Chapter 32: Being Ourselves

*Lena*

Sylvie listened, calm as ever, like she’d heard this all before. Eventually, she gave me that reassuring smile and leaned back in her chair. “Look, everyone’s got their quirks,” she said. “It’s obvious you care about him. Have you ever thought about finding some middle ground? You don’t have to change who you are but maybe dial it back a little. Men like to feel needed too, you know. Sometimes… being a bit more demure can help.”

I frowned. “Demure?”

She chuckled. “I don’t mean submissive,” she said. “Just… a little softer, less combative. It’s not about changing who you are. Just show him a more vulnerable side sometimes. You don’t need to be ‘on’ all the time.”