Adrian arrived at her apartment two days later.
He brought the ring.
It had been cleaned and placed in its box.
Elena looked at it without reaching.
“I got it back.”
“I assumed someone would.”
He flinched.
“Elena, I’m trying.”
She let him inside because there were things she needed to ask.
They sat at the kitchen table where he had promised to defend her.
“Tell me what you discussed with your mother.”
Adrian looked at his hands.
“She said marriage would be harder than I realized.”
“Because I’m poor?”
“Because our lives are different.”
“They were different when you proposed.”
“I know.”
He took a breath.
“She said she could help your parents and make sure you weren’t left with nothing if we ended things.”
Elena stared at him.
“And you kept listening.”
“I thought I could calm her down.”
“By letting her plan the breakup?”
He did not answer.
Then he took another envelope from his coat.
Elena felt cold.
“She revised the offer,” he said quickly. “There doesn’t have to be any confidentiality language. It could just help you.”
Elena stood.
“Take it.”
“I’m not saying you have to leave.”
“You brought your mother’s second offer into my home.”
“I thought—”
“Take it.”
Adrian gathered the envelope.
The ring box remained on the table.
Elena picked it up and placed it in his hand.
“I won’t wear something your family uses to remind me they can withdraw their approval.”
“It isn’t about them.”
“It became about them when you let it.”
She opened the door.
This time, he left without asking her to be reasonable.
