
When I Stopped Needing HimI once believed Adrian DeLuca was the most dependable man in a dangerous world.
We had been engaged for years. Before family dinners, major investments, or decisions that could affect the balance between powerful families, I usually asked for his opinion. I believed that was what two people building a life together were supposed to do. I believed he would always stand beside me.
Eventually, Adrian grew tired of being needed.
He wanted me to trust my own judgment, stop asking about his schedule, and stop bringing every concern to him.
At the same time, he gave his patience and protection to Mia Caruso, a newly graduated intern at the family hospital.
She wore his coat, used things that belonged to me, answered his phone from a hotel room, then smiled and reminded me that Adrian only saw her as someone he needed to protect.
So I became exactly as independent as he wanted.
I stopped reporting my plans. I stopped waiting for him to come home. I stopped needing his protection.
That was when Adrian finally became afraid.