Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 151

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**
**Chapter 151: The Joke**

“Curtis…” Nicole’s voice trembled as she turned back, her heart racing with a mixture of desperation and fear, pleading for Curtis to come to her aid.

Adriana, standing beside him, clung to his arm, her expression one of feigned innocence, as if she were completely unaware of the storm brewing in Nicole’s eyes.

Curtis, however, remained unyielding, his gaze fixed elsewhere, as if he were a distant star, shining but unreachable.

“Curtis, you have to say something! Nicole was supposed to be engaged to you…” Natasha interjected, her voice tinged with urgency, her eyes darting between the two women, sensing the tension thickening in the air.

“Ms. Jones,” Curtis replied, his tone calm and steady, “didn’t you just declare at the door that you two were the best of friends? If that’s true, then it’s your responsibility to support her. I’m married now, and any past engagement is null and void.”

Natasha’s expression froze, her features hardening as she clenched her fists tightly. The weight of her position as the daughter of the local Chamber of Commerce president loomed large over her. Angering Wendy at this moment could unravel her carefully constructed standing in Haldoria’s business circles.

“Natasha…” Nicole’s voice cracked, desperation clawing at her throat as tears threatened to spill.

With no other option, Natasha lowered her voice, leaning closer to Nicole as if sharing a secret. “Nicole… you should just go home.”

Nicole’s face drained of color, a wave of despair washing over her as she realized the futility of her situation. With a venomous glare directed at Adriana, she hissed, “You’ll regret this.”

Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed away, her footsteps echoing in the silence that followed.

Wendy’s smile returned, bright and unfazed, as she resumed her conversation with Curtis and the others, her laughter ringing like chimes in the air.

Irene, observing the scene, approached Adriana with a slight smirk, lifting the corner of her mouth in a playful manner. She extended an unopened bottle of water towards Adriana. “Here, drink this. You’re pregnant, so it’s best to avoid anything that’s been out in the open for too long.”

Adriana felt a warmth spread through her at Irene’s gesture, a genuine smile breaking through her earlier tension. “Thank you,” she replied softly, her voice laced with gratitude.

“You planned that moment, didn’t you? You wanted to provoke Nicole into saying something foolish,” Irene said, her tone teasing as she leaned casually against the railing, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Adriana felt a tightness in her chest, the truth of Irene’s words settling uncomfortably within her. She chose to remain silent, unsure of how to respond.

Irene’s smile widened, her gaze unwavering and warm. “Relax. I’m not here to defend Nicole. In fact, she might not even be the real Nicole.”

Irene had initially worried when she discovered that Adriana was her niece. She feared that Adriana’s gentle nature might make her an easy target for manipulation and cruelty.

But witnessing Adriana’s resilience, her ability to stand her ground, made Irene’s heart swell with pride. She saw a glimmer of strength in her niece, a spark that suggested she wouldn’t allow anyone to trample over her.

Irene hoped that one day, when Adriana returned to the Barton Estate, she would be a force to be reckoned with, a rose adorned with thorns—beautiful yet unyielding.

“I honestly didn’t expect her to say all that,” Adriana admitted, her smile cautious and tentative.

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