Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 135

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**Chapter 135: I Know My Place**

“I never did anything to you,” Adriana said, her gaze steady as it met Belinda’s.

Belinda’s expression darkened, her voice laced with bitterness. “You knew too, didn’t you? That my mom isn’t dead. You’re a liar too.” The weight of her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken accusations.

Adriana paused, her mind racing as she considered her response. “I discovered the truth while we were in Harborton,” she began slowly, choosing her words with care. “I was just as shocked as you to learn that your mother was alive. Your uncle kept her hidden away very well. Not telling you… well, I can only imagine he had his reasons.”

Silence enveloped them, and Belinda’s eyes flickered with a mix of anger and confusion.

Taking a deep breath, Adriana continued, “I don’t know if this is accurate, but I suspect Curtis’s protection of your mother wasn’t solely out of love. The car accident back then… it might not have been as straightforward as it seemed. Perhaps faking her death was a way to keep her safe. You were so young; it would have been easy for you to slip up. If he had told you the truth and you accidentally let it slip…”

Belinda’s expression shifted, her eyes widening as she absorbed Adriana’s words. “Really?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adriana nodded, her expression earnest. “I don’t know all the details, but Curtis is meticulous. He wouldn’t have disregarded your feelings without a compelling reason. If he chose this path, it must mean that your mother’s safety outweighed your emotions.”

“Oh, and on our way here, your mother reached out to Curtis,” Adriana added, a smile touching her lips, though a pang of unease twisted in her chest. “She asked him to pick you up and then take her home from the hospital.”

Belinda sat up straighter, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of hope and anxiety. “Wait for me. I need to get dressed,” she said, her tone suddenly urgent.

After a few moments, Belinda emerged, dressed in a lovely white dress that made her look like a picture of innocence and propriety. She stood there for a moment, her expression conflicted, as if she wanted to voice something more but hesitated.

“Is there something on your mind?” Adriana asked, her curiosity piqued.

Belinda looked directly at Adriana, her brow furrowing slightly. “Are you… are you truly only with Curtis for the money? Don’t you feel anything else for him? I mean, if my mom hadn’t been alive, I thought… well, I thought he might have fallen for you.”

Adriana couldn’t deny the truth in Belinda’s observation. The way Curtis treated her was unlike anything any of the women who had been close to him had ever experienced.

She froze for a moment, her heart racing. Lowering her gaze, she took a beat to gather her thoughts before clenching her fingers slightly and forcing a smile. “What are you saying? Curtis is my benefactor, my boss… I know my place.”

Belinda fell silent, her expression unreadable as they stepped out together. Perhaps she was eager to see her mother, as evidenced by the way she had dressed up so nicely.

“Adriana, actually… I think you’re better suited for Curtis,” Belinda said just as they were about to enter the elevator. “But I have my own selfish reasons too. Sorry.”

Adriana didn’t quite catch the full meaning behind Belinda’s words and was about to ask her to repeat it, but Belinda had already gone quiet.

As they reached the lobby, Curtis was waiting for them in the lounge area. His tall frame seemed almost cramped on the small sofa, his long legs stretching out awkwardly.

From a distance, Adriana spotted him. He had a way of standing out in any crowd, an undeniable magnetism that drew the eye immediately.

In her past, she had considered Matthew to be the pinnacle of the rich kids, but after meeting Curtis, she understood what true presence and confidence looked like.