unusually quie

th unspoken thoughts. The echoes of the charity event still lingered in my mind, but something a

s tie slowly, as if the simple act required more effort than us

right?" I a

back still turned to me. For a mom

," he sai

y now that fine did

thing Adrian valued, it was space. And if ther

ht, I found hi

light spilling into the hallway.

" he

I com

rprised, then no

k, jacket removed, sleeves rolled up. He looked... human here. Less like the

m him, folding m

n quiet," I

air. "Events like today... they t

. "But you handl

s because I learned early that pe

is tone made m

, "you don't always hav

ed at me. There was hesitation i

quietly. "That's

-

shelf, running his fingers along th

e began. "Success was never optio

refully, not

earned by achievement," he continued. "Af

llowe

ce dropping, "I was sixteen. And the ho

che in my chest.

to survive by staying composed.

is marriage made sense to me at firs

ow?" I

ed. "Now it fee

eath

y. "You don't demand anything. You don't pretend.

s. "I didn't mean t

"You didn't disrupt it. Y

etween us, fragi

-

ked closer to him. Not

you're allowed to want thin

way. "I don

uld overthink it and plac

fro

idn't pu

w how," I whispered. "

his composure cracked. Just slightly. En

aid," he

I," I

"Then why are

e fear doesn't always mean stop. S

-

, hands touching lightly, the si

, Adrian s

nt to hurt

ied. "And that's

my hand-a small, unconscious mov

. Not as a command. Not

ng anywhere,

-

ought about everything he had shared

ed somet

ng for the man he w

he had been-quietly surv

the promise I had made

t something I was

rally-rooted in honesty, pati