Bullied and Dumped, But She Won in the End (Adriana) novel Chapter 86

**When Time Tried to Heal Me But I Refused to Listen by Kael Niro Senn**
**Chapter 86: Leaving Tonight**

**$10 Free Cone**

Harold’s voice was laced with frustration as he confronted Curtis. “Nicole wouldn’t lie. She’s Jeremy’s granddaughter and your fiancée,” he declared, his anger palpable in the air.

Curtis, however, remained unruffled, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to Harold’s fury. “Oh, Adriana wouldn’t lie either. She’s my wife, and the mother of your grandchild,” he replied, casting a glance back at Adriana, who stood silently, her gaze fixed on the ground. “Let’s head back to the hotel. We’re not coming here again. There’s no point in lingering and being blamed for things we didn’t do.”

Adriana felt a wave of emotions wash over her as she kept her head lowered, avoiding the piercing gaze of Curtis. In that moment, she realized how rare it was for someone to stand up for her so fiercely. Throughout her life, she had often been overlooked, her feelings dismissed. Even during her time with Matthew, she had never experienced such unwavering support. Whenever conflicts arose, Matthew would invariably side with others, claiming it was better to keep the peace than to stir trouble.

“Curtis!” Harold’s voice rose again, ready to unleash another round of scolding, but just then, the family doctor arrived, redirecting the focus to Nicole’s injuries.

Moments later, Jeremy and Danielle rushed in, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency.

“Grandpa, Adriana pushed me!” Nicole exclaimed, her voice trembling with indignation.

Danielle was quick to react, her anger flaring. “Adriana, how can you be so cruel?” she accused, her tone sharp as a knife.

“Who says she’s cruel? Did you bring any proof?” Curtis interjected, his brow furrowed as he faced Danielle. He felt a surge of protectiveness for Adriana.

Danielle faltered, glancing at Nicole. “Nicole is hurt, and she says Adriana pushed her. Are you implying she’s lying? Someone has to take responsibility!”

Curtis’s patience wore thin. “Listening to you makes me sick. You should take responsibility too and maybe consider keeping quiet for once.” He tightened his grip on Adriana’s hand, leading her away from the confrontation.

In that moment, Adriana felt a warmth spread through her. With Curtis by her side, she didn’t have to justify her actions or defend herself. He was her shield, effortlessly deflecting the verbal blows aimed at her. It was an exhilarating feeling—having someone fight for her, someone who believed in her.

“So this is what it feels like to have someone in your corner. It’s incredibly satisfying,” she thought, a small smile creeping onto her lips.

“Don’t fall into the trap of always needing to prove yourself. And don’t hold back your emotions—if you want to go crazy, then go crazy,” Curtis advised, his voice steady as he opened the car door for her. He looked her squarely in the eye. “Getting sick from stress isn’t worth it.”

He was right. It was better to express frustration than to bottle it up inside.

“If I lose it, nobody’s gonna cover for me…” Adriana murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Memories flooded her mind of the last time she had lost control—when she had shattered a vase over Rufus’s head in a fit of rage, nearly landing herself in jail.

“I’ve got your back, as long as you stay within the law,” Curtis reassured her, gently pushing her into the passenger seat before sliding into the driver’s side.

Even Tom, who had been waiting outside, found himself sidelined. He could only offer a helpless shrug, knowing there was nothing he could do to intervene.

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