But before she could finish, Thor grabbed her by the arm, his grip as sharp and unyielding as a silent scream.“Come with me. Now,” he ground out through clenched teeth, already steering her toward the car.Celina tried to pull back, her pulse spiking.“Let me go, Thor!” she protested, struggling against the pressure of his hand, which tightened more than he seemed to realize.Gabriel stepped forward.“Didn’t you hear what she said?” His voice was firm, commanding—without the need to shout.He caught Thor’s arm in a restraining gesture. That was the breaking point.Exhausted, jealous, and sick with worry, Thor snapped. In a blind impulse, his fist closed and swung before reason had a chance to stop him.The punch landed hard.The dull, brutal sound of impact echoed in the air.Gabriel staggered and went down, one hand flying to his face.“Gabriel!” Celina’s scream tore through the moment, her heart hammering. She rushed to him, dropping to her knees in a rush of panic.“Are you okay?

After about two hours, Celina’s bedroom was wrapped in a soft half-light. The curtains were partially open, letting in a timid glow that painted the walls in muted tones of melancholy. Celina lay in bed, covered to the waist, her hair loose and slightly tousled. Her vacant stare at the ceiling betrayed the storm inside her that had yet to calm. Sitting beside her, Tatiana adjusted a cool compress on her forehead, tending to her like a wounded sister—not in body, but in soul.“Sweetheart…” Tatiana began, her voice low but steady. “Now that you’ve calmed down a little, let’s talk. I truly understand what you’ve been through. Thor was here. He told me everything that happened… all that went down at that awful dinner.”Celina turned her eyes toward her friend, too drained to react.“I’m not saying he was right, okay? But I need you to put yourself in his shoes for just a moment. You disappeared. He came here desperate to find you. I saw it, Cê—he was truly desperate. And you… you were at

After the introductions, the older woman asked,“Would you like anything for a snack? For dinner?”“Not tonight, Dona Lúcia. Tomorrow you can make us something really good. Today’s just for resting, alright?”She smiled, nodded, and left with her husband.Thor stepped into the house, Celina following close behind. He went upstairs, walking down the hallway, and without even glancing at her, said,“I’ll show you the room where you’ll be sleeping.”Celina froze for a second. The weight of his words crashed over her like a stone. It wasn’t their room—it was her room. The distance was clear. His contempt was tangible.And more than ever, she felt the ache of being far from someone she still loved.Thor pushed the door open gently. The room was spacious, airy, with a style that blended rustic charm and warmth. He stepped inside first and set her suitcase carefully on the leather armchair by the window.Without fully turning toward her, his body angled just slightly, his voice controlled, e

Celina looked straight into his eyes, her tears falling without restraint.Thor released her arms and stepped back.“I’m at fault,” he said. “For not ending things with Isabela before getting involved with you. I made a mistake. I should’ve barred her from having free access to my penthouse before I ever brought you there. But I wanted to spend more time with you. Because I’m not playing house, Celina.”He paused, taking a deep breath.“I made a mistake by sleeping with Isabela without protection. And now she’s pregnant. She knew exactly how to trap me with that. Yes, the wedding is set, but it’s all for family interests. I had no choice… until I met you.”Thor stepped closer.“I’m standing here owning up to my mistakes. But you… did you even stop to think? Because at that dinner, I was with you. The whole time. And then, I went to my room to set things straight in my life—because you’re my priority. And what did you do?”Celina’s breath hitched.“Baby… forgive me. But put yourself in

Lost in the echo of her own voice, Celina sank deeper into the emptiness of her mind. Sadness—an old, unwelcome companion—had returned to lie beside her in bed. It felt familiar, almost comfortable. She cried for a long time, not caring about the damp pillow or the creeping chill of the early dawn.When her tears finally began to dry and the sobs faded into silence, she rose slowly. Moving on instinct alone, she slipped into a light nightgown, walked to the wardrobe, and searched for fresh bedding. She stripped the bed, replacing the sheets and pillowcases as if erasing what had happened there only moments before.When she finished, she stood still for a few seconds, staring at the bed. It looked so clean… so cold.With a sudden impulse, she walked to the bedroom door and gripped the doorknob. She stayed there, heart racing, imagining what Thor’s reaction might be if he saw her. But courage slipped through her fingers. Fear flooded in—the fear of being rejected, of being nothing more