my return will be your downfall

“Adrian, are you even listening to me?”

Vanessa’s sharp voice filled the small living room of their apartment.

Adrian Blackwood, who sat on the edge of their old sofa with his phone in his hand, raised his head. He had just returned from work and had barely removed his shoes when his girlfriend began complaining. His body ached from a long day of driving, and all he wanted was a little rest before preparing something for dinner.

But judging by the expression on Vanessa’s face, he was not going to get that rest anytime soon.

“I’m listening, Vanessa,” he answered tiredly. “What is it?”

Vanessa stared at him as though he had just insulted her.

“What is it?” she repeated. “Adrian, did you just ask me what is it?”

He sighed. “Baby, I’ve been listening to you for the past twenty minutes. You said something about your friends buying new things. I heard you.”

“Then why are you acting as if it doesn’t concern you?”

“Because I don’t understand what you want me to do.”

Vanessa threw her hands into the air.

“Unbelievable!”

She turned away from him, picked up her phone from the centre table, and began scrolling through her social media. A few seconds later, she thrust the screen toward his face.

“Look at this!”

Adrian leaned forward and glanced at the photograph.

It showed three elegantly dressed young women standing in front of an expensive restaurant. They wore designer clothes, carried fashionable handbags, and smiled at the camera as though the entire world belonged to them.

Adrian recognised two of them as Vanessa’s friends.

“What am I supposed to be looking at?” he asked.

“Their bags!”

He looked at the photograph again.

“They bought new bags?”

“Not just ordinary bags, Adrian! Designer bags!” Vanessa snapped. “Look at the one Patricia is carrying. Do you know how much that bag costs? And look at the one beside her. That is the exact bag I showed you last week!”

Adrian rubbed his forehead.

“Vanessa, please. I’m tired.”

“And I’m tired too!” she shouted.

He looked at her in surprise.

“I’m tired of being the only one among my friends who has to think twice before buying something!” she continued. “Every time we go out, I have to pretend that I don’t care about the things they have. They buy expensive clothes, wear beautiful shoes, carry designer bags, and travel to nice places. Meanwhile, what do I have?”

“You have me,” Adrian replied quietly.

For a moment, Vanessa said nothing.

Then she laughed bitterly.

“Are you serious right now?”

Adrian's expression changed.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Don't tell me I have you as if that is enough! Love is not everything, Adrian. Love cannot buy the things I want. Love cannot pay for a luxurious lifestyle. Love cannot make people respect me!”

He slowly put his phone down.

“Vanessa, we have talked about this before.”

“And we are going to keep talking about it until something changes!”

Adrian stood up and approached her.

“Baby, look at me.”

She turned her face away.

“Please, look at me.”

After a moment, she reluctantly met his eyes.

“I know you want those things,” he said. “I know you want a better life, and I want that life for you too. Do you think I enjoy seeing you unhappy? Do you think I wake up every morning and deliberately decide to remain where I am?”

“Then do something about it!”

“I am doing something about it!”

“What exactly are you doing?”

The question struck him harder than she realised.