Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Not Worth the Price

The more Matthew dwelled on the situation, the deeper his anger grew. Completely forgetting Natasha was standing right there, in front of the gathered employees, he abruptly grabbed Adriana’s wrist and pulled her into his office, slamming the door behind them with a sharp bang.

Natasha stood frozen, her eyes flickering nervously toward the curious onlookers who had been watching the tense scene unfold. Originally, she had hoped to see Adriana humiliated, the center of everyone’s ridicule. But now, the tables had turned—she was the one who looked foolish.

Inside the office, Matthew’s face was a storm of frustration and fury as he glared at Adriana. “Who got you that position? Was it Curtis? Do you even realize he’s only getting close to you for his own reasons?” His voice was sharp, accusing.

Adriana met his gaze steadily. “And who hasn’t gotten close to me for their own reasons? When you took me away from campus that day, wasn’t that because you had your own agenda? You just wanted to protect the Langford Group’s reputation. You were scared I’d call the police and ruin your family’s name.”

Matthew’s expression shifted to one of guilt, his eyes dropping to the floor. “Adriana, do you really have to keep dragging up the past? I’ve been trying to make amends for years. Haven’t I treated you well?”

A bitter laugh escaped Adriana’s lips. “Treated me well? If I had gone to the police, Mia, Rufus, and Camelia would’ve faced serious criminal charges. I lost hearing in my left ear forever, broke multiple bones, and almost lost my eyesight! Do you have any idea how many years they’d have gotten for that?”

All the money Matthew had spent on her rent, tuition, and living expenses over the years couldn’t even begin to cover what they owed her in pain and suffering.

“Matthew, would you really have let Mia go to jail?” Adriana asked, her voice steady but laced with pain. “I heard she once smashed a bottle over some rich girl’s head at a bar. You spent nearly ten million and gave up a huge project just to get the other side to forgive her, didn’t you? So I’m not worth that kind of investment?”

Because she was an orphan, vulnerable and easy to manipulate. When she was a teenager, with no life experience, Matthew had fooled her with nothing more than cake and flowers—and she had fallen for it completely.

Over the years, whenever Matthew visited, he’d charm her with small gifts: cupcakes, ice cream, bouquets of flowers. The gestures weren’t bad in themselves, but they always felt hollow—like he never truly put his heart into them.

“So, what you’re saying is I didn’t give you enough?” Matthew’s glare sharpened as he yanked her closer. “What about Curtis? What promises did he make you? Are you really so desperate that you’d throw yourself at him just to be his lover?”

Adriana struggled to push him away. “Yes, I am. Curtis promised me thirty million a year. Can you match that?”

Matthew frowned deeply, his eyes blazing with rage.

Adriana laughed quietly, knowing that money wasn’t the real issue. Matthew could easily offer more—he just didn’t believe she was worth it.

“Did he touch you?” Matthew snapped, losing control as he demanded to know if Curtis had been with her.

Adriana remained silent, so Matthew grabbed her chin roughly and shouted again, “I asked you—did he touch you?!”

She had seen this side of him before. Three years ago, when her depression was at its worst and she couldn’t stay away from him, Matthew had kept her close. He often invited her to his private parties with friends.

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