Meadow’s POV:

The back of my eyelids started to burn with unshed tears. Hell no, this wasn’t how this was supposed to go. I wasn’t supposed to cry in front of this woman.

I looked away from her, blinking rapidly.

“You’re right,” I whispered. “He does need me. But I can’t be the person he needs me to be, Ingrid. I can’t just be some kind of… thing that keeps him grounded to reality. Alaric needs me, but he doesn’t love me. And I’m sorry, but that will never be enough ...