastalia, I’ll make sure she regrets this,” she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

“She’s got Curtis on her side now,” Natasha countered, her tone dripping with skepticism. “Everyone knows he’s fiercely protective of his people, so don’t do anything reckless. Just wait. Once he gets bored with her, there’ll be plenty of folks ready to drag her down.” Natasha’s scoff echoed with a mixture of disdain and resignation.

On stage, Quincy felt the weight of the moment as he nervously called Adriana’s name while scanning the list. Though she was supposed to be the last to be recognized, he hastily moved her spot up. After all, Adriana had real support now—she was no longer the bullied orphan she once was.

Adriana’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she glanced nervously at Curtis, her heart pounding in her chest. Deep down, she feared he might abandon her just like Matthew had done.

“Don’t be scared. Go ahead,” Curtis encouraged, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. His touch sent a wave of warmth through her, bolstering her courage.

Adriana nodded, inhaling deeply as she stepped onto the stage, her heart swelling with pride. This was the honor she had rightfully earned. Just as Curtis had said, she couldn’t lower her head; doing so would risk letting her crown slip.

She had always excelled, standing at the top of her class, a beacon of resilience. So what if she was an orphan with no family? She still had her own life to carve out.

“Adriana is one of our best graduates,” Quincy announced, his smile bright and genuine.

Adriana merely offered a faint smile in return, choosing to remain silent, overwhelmed by the moment.

“Now, let’s have Mr. Lincoln present the award,” Quincy continued, glancing awkwardly at Curtis.

With a confident stride, Curtis approached, handing her the award with a flourish, his assistant trailing behind with a bouquet of vibrant flowers.

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