Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 144

**Chapter 144: A Hundred Million For Every Child**

Belinda stood frozen in place, her gaze fixed on Curtis and Adriana. The realization washed over her like a cold wave—she had been right all along. Adriana was undeniably special to Curtis, and the depth of their connection was evident in the way they held onto each other.

“Hurry up and put her down!” Harold huffed, his voice laced with irritation. He found their public display of affection utterly shameless, a stark contrast to the decorum he expected in his home.

“This is my home. What’s wrong with me holding my wife?” Curtis retorted defiantly, refusing to relinquish his hold on Adriana. He could sense her embarrassment radiating from her, so he gently patted her back, offering a silent reassurance amidst the tension.

Adriana squirmed slightly, a part of her yearning to escape back to the sanctuary of her room. Yet, for reasons she couldn’t quite articulate, Curtis held her tightly, as if she were a precious treasure he was unwilling to let go of.

With a surprising ease, he carried her over to the sofa opposite Harold, settling down with her still cradled in his arms. The warmth of his embrace enveloped her, but all she could feel was the heat rising to her cheeks. She buried her face against Curtis’s shoulder, too mortified to meet anyone’s gaze.

Never before had she experienced such a profound sense of embarrassment.

Eva, noticing the awkwardness in the air, slipped away to the kitchen, a smile on her face as she busied herself with making tea for Harold.

Harold, however, shot Curtis a skeptical glance, his brows furrowed as he observed the couple’s unabashed affection. What was it about Adriana that could render both Curtis and Matthew completely unhinged?

“Grandpa, it’s a bit rude to just drop by without a warning like this. Was there something urgent on your mind?” Curtis’s tone dripped with sarcasm, his politeness evaporating in the face of his grandfather’s intrusion.

“Tell me, you and Adriana… did you use in vitro fertilization for this baby?” Harold’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, the question hanging heavily in the air.

Cynthia, seated nearby, felt her body tense. A flicker of hope ignited within her—perhaps the baby was indeed the result of in vitro fertilization, and Curtis had never truly been intimate with Adriana.

“So you came here first thing in the morning just to pry into my private life with my wife?” Curtis’s annoyance was palpable. “I’m perfectly capable of having children. There’s no reason to subject Adriana to in vitro fertilization.”

Adriana, feeling the weight of his words, buried her face deeper into his shoulder. Was this really something he should be saying out loud, in front of everyone?

To her surprise, Harold didn’t react with anger. Instead, he nodded, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face. “If you can have kids, then have more. Each child earns you 100 million. The Lincolns can easily afford it.”

Adriana’s head shot up, her eyes wide with disbelief and excitement. A hundred million for every child?

Cynthia’s jaw dropped, her gaze darting between Harold and Adriana. Hadn’t the purpose of this visit been to uncover the truth about who the father of Adriana’s baby was?

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