Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 69

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn 69**

“Adriana, you’re such a sweet girl,” Cynthia said, her tone laced with a weary kind of affection. “You’re an orphan, you keep to yourself, and you don’t cause any trouble. Honestly, you’re the best choice we could have hoped for…”

Cynthia let out a deep sigh, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her words. “But you must understand, undergoing IVF is a demanding journey. It’s not just a simple procedure. You’ll have to visit the clinic frequently, endure countless injections, and go through regular check-ups. Eventually, they’ll retrieve your eggs…”

Adriana felt a pang of guilt twist in her stomach. She was acutely aware that Cynthia had full confidence that Curtis wouldn’t lay a finger on her. Yet, the truth loomed over her like a dark cloud—they had already shared a bed.

In that moment, an overwhelming sense of moral betrayal washed over her, a feeling akin to being the other woman. It constricted her chest, filling her with a profound unease.

I’m not even a real wife—not in any sense that holds weight.

“I’ll follow whatever instructions Curtis gives me,” Adriana replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper, trying to mask the turmoil within her.

Danielle, with an exasperated yet amused smile, chimed in, “I warned you before we came here, you know. She’s as stubborn as a mule and won’t listen to reason.” She pushed Cynthia’s wheelchair with a gentle firmness. “So don’t waste your breath trying to convince her otherwise. Sooner or later, she and Curtis will part ways. If she wants to have a child, let her. Curtis has already made a promise to you. After that, the child will call you ‘Mom,’ and she won’t be allowed to have any contact with them.”

Adriana felt as though the ground had shifted beneath her feet.

Not allowed any contact with the child?

She should have anticipated this stipulation before signing the contract, yet now a swirl of fear, sadness, and anxiety bubbled within her, threatening to overflow.

“If there’s nothing else… I think I’ll head back first,” Adriana said, her voice trembling with the desire to escape. Being in Cynthia’s presence made her feel even more like an intruder in her own life.

No, to be more accurate, she wasn’t even a third wheel.

She was merely a means to an end—a reproductive tool.

…

A tool created to provide an heir for Cynthia and Curtis.

“Cynthia, please ensure you get enough rest. I’ll take her back,” Danielle instructed, her tone authoritative. She signaled to the rehabilitation staff to wheel Cynthia away and then followed Adriana at a leisurely pace, as if savoring the moment.

“Let me remind you once more—don’t let yourself fall for Curtis,” Danielle said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Are you worried I might develop feelings for him?” Adriana halted, turning to face her, a mixture of curiosity and defiance in her gaze. “If Curtis’s love for Cynthia is genuinely unwavering, why do you keep warning me against falling for him? Even if I did… what would you do about it?”

Danielle hesitated, a frown knitting her brow. “I just don’t want you to make a fool of yourself.”

“Instead of worrying about me, perhaps you should focus on your own life,” Adriana replied, her voice steady yet polite. After all, Danielle was older and held a position of authority that Adriana couldn’t afford to challenge.

Danielle’s expression darkened, as if she found it hard to accept that an orphan from the countryside dared to speak to her in such a manner. “Adriana, you need to know your place. An orphan from the countryside trying to match with Curtis? That’s sheer fantasy. Standing beside him in this contract marriage—that’s as good as it will ever get for someone like you.”

She held nothing back in her attempts to belittle Adriana.

From Adriana’s perspective, it felt like an overreaction.

It was evident that Danielle’s animosity toward her was oddly disproportionate.

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