Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 153

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**
**Chapter 153: Amazing Man**

Adriana was acutely aware that once Curtis stepped out that door, the chances of him returning home tonight were slim to none. The weight of that reality settled heavily on her chest.

Cynthia had an uncanny ability to complicate everything around her. It was almost as if she thrived on chaos, and Adriana found herself caught in the middle, feeling like a pawn in someone else’s game.

She didn’t harbor any resentment towards Curtis; instead, a wave of sympathy washed over her. If it weren’t for the suffocating debt that loomed over him, he wouldn’t be ensnared in this situation. Yet, there was a part of her that understood why he felt obligated to Cynthia. After all, she had played a pivotal role in saving his life, a debt that Curtis could never truly repay.

“I’ll be back later tonight to cook for you,” Curtis promised, glancing at his watch with a slight frown.

Adriana blinked, her mind racing. The clock showed it was already past four. If dinner was set for seven, that left him less than two hours. Could he really make it back in time? The thought lingered, a mix of hope and doubt swirling in her mind.

As soon as he left, Adriana sank onto the couch, an unsettling emptiness enveloping her like a heavy blanket. Deep down, she knew she shouldn’t expect him to return. Cynthia was notorious for pulling stunts that kept Curtis tethered to her side, especially in a hospital setting.

Leaning back, she absentmindedly scrolled through her study-abroad group messages, seeking a distraction. Suddenly, her phone chimed with a new WhatsApp notification.

It was a photo from Belinda, Cynthia’s daughter. The image showed Curtis seated beside Cynthia’s hospital bed, a concerned look etched on his face.

Adriana felt a pang of frustration. She chose not to respond. Belinda was simply being loyal to her mother, and that was something Adriana could understand.

But then another message popped up almost immediately. “My mom told me to send that to you on purpose.”

Before Adriana could process that, Belinda deleted the message.

Adriana’s heart raced. Cynthia had orchestrated this? The realization stung. It was clear that Cynthia wanted Curtis all to herself, and that thought made Adriana’s stomach churn.

Yet, despite the turmoil, Adriana believed that Curtis’s feelings for Cynthia were rooted in gratitude, not love. Danielle’s earlier comments about Curtis being in love with Cynthia had momentarily swayed her, but now, those thoughts felt misplaced.

Just then, a new message from her class representative broke her concentration. “Adriana, our class is having a graduation gathering tomorrow. Are you planning to attend?”

A gathering? The idea didn’t excite her in the slightest.

She was about to type a quick “no” when another message came through. “All the students going abroad will be there, and the teacher wants to discuss the study-abroad schedule for next semester.”

Adriana sighed, feeling the weight of obligation settle on her shoulders. She really didn’t want to face Cheryl, but it was inevitable; they would all be in the same group heading to Pastalia. Avoiding them forever was simply unrealistic.

“Okay,” she finally replied, resignation creeping into her tone.

As she lay on the couch, scrolling mindlessly through her phone, time slipped away unnoticed. An hour passed, and when she glanced at the clock, it was already 5:30 p.m. Curtis still hadn’t returned.

He’s probably not coming back, she thought, disappointment gnawing at her.

With a heavy heart, she stood up and made her way to the kitchen, contemplating what she could whip up for dinner. Just as she was about to open the fridge, the door swung open. Curtis walked in, arms laden with fresh groceries.

Adriana’s eyes widened in disbelief.

He returned that quickly? And he even stopped at the market for fresh ingredients?

So, he really didn’t spend much time at the hospital after all.

“Is fish okay?” Curtis asked, his brow slightly furrowed.

Adriana nodded, her nerves making her voice tremble. “You came back so fast?”

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