Chapter 235: Unrealistic Ideals

Adrian practically burst through Sharon's front door, his face flushed with excitement.

"Sharon. You won't believe it," he announced breathlessly. "It's finally happening."

She emerged from the kitchen, eyes wide with curiosity. "What's going on?"

"Jeanne and her family support us separating. The divorce is already being filed, it'll be over soon." Adrian grasped her hands, beaming. "There's nothing holding us back anymore. We can finally be together, just you and me."

"That's… wonderful news, Adrian," she said cautiously, her voice lacking the enthusiasm he had hoped for. Her expression remained cautiously neutral.

"Wonderful?" he echoed, his smile faltering slightly. "Sharon, this means we can finally be together, openly. No more sneaking around, no more living in the shadows. Just us, forever."

She panicked. He was using words that scared her.

Openly. Forever.

"My father approves too," he plowed on eagerly. "We can make this official, a true commitment. What do you say?" Adrian searched her face hopefully.

He held her hand tightly, but Sharon's hand felt lifeless, unlike the happy feelings he had inside.

"Forever, huh?" she mumbled, her gaze drifting away.

Adrian's heart sank a little. "Is that…not what you want?"

Sharon just shook her head, extracting her hands from his grasp.

"I…I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of forever commitment yet. I…I just want things to be like before," she confessed. "Us, spending time together, enjoying each other's company. That's all."

Adrian felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

The room buzzed with tension, words left unsaid hanging between them. Adrian felt a surge of anger bubbling up inside him.

"Before? Sharon, before was a wavering state," he burst out, his voice raised a notch higher than his usual cool. "We were tiptoeing around a future that might never come. Now…" He paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Now, we have a shot at something real, something permanent."

"Adrian, listen…"

But he was past listening, pain and anger roaring through his veins.

"W-what? I can't believe it…after everything, you're still shutting me out?"

Sharon flinched at his outburst, her eyes welling up with tears.

"I'm not shutting you out…Adrian, please," she pleaded, her voice trembling slightly. "I just don't…I can't…"

The silence stretched, thick and heavy. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but her lips remained stubbornly shut.

Adrian felt a wave of frustration wash over him. He loved this woman, but her constant inhibition was wearing him thin.

"Don't you love me?" he cut her off, hurt and confusion twisting his features. "Don't you want to be with me, truly, fully, without all these walls you keep putting up?"

"Please, try to understand me…"

"Understand what? You keep rejecting me over and over." His voice rose uncontrollably. "Don't you understand how much I love you? How much I've sacrificed?"

Sharon shrank back, stung by the outburst. Before she could respond, the sound of the kitchen door creaked open.

Fannie appeared, a worried look frown visible on her face. Behind her peeked Selene, her large, concerned eyes taking in the scene.

"Everything alright here?" she inquired gently.

"Nothing," Sharon said tightly. "Adrian was just leaving."

"No, I'm not going anywhere," he snapped. "Not until she explains why my love still isn't enough for her."

Fannie, understanding the need for space, quickly stepped between them.

"Come on, Adrian," she said, her voice firm but kind. "Let's head over to my place for a bit. You two can cool down and talk later."

With a last, lingering glance at Sharon, Adrian nodded curtly. The hurt in his eyes said a thousand unspoken words. Grinding his jaw, Adrian allowed Fannie to lead him out the front door and to her home.

Sharon was left alone with Selene, conflicted emotions roiling within her.

Inside Fannie's house, Adrian paced the living room like a caged lion, venting his frustrations while the elderly woman looked on calmly.

"Want to tell me what that was all about?" she asked evenly.

"She doesn't want me," he bit out, anguished. "Not really. Even with the divorce going through, Sharon's still holding back from me."

"Please calm down," Fannie said.

"I've been so patient with her, waiting for her to open up to me fully," he insisted. "After everything we've been through together, how can she still not want to commit?"

Fannie, perched on her armchair, watching him with a patient smile. Her silver hair was pulled back in a neat bun, framing kind eyes that held a lifetime of wisdom.

"I just don't understand it, Fannie," he ranted, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "All these secret meetings...stolen moments. Now that everything's out in the open, now that I want her to fully commit, she throws up walls."

Regarding him with sympathy, Fannie held up a placating hand.

"Adrian, dear," she said gently. "Patience. You need to understand where she's coming from. Sharon's been hurt before. Her first marriage was a nightmare. Taking the plunge into another commitment isn't as easy for her as it might be for you."

Adrian stopped his pacing and looked at Fannie.

"Her first husband…abused her, emotionally and financially. She was a shadow of herself. Seeing that cruelty up close left deep scars," Fannie explained gently. "Sharon is terrified of being trapped in that kind of unhappiness again."

Adrian ran an agitated hand through his hair, his features softened with understanding. He slumped onto the couch, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"I know but I love her, Fannie. I've loved her for a long time. And I just want to be with her, openly, honestly, forever."

Before Adrian could respond, a new voice piped up from the doorway.

"Give her the cold turkey."

They turned to see Selene peeking in. She walked in holding out Fannie's ringing mobile phone.

"Now's not the time for food, dear," Fannie chuckled.

But Selene waved her off with a smile.

"No, no, I mean for Mr. Adrian's situation," Selene announced, her voice small.