Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 43

**Chapter 43: Substantial Evidence**

Curtis’s eyes remained fixed on Adriana, a light smirk dancing on his lips, a silent vow of protection radiating from him. The air around them crackled with tension, a palpable energy that seemed to pulse as they stood together.

Camelia, still reeling from the sting of Adriana’s unexpected slap, gaped at her, disbelief etched across her features. “You hit me?” she exclaimed, her voice quivering with a blend of shock and indignation, as if the very notion of being struck was foreign to her privileged existence.

Before Adriana could muster a response, the rich kid who had been guarding Camelia stepped forward, his face contorted with rage. “You’re looking to die—” he threatened, his foot raised menacingly, ready to deliver a vicious kick.

But before he could act on his threat, the scene erupted into chaos. In a heartbeat, Curtis sprang to his feet, his reflexes honed by years of defending those he cared about. He thrust Adriana behind him, wrapping her in a protective embrace, and with a swift, powerful kick, sent the aggressor sprawling three feet away, landing unceremoniously on the ground.

The commotion seemed to summon a gaggle of other privileged kids, their sleeves rolled up and ready to join the fray, but they were met with the swift intervention of Tom, the driver, and a bodyguard who charged in like a whirlwind, dispatching two of them to the ground in a matter of seconds.

“Police!” Kenneth shouted, his voice slicing through the chaos like a knife, urgency lacing his tone.

Moments later, the sound of sirens filled the air as Kenneth appeared, flanked by officers, and to everyone’s astonishment, Joe himself was among them.

Joe’s demeanor was all business, his expression devoid of any sympathy for the chaos unfolding before him. “All of you, come with us,” he commanded, his voice flat and authoritative. “If your families won’t teach you a lesson, the state will.”

One of the wealthy kids, still brimming with bravado, shouted back defiantly, “You touch me and you’re done!”

Curtis turned to Officer Richardson, his tone unwavering. “The evidence from four years ago—the bullying against Adriana—is all documented and right here. We’re refiling and demanding a full investigation. Every last one of them should be charged.” He didn’t hesitate to forward the files directly to Joe, his intent crystal clear.

“And her,” Curtis continued, his gaze flicking dismissively toward a woman recording the scene on her phone. “She’s infringing on my wife’s and my portrait rights. Counsel—coordinate.”

At the mention of the word ‘wife,’ a warmth spread across Adriana’s cheeks, stirring a mix of pride and embarrassment within her. She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, feeling the weight of their relationship shift in that moment.

Joe’s eyes darted between Curtis and Adriana, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. “Wife?” he asked, curiosity piqued, as if the revelation had caught him off guard.

Adriana felt a pang of guilt wash over her as she nodded again, the weight of the situation pressing down on her like a heavy cloak.

Though Joe had a multitude of questions swirling in his mind, one glance at Curtis silenced them. It was clear to him that Curtis was unwaveringly on Adriana’s side, and there was no room for doubt.

“You’ll gain nothing by crossing us,” Camelia spat, her confidence returning as she rallied. “Mia masterminded the bullying back then. There’s no way you’re putting her in prison.”

Just then, Matthew strode into the scene, with Natasha and Mia trailing closely behind him, their expressions a mix of determination and concern.

Natasha had come with a plan, hoping to leverage the orphanage to coerce Adriana into signing a letter of leniency that would reduce Rufus’s sentence. She wanted to “talk” and, more importantly, to observe the unfolding drama like a hawk.

“Mia! She’s gone insane—she called the cops and wants to dig up a four-year-old bullying case!” Camelia exclaimed, her confidence surging at the sight of Matthew and Mia. With Matthew present, her fears began to dissipate; surely, he wouldn’t allow his sister to be taken away.

“Adriana, what’s the plan now?” Matthew asked, stepping protectively to her side, his voice low and urgent. “Whatever it is, just tell me. I’ll handle it. We can’t let this escalate.”

Curtis’s cool gaze slid over to Matthew, barely concealing his boredom. He tightened his hold around Adriana, drawing her closer to him. “Mr. Langford, my wife’s affairs are not your concern.”

“Curtis!” Matthew snapped back, his voice sharp with frustration. “I told you—she’s mine.”

Curtis let out a quiet, disdainful laugh, a glimmer of triumph in his eyes. “Do you and she also have this?” He pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket, revealing a marriage certificate that shimmered in the light.

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