Chapter 4

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.