Entitled

Chapter 94*

The next morning, you quietly pack your things, trying not to wake Adrian. But as you zip up your bag, he stirs and sits up, rubbing his eyes. "Violet? What's going on? Why are you packing?"

You take a deep breath, turning to face him. "Adrian, I need to be honest with you. I've enjoyed our time together, truly. But I'm not done thinking about what I want. And the truth is, this doesn't fill the void inside of me."

His face falls, and he looks genuinely hurt. "What do you mean? I thought we were building something."

You sit on the edge of the bed, reaching for his hand. "I'm trying so hard to be what you want, but the spark isn't there for me. I don't want to string you along or pretend that I'm fully committed when I'm not."

Adrian's grip on your hand tightens. "Is this about Severus? Are you still in love with him?"

You shake your head slightly. "It's more than just Severus. It's about me needing to find myself and understand what I truly need. I can't do that if I'm trying to fit into someone else's expectations or timeline."

He looks down, his voice barely above a whisper. "I thought we had something special."

"We do," you insist gently. "But it's not fair to you if I'm not completely invested. You deserve someone who is all in, who isn't torn between different feelings and needs."

Adrian's eyes meet yours, a mixture of frustration and sadness. "I just wish you had told me sooner."

"I know," you reply, your voice thick with emotion. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I care about you, Adrian. I really do. But I need to be honest with both of us."

He sighs, looking away. "So, what now?"

You squeeze his hand one last time before letting go. "I think we need some space. I need to figure out what I want, and you deserve someone who isn't questioning everything."

Adrian's eyes narrow, his voice dripping with bitterness. "You're going back to him, aren't you?"

You take a deep breath, meeting his gaze steadily. "I'm going where I belong."

He scoffs, standing up abruptly. "Of course, you are. You never really left, did you? It's always been about Severus."

"That's not fair, Adrian," you snap back, feeling your frustration bubble to the surface. "I've tried to make this work. I wanted to give us a chance."

He throws his hands up in exasperation. "Tried? You were never fully here. Your mind was always somewhere else, with someone else."

"Don't twist this around," you retort, your voice rising. "I've been honest with you from the start. I told you I needed time."

"Time?" he mocks, his tone harsh. "Time to figure out that you still want him? Time to realize that you're never going to move on?"

"That's not what this is about!" you shout, feeling the tears prick at your eyes. "I'm trying to find myself. I'm trying to make sure I don't make the same mistakes again."

Adrian shakes his head, his expression a mix of anger and hurt. "You're just running back to what's familiar because you're scared to move forward."

You take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the words you're about to say. "The sex is just not what I need, Adrian. It's good, but it's not fulfilling. I need to be handled in a certain way, and everything is just different. I'm trying to do the best I can, but the girls, the phone numbers I keep finding in your pants pockets, and the way you are when you drink, saying I don't care about you... it's just too much."

He looks taken aback, his anger flickering to confusion. "You never told me this before. How was I supposed to know?"

"I'm telling you now," you say, your voice soft but firm. "I'm so sorry for doing this, but I need to be honest. I need something different, something more."