Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36: The Photo

Adriana sat quietly, her mind swirling with uneasy thoughts. The idea that someone wanted her dead—so badly that they’d hire a professional assassin—felt almost surreal. Who in her small circle could harbor such hatred? Aside from Matthew, she barely knew anyone well enough to imagine such a thing.

Joe had already dismissed the Joneses and the Langfords as suspects. “The Joneses are under too much scrutiny right now; they wouldn’t risk stirring up more trouble,” he said firmly. “And Matthew? He has no reason to silence you.” Joe’s confusion mirrored Adriana’s own. She was just an orphan with no enemies—who would pay a fortune to have her killed?

“Whoever made that attempt failed once, but they might try again,” Joe warned, his voice laced with concern. “Be extra cautious from now on. If anything feels off, call me immediately.” Adriana nodded, unsure whether to share this alarming news with Curtis.

“Is it possible this was just a mistake? Maybe they targeted the wrong person?” she whispered, clinging to a shred of hope.

Joe shook his head. “No, Adriana. That was a professional hit. Professionals don’t make rookie mistakes. You can’t afford to take this lightly.”

Grateful for his support, Adriana replied, “Thank you, Officer Richardson.”

Joe’s voice softened with memory. “Remember, four years ago when Mia and her friends bullied you? I was the only one who stepped in. It’s my job to keep you safe. Keep your phone on.”

The seriousness in Joe’s tone made it clear: this was far more than just a random threat. Adriana still felt as if she were trapped in a nightmare. Someone was trying to kill her? The thought was almost too absurd to grasp—more unbelievable even than the idea of marrying Curtis.

Exhausted from a sleepless night and jolted awake by Belinda’s shouting at noon, Adriana quickly drifted into sleep once she lay down. Her phone buzzed relentlessly, breaking the fragile calm. It was Matthew calling.

At the Coastline Restaurant, Curtis sat by the window, watching Matthew enter with a stormy expression clouding his face.

“You called me out of the blue. What’s so urgent, Mr. Langford?” Curtis asked, his tone calm but wary.

“Stay away from Adriana,” Matthew said bluntly, cutting to the chase.

Matthew’s possessiveness was clear—he didn’t want anyone touching what he considered his territory, not even Curtis. “I don’t want our families’ relationship to be ruined because of her.”

Curtis smiled faintly, unconvinced. “I don’t really get it. Adriana’s single, and you’re about to get engaged…”

“Curtis, don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” Matthew interrupted, his voice low and firm. “Adriana is mine. Even after I’m married, that won’t change. So keep your hands off what belongs to me.” His words were sharp, as if wielding a sword.

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