my return will be your downfall

THE BAG SHE DESPERATELY WANTED 3

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Adrian wanted to remind her of all the times he had stood beside her, all the sacrifices he had made, and all the nights they had spent discussing the future they hoped to build together.

He wanted to ask whether she remembered the promises they had made when they had almost nothing.

Instead, he swallowed his frustration.

He loved Vanessa.

Despite her temper, despite the arguments, and despite the way money had gradually become the centre of their relationship, a part of him still believed that they could overcome their problems.

Perhaps she was only frustrated.

Perhaps she needed reassurance.

Perhaps, if he worked harder and earned more, the tension between them would disappear.

He did not yet understand that sometimes a person could spend years trying to satisfy someone who had already decided that nothing they did would ever be enough.

“Baby,” he said softly, reaching for her hand, “give me a little more time. I will not remain a driver forever. I have plans. I want to start something of my own one day. I want us to have our own house. I want you to have the things you dream about. I'm not asking you to give up those dreams. I'm only asking you to believe in me while I work toward them.”

Vanessa looked down at his hand holding hers.

For a brief moment, Adrian thought his words had reached her.

Then she pulled her hand away.

“I'm going out.”

He frowned.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“Vanessa, we haven't finished talking.”

“I have finished talking!”

She grabbed her handbag from the bed and walked toward the door.

“Can we at least have dinner together first?” Adrian asked. “I haven't eaten anything since afternoon.”

“Then prepare something for yourself.”

“Vanessa—”

She turned around sharply.

“And please, don't start calling my phone every five minutes. I need some space.”

Before he could respond, she opened the door and stormed out.

The sound of the door slamming echoed through the apartment.

Adrian remained standing in the bedroom, staring at the empty doorway.

For a long moment, he did not move.

Then he slowly sat on the edge of the bed and covered his face with his hands.

He had known that Vanessa wanted a better life. He had known that she admired wealth and luxury. But lately, every conversation between them seems to return to the same painful subject.

Money.

Money.

And more money.

He reached for his phone and opened his banking application.

His balance appeared on the screen.

It was far from enough to buy the designer handbag Vanessa wanted.

He stared at the number, then locked his phone.

“I'll find a way,” he whispered to himself.

He had said those words countless times before, but tonight he repeated them with a determination he had never felt quite so strongly.

"I would work harder."

"I would save more."

"I will find opportunities beyond my current job."

One day, i would become successful enough that Vanessa would never have to feel embarrassed about anything i could provide.

"I would prove that being poor today did not mean remaining poor forever."

he said to himself.