My throat tightened; the words lodged there, refusing to come out. I turned and walked away.

When I reached the stairs, a small teddy was tossed from nearby, landing at my feet.

The sight of it blurred my vision. Whenever my parents were away and the house felt too big and lonely, I would sleep at Thor's place. He had a room for me there, and I could only fall asleep clutching that bear.

As I stood frozen, Thor continued to throw more stuff my way. The pajamas, photos, and toothbrushes I'd left at his house lay scattered at my feet.

Thor's voice was cold and clipped. "Since we're breaking up, take your things and go."

In the past, I would have sobbed and raged, begged him not to be cruel, then curled up and let the matter slide. But not now. I crouched down and collected my stuff with a steady hand.

There were too many to carry. When I looked up and saw the fireplace, I walked over and began tossing things into the hearth. Flames hungrily licked the paper and leather; a loud sizzle swallowed the objects as they were consumed. Let the fire burn everything—let it even burn away the ache inside me.

Thor stared at me, stunned, disbelief written across his face.

Lina wandered over and handed him half an apple, a deliberate little distraction. He glanced at it, ignored the teeth marks on the flesh, and bit into it as if nothing mattered.

My fingers tightened. He was obsessive about cleanliness—he wouldn't touch a banana I'd already eaten—but he had no trouble taking a bite of Lina's apple. Clearly, his fastidiousness applied selectively. She mattered to him in a way I no longer did.

I turned away, exhaustion and helplessness settling into my bones. I thought the pain would last forever, but it numbed quicker than I'd expected.

At the door, Lina intercepted me. I looked at her with cool detachment as she smiled radiantly.

"If you're really breaking up with him, just do it properly—don't keep coming back to pester Thor," she said, her tone sharp beneath the sweetness.

I frowned. "This is between him and me. It's none of your business."

Her smile deepened until it was almost malicious. "Our relationship is getting closer. I love him, so his matters are my matters now.

"You keep saying you want to break up, then you always regret it. He's run out of patience with you—he's sick of your temper. He doesn't want to coax you anymore. Do us both a favor and stop bothering him. Your clinging just makes him disgusted."

A coldness dropped over me. I was about to reply when she pushed on, flaunting her victory.

"Also, you should change your university plans. I'm going to the same school as him. If you end up there too, I'll watch him grow to despise you—watch him treat you like a stranger while I walk into the chapel beside him."

Anger flared in the depths of my eyes.

"You're insane. Go get help." I wanted to hurl worse insults at her, but arguing with someone like that felt pointless.

I tried to walk past, but she grabbed my arm, stopping me. "You're the sick one—always clinging to Thor. No wonder Thor doesn't love you."

I had been holding myself back, but her brazen arrogance finally cracked something in me. I wrenched free and shouted, "Don't touch me!"

She looked at me with loathing and kept pushing. "Who wants to touch you? Haven't you noticed Thor won't even kiss you anymore? He thinks you're dirty. You were kidnapped before, and you're tainted."

Those words made my blood boil. I didn't think—I reacted. My hand shot out and slapped her across the face.

I had been kidnapped once, but the culprits were after money. They released me unharmed after receiving the ransom.

Only a few people close to me knew about that incident. For Lina to know, Thor must have told her—and that realization crushed me.

He knew I'd been rescued untouched, untainted. Yet she used that ordeal to humiliate me. It was unforgivable.

Lina clutched her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief as she snarled through clenched teeth. "You hit me!"

My expression darkened. "I did. Do I need to schedule it next time?"

Just then, footsteps approached from behind.

Her gaze flickered, and before I could react, she seized my wrist and dug her nails in hard. Pain shot through me, and I instinctively shoved her away.

Behind us was the pool. She lost her balance and toppled straight into the deep end.

Lina couldn't swim. Within seconds, the water swallowed her whole.

Thor saw everything. He shoved me aside and leapt into the pool to save her.

I stumbled, crashing into the wall—pain exploded across my forehead as blood trickled down my face.

When Lina was pulled from the water, she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, sobbing pitifully in his arms.

"Thor… Aisha just went crazy! She yelled at me, hit me, and pushed me… I don't even know what I did wrong! My head hurts, my body hurts…"

Thor's eyes burned as he glared at me, his face dark with fury.

"Aisha, are you insane? You could've killed her! When did you become so vicious?"

I froze. The chill in his eyes was sharp enough to cut through bone.

I waited—hoped—he'd notice the blood running down my forehead, but he didn't. He looked at me like a lion ready to tear me apart.

"I thought you were just temperamental," he said coldly. "But you're cruel. You don't deserve my love."

A stabbing pain seized my chest. I tried to speak, to explain—but before I could, he spat the words that shattered me completely.

"Get out! I don't want to see you again. You've disappointed me beyond measure."

Those two words—get out—hit like a blast of icy wind, blowing away every last trace of my foolish hope.

He had made his choice. He believed her.

No amount of explanation could wake a man who had chosen to stay blind.

I watched him carefully lift Lina into his arms and carry her inside. She clung to him pitifully, her face streaked with tears, while he murmured soft comforts against her hair—his gaze on her tender, reverent, as if she were something precious.

At that moment, it felt as though he had taken a knife to my heart and carved it into pieces. It bled endlessly, refusing to heal.

Once, no matter how wrong I was, he couldn't bear to raise his voice at me.

Once, he believed in me—always.

But that man was gone.

His trust was gone. His gentleness was gone. And the love that once belonged to me now belonged to someone else. There was no room left for me in his heart.

I didn't cry. I simply went home, exhausted beyond measure. The family doctor came to stitch the gash on my forehead.

It was deep, and since I scarred easily, he suggested I undergo surgery later to reduce the mark.

But I refused. I wanted the scar to stay—as a reminder never to lose myself for love again.

During my recovery, Lina sent me countless vile messages, accompanied by photos of her and Thor together. Sometimes she attached audio clips of his gentle voice speaking to her.

I read and listened to them all in silence, then deleted every single one.

My love for Thor was gone. No matter how many photos or recordings she sent, even if they still hurt to see, they no longer broke me.

One day, my school organized a field trip.

I went with my deskmate, while Thor and Lina were practically glued together—like conjoined twins. They were inseparable, their closeness so blatant that everyone's gazes turned ambiguous. Some looked at them with teasing smiles, others at me with something between curiosity and pity.

During lunch, Thor even cut her steak into small pieces for her, his every move gentle and attentive.

My deskmate couldn't help herself and leaned closer, whispering, "What's going on with them?"

I cast a calm glance in their direction and replied, "We broke up, that's all."

My voice wasn't loud, but it carried far enough. The table fell silent, and several heads turned toward us in surprise.

"What? You two were so close—why would you break up?"

"Yeah, didn't you plan to get married after university?"

"Thor, didn't you love Aisha?"

Thor said nothing. His silence was louder than any denial.

My chest ached, but I raised my voice just enough. "We just weren't right for each other."

My deskmate frowned, puzzled. "But Thor's a great guy, and he treated you so well. How's that not right?"

My gaze darkened. Yes, he used to treat me well. Which made his indifference now feel all the more cruel.

I gave a faint, knowing smile. "People change. Some drift apart, and some find others who fit them better."

My eyes shifted to where Lina was feeding Thor a piece of fruit.

The others followed my gaze, and understanding dawned. No one asked more.

Thor's eyes flickered with resentment.

I ignored him completely.

Maybe to prove a point, he stopped hiding his affection for Lina. He openly doted on her—carried her when she was tired, massaged her ankle when she twisted it.

Once, that would've made me jealous. Now, it didn't stir me at all.

On the way down the mountain, the path turned slippery, and I almost fell—saved only by my deskmate's quick reflexes.

When I looked up, I caught a flash of worry and panic in Thor's eyes. He even took a step toward me, but Lina quickly caught his arm, leaned close, and whispered something in his ear.

His face darkened immediately. When his eyes met mine again, they were filled not with concern, but irritation.

I knew she was twisting the truth again. But then, any love that could be poisoned by a few whispers was never strong to begin with.

I turned away, letting the mountain breeze wash over me. I felt calm. To me, Thor was nothing but air now. It was as if I had never known him at all.

On the bus ride back, everyone grew bored and decided to play a dare game. Whoever drew a red slip had to follow the command written on it—or else run naked around the school track.

I got lucky and drew a blank slip.

Thor, however, drew red. The instruction: Choose someone here and kiss them.

Lina sat beside him, her cheeks instantly flushing pink as she ducked her head.

The others started cheering.

"Come on, Thor! Pick someone to kiss, or it's the track for you!"

Instinctively, Thor's eyes flicked toward me.

I turned away, refusing to look at him.

Lina's best friend spoke up loudly, feigning innocence.

"Thor, you and Aisha already broke up. Kissing her again wouldn't be right. Lina's right beside you. Why not kiss Lina?"

Others chimed in, grinning. "Yeah, you two are basically dating already! A kiss would just make it official!"

All eyes were on them now.

But Thor didn't look at Lina. His gaze stayed locked on me, as if waiting to see my reaction.

It was Lina who finally broke the tension. She lifted her head, her eyes sharp and daring as they met mine.

"Aisha, you and Thor broke up," she said sweetly. "So there's nothing wrong with me going after him now, right?"