The city of Kolkata was too loud for heartbreak.
Cars rushed past. Lights flickered endlessly. People laughed somewhere in the distance like nothing in the world could ever go wrong.
But for Liora—
Everything had already started to fall apart.
"You shouldn't have come back."
Kael's voice was quieter this time.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Just… tired.
Liora stood across from him near the dim stretch under Howrah Bridge, the river reflecting broken pieces of light between them.
"Then stop saying that like you mean it," she replied, her voice trembling.
Because she could hear it—
The hesitation.
The truth he refused to say.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"That night wasn't random," he said. "They weren't just after me."
Her heart dropped.
"What are you not telling me?"
He looked at her.
And this time—
He didn't hide it.
"Your name came up."
Silence.
Cold. Heavy. Crushing.
"They knew everything," Kael continued. "Your life. Your engagement. You."
"That's impossible," she whispered.
"It's not," he said. "Not in my world."
A realization crept in.
Slow.
Terrifying.
"Someone told them…"
Kael didn't answer.
But he didn't need to.
Arjun.
The name hit her like a storm.
Her breath shook. "No… he wouldn't…"
"You trust him that much?" Kael asked quietly.
"I don't know who to trust anymore," she admitted.
"You're not safe," Kael said firmly.
"And you are?" she shot back. "You're part of the danger!"
"Yes."
The answer came instantly.
No denial.
No hesitation.
That hurt more than anything else.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" she whispered.
Kael's voice dropped.
"Stay away from both of us."
Her heart broke a little more.
"Then why does it feel like you don't want that?" she asked.
He didn't respond.
And that silence—
That silence said everything.
"Tell me honestly," she said, stepping closer. "If I walk away right now… will you let me?"
Kael froze.
For the first time—
He looked conflicted.
"I should."
Her chest tightened.
"But you won't?" she whispered.
"…No."
Tears filled her eyes.
Because that wasn't relief.
That was pain.
"Why?" she asked.
His answer came low and heavy.
"Because you're already part of this."
"That's not enough," she said. "That's not a reason to keep me here."
"It's the truth."
She shook her head.
"I hate this."
"I know."
"I hate that I don't understand you."
"I know."
"I hate that I can't stay away."
That—
That changed something in him.
He almost reached for her.
Almost.
But stopped.
Like even touching her would make things worse.
"You should hate me too," he said quietly.
"I'm trying," she whispered.
A bitter silence followed.
Then suddenly—
Liora stepped back.
"No," she said. "I'm tired of this."
Kael frowned slightly. "Of what?"
"Of you deciding everything," she said. "Of you pushing me away and pulling me back whenever you want."
"That's not what I'm doing—"
"That's exactly what you're doing!"
The tension snapped.
"I don't even know who you are!" she cried. "And somehow… you matter more than everything else in my life right now. Do you even understand how messed up that is?"
Kael didn't answer.
And that made it worse.
"Say something," she demanded.
His voice turned cold.
"Maybe you should go back to your perfect life."
The words hit hard.
Too hard.
"…What?" she whispered.
"Marry him," Kael continued. "Forget me. Forget this."
Each word felt like a blade.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"So that's it?" she asked. "That's what I am to you?"
Silence.
That hesitation—
Destroyed her.
"Say it clearly," she whispered.
Kael looked at her.
And chose distance.
"You don't belong in my world, Liora."
That was it.
The final break.
Tears fell freely now.
But she didn't wipe them.
Didn't hide them.
"Maybe I don't," she said softly.
A pause.
Then—
"But I thought… maybe you did."
And with that—
She turned.
This time—
She walked away.
For real.
No stopping.
No turning back.
Even though every step felt like it was tearing her apart.
Behind her—
Kael didn't move.
Didn't call her back.
Didn't stop her.
Because some choices—
Once made—
Can't be undone.