The words landed like a blunt удар.

Olivia watched him in silence, her chest tight. Hearing it said that way—so direct, so cruel—hurt differently. It was as if every syllable he spoke ripped something out of her: respect, hope, dignity.

Liam turned to leave, as if that conversation was over.

“Why are you running away?” she asked, refusing to back down, her voice trembling but firm. “Is it really that hard to answer a simple question?”

He stopped at the bathroom door, one hand braced on the fram