Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 168

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 168**
**Chapter 168: Matthew’s Plan**

Michael wrestled with the thought of being labeled a coward. The very idea made his skin crawl, yet the prospect of returning to the Lincolns felt equally unbearable. He was caught in a web of his own making, torn between pride and the haunting memories of his past.

His son, Denton, embodied everything Michael had once yearned to be. The boy was a beacon of promise—intelligent, grounded, and fiercely ambitious. Just recently, Denton had triumphed over the SATs, emerging as the top scorer in the entire state. The news should have filled Michael with pride, but instead, it only deepened his sense of inadequacy.

With a heavy heart, he exhaled a long, weary sigh. His thoughts were a chaotic tangle, like fishing lines ensnared in a tempest, each strand pulling him in a different direction.

What awaited him if he chose to return? Harold would still be there, a constant reminder of his failures. And then there was the son he had forsaken, a ghost of his past that now felt like a stranger. The very thought twisted his stomach into knots. He couldn’t even recall the boy’s name—how was it possible that his firstborn had become nothing more than a bitter memory, tainted with feelings of disgust every time he dared to think of him?

“Dinner’s ready!” Juliet’s soothing voice broke through his tumultuous thoughts, a gentle reminder of the present. “We’re having salad and clams tonight.”

As she stepped into the room, her soft smile illuminated the small space, bringing a sense of calm that momentarily eased Michael’s turmoil. “Denton, why don’t you check the stew in the yard? We need to see if the bones are tender yet.”

Tonight was supposed to be a celebration. Denton had received his acceptance letter from Haldoria University—the most prestigious institution in the region.

But as Denton dashed off, Juliet’s smile faltered, her tone shifting to one of concern. “Michael… the tuition is going to be substantial. You know how costly Haldoria is. It’s not the best college for nothing.”

A frown creased Michael’s brow. “Didn’t we manage to save some money?”

Juliet shook her head, her expression grave. “There’s nothing left. We’ve exhausted our savings on his schooling these past few years.”

Since their arrival here, she hadn’t worked a single day. Caring for Michael and Denton had consumed her entirely, a full-time job in its own right.

Michael was physically capable of handling small tasks, but he was no longer the man he once was. The leader of the Lincoln Group was a distant memory. Life in the village was serene, yet it felt like a hollow victory.

He hadn’t walked away from the Lincolns completely empty-handed. A few valuable items remained in his possession—a luxury watch worth a small fortune, a couple of gold bars he could discreetly sell. But the years had drained those resources, leaving him with little to show for it.

Michael’s brows knitted together in concentration. He sat in silence for a moment, contemplating. “I’ll take care of it. Just don’t mention anything to him,” he finally said, his voice steady but filled with an underlying tension.

Meanwhile, in the backseat of a car, Matthew flicked his lighter open and shut, the sound of the small click reverberating through the vehicle like a ticking clock.

“Mr. Langford,” the assistant inquired cautiously, “are you sure Michael will reach out to you?”

A sly grin spread across Matthew’s face. “He will. Michael may be too proud to return, but his wife? She lacks that same stubbornness.”

Matthew had already established contact with Juliet, knowing she was the linchpin in his plan. Just a gentle push, a whisper of the truth about her husband’s identity, and she would be the one urging him back into the fold.

A woman who had married a man rendered helpless by life and had lived off him without ever lifting a finger? The notion that she wasn’t after money was absurd. Only someone like Michael—coddled, sheltered, and naive—would ever buy that story.

On the fourth day of their vacation in Neocoralis, Curtis’s phone rang, cutting through the tranquility like a knife. It was Harold, and he wanted Curtis back home.

“What’s going on?” Adriana asked, stepping into the room and immediately noticing the shadow that had fallen across his face.

“Grandpa wants me back,” Curtis replied, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

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