Manipulations

Jason’s POV

I thought I could get on with the life I had built with Alexandra. It was a comfortable life, filled with luxuries and stability. She was kind, beautiful, and supportive. Yet, beneath the surface, there was a tension between us that never seemed to go away.

“Jason, why do you keep avoiding the topic of marriage?” Alexandra asked one evening as we sat in the dining room of my penthouse. The table was set with a gourmet meal, prepared by the private chef I had hired to make the evening special.

“I don’t know, Alexandra. I guess I just don’t feel ready yet,” I replied, avoiding her gaze.

“You’ve been saying that for years. What are you really afraid of?” she pressed, her voice tinged with frustration.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. How could I tell her that I wanted kids, but she couldn’t provide that? How could I tell her that her constant pressure for marriage only made me feel more trapped?

“It’s complicated,” I said finally. “I just need more time.”