Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 117

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**
**Chapter 117: Adriana’s Restless Heart**

Adriana approached the back seat of the car with the intention of slipping inside, but the stubborn door refused to cooperate. With a slight frown, she leaned forward and caught Curtis’s eye. “Curtis, the door won’t open,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

“Just sit up front,” he replied softly, his gaze steady on her.

With a resigned nod, Adriana climbed into the passenger seat, the familiar scent of the car enveloping her like a comforting blanket.

“Do you want to grab some of those dumplings near your school?” Curtis asked, his tone casual, yet there was an undercurrent of concern in his voice.

A flicker of excitement sparked in Adriana’s eyes, and she nodded enthusiastically. But then, reality struck her like a cold wave. “Wait, how did you know I haven’t eaten yet?” she asked, her surprise evident.

Curtis let out a small sigh, a sound that spoke volumes.

It was obvious to him that she had rushed out at this hour, a clear indication that something was amiss—most likely a spat with Matthew that led her to skip dinner.

“You had a fight with Matthew?” he ventured, glancing at her with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

“No,” she replied, her voice dropping to a whisper, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.

Curtis shifted the conversation, trying to lighten the mood. “How did that girl you’re sponsoring do on her exams?”

Adriana froze momentarily, the question catching her off guard. She hesitated, the silence stretching between them like a taut string.

He studied her face but chose not to push further.

“She did well. She got top 20 in the whole state,” Adriana finally responded, her fingers nervously twisting together, betraying her inner turmoil.

“It’s not me sponsoring her. It’s Matthew,” she added softly, almost as if she were trying to convince herself.

Curtis remained silent, the understanding between them palpable.

The rest of the drive unfolded in a blanket of quietude. Adriana gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting far from the present moment.

Upon reaching their destination, Curtis parked the car, stepped out, and without a word, extended his hand toward her.

Adriana stole a glance at him, but her mind was still tangled in the web of thoughts surrounding that photo and video Matthew had shown her. The lengths he had gone to for Cynthia—scheming, paying her to pose as a decoy—only to end up marrying someone else. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Want some yogurt?” Curtis asked as they passed a small stand, breaking her reverie.

Snapping back to reality, Adriana nodded eagerly. “My treat.”

Curtis remained silent, a subtle hint of disapproval in his demeanor. After she had placed her order for two fruit yogurts, he quietly took out his wallet and paid for them.

“Hey, I said I’d pay,” Adriana protested, a flush creeping up her cheeks. She could at least manage to cover the cost of yogurt.

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