Chapter 12

Mrs. Bentley's face froze in shock. Her eyes reddened with anxiety.

"Aisha, you two have been together for so many years. You can't just throw that away! Even if you're angry, at least wait and let him explain, alright?"

I smiled faintly. "There's no need."

She sighed repeatedly, her voice soft with pleading warmth.

"There is a need. You're such a good, sensible girl. I've always thought of you as my daughter-in-law. Our families have already arranged your engagement. If you leave now, what's Thor supposed to do?"

I raised a brow, my voice firm. "He already has someone else by his side. He doesn't need me anymore."

My mother's tone was as cold as steel. "And consider the engagement dissolved."

I said nothing further. Setting my luggage into the car, I opened the passenger door and sat down.

Mrs. Bentley hurried forward, grabbing my arm in desperation.

"No, Aisha—please wait! I'll call Thor right now!"

She fumbled for her phone and dialed his number. But Thor didn't answer.

Her anxiety deepened; her voice trembled with panic. "Why isn't he picking up?"

Just as I pulled my arm free, the call finally connected.

From the other end came Thor's lazy, indifferent voice. "Mom? What is it?"

Mrs. Bentley spoke quickly, almost pleading. "Come home right now. Aisha's leaving for school! You need to talk to her and clear things up!"

But Thor's tone was cold and careless.

"Let her go. We're going to the same university anyway. I'll see her when I want to."

Then he hung up—without giving his mother a chance to say another word.

Mrs. Bentley stared at her phone in disbelief, her expression darkening with embarrassment and frustration.

My gaze was calm but heavy, a shadow passing through it. Still, I spoke gently.

"Mrs. Bentley, I appreciate your kindness. But everyone has the right to choose. This… this is the best ending for us."

I gave her a small smile and rolled up the car window.

Mrs. Bentley tried to stop me again, but my mother stepped in, blocking her firmly.

"Please don't make things harder for Aisha," she said sharply.

The car pulled away, and I watched the familiar streets blur past—the house I grew up in, the world that once held my happiest memories.

'Goodbye,' I thought. 'Goodbye, home. Goodbye to the boy I once loved. Goodbye, Thor. I'll never see you again.'

…

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Thor was strolling through the shopping district with Lina. He carried her shopping bags, playing the perfect gentleman.

When she grew tired, she invited him to dinner.

He stifled a yawn and shook his head. "No, I'm exhausted. My burns still hurt. I should go home and rest."

He didn't understand why, but ever since his mother's call, a faint unease had been gnawing at him—a strange, restless feeling he couldn't shake.

Lina didn't push. In her mind, she had already won. Thor was hers sooner or later; there was no rush.

But Thor didn't go home. Instead, he wandered aimlessly through the quiet streets.

So much had happened lately—too much. His thoughts were tangled, uneasy. He remembered the arguments between us, the silent days that followed. He had ignored me for so long, and I hadn't even asked how he was after his injury. Somehow, that bothered him more than he expected.

He sat down on a stone step, pulled out his phone, and opened our old chat.

After a long hesitation, he typed: [It's been so long. Haven't you realized you were wrong yet?]

He pressed send, but the message failed to deliver.

A chill spread through him as he saw the message stuck there, undelivered.

I had blocked him.

Thor shot to his feet, shock and anger flashing across his face.

He had wanted to give me a way back, a chance to yield under his silent pressure and control. But now—now I had slipped beyond his grasp.

His pride cracked.

He started to call me, but before I could answer, he hung up again—jaw tight, heart pounding.

He couldn't do it. Couldn't swallow his pride.

So he chose silence, convincing himself there'd be time later—once we met again at university.