"You think this is about control?"
Adrian's voice was dangerously quiet.
Elena met his stare without flinching.
"Then what is it about?"
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The tension between them filled the room.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
Adrian took a slow breath.
"This is about keeping you safe."
"There."
Elena pointed at him.
"That's exactly what I mean."
His brows drew together.
"You keep deciding what's best for me."
"Because someone threatened you."
"And?"
The single word stunned even her.
But once it was out, she couldn't stop.
"I've dealt with problems before, Adrian."
His expression hardened.
"This isn't one of your normal problems."
"You don't know what I've survived."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Silence followed.
Real silence.
Adrian stared at her.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Just... watching.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
Elena immediately regretted speaking.
"Nothing."
"Elena."
"Drop it."
His jaw tightened.
"No."
She laughed bitterly.
"Funny. You tell me nothing about your life, but the moment I mention mine, suddenly you want honesty."
The words landed harder than she expected.
Something changed in Adrian's eyes.
A flicker.
Guilt perhaps.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Adrian walked toward the window.
The city lights reflected across the glass.
"I was engaged once."
Elena froze.
The confession caught her completely off guard.
Slowly, she turned toward him.
"What?"
Adrian kept looking outside.
"I was twenty-eight."
His voice was calm.
Detached.
As if he was talking about someone else.
"She was smart. Ambitious."
Elena's heart began beating faster.
This was the first personal thing he had ever told her.
"What happened?"
A humorless smile touched his lips.
"Life."
That
wasn't an answer.
And they both knew it.
But somehow she understood.
There were some stories people didn't tell easily.