Page 28 of Glass Jawed

“What the fuck?” Liam snaps. “He’s not interested. You hear me? Go stalk someone else.”

I stay quiet. I don’t have it in me to argue. Not with him. Not today.

“I just... please,” Tim whimpers.

The sound doesn’t move me. Not anymore. He holds out a letter—another unmarked, desperate attempt. One more for the trash can.

“You need to stop,” I say, voice flat, then turn away. Liam follows.

We’re practically speed-walking to my building, and I can hear Tim’s footsteps behind us.

“Stop following us,” Liam growls. “And take your damn letter to the trash where the rest are.”

I glance back—just enough to assess if Liam needs backup. Tim’s gaining, eyes fixed on me, face twisted with some kind of righteous fury.

“You haven’t read them?” he barks.

“I don’t need to,” I reply, too tired to muster anything else. “I don’t care for your words.”

I turn away again. I don’t want to look at him. Don’t want to listen. But he keeps going, voice rising behind me like a siren I can’t escape.

“You’re not even going to read them? We... we belong together, Lucian! I love you. I’ll be better—I’m not confused anymore! I promise, I’ll be better!”

Promises when shouted at you in desperation, ring hollow. I want to tell him. But I think it’d be a waste of my energy.

So I keep walking.

Fine, maybe he’s not confused. But I’m not either.

I don’t love him.

I don’t even hate him.

And that’s the scariest part. The emptiness. Scary because—that’s probably how Aarohi feels for me . And that hurts. So fucking much.

We reach the condo doors. I pause, hand hovering over the fob. Last thing I want is him slipping in behind us.

“Tim,” I say, turning back one last time, “leave. We’re done. We’ve been done for over a year, so I don’t know why you’re here.”

And I mean it.

Every single word.

He doesn’t move. Just stares at me, eyes glassy.

“I’m not going to ask again,” I say, low and warning. “Leave.”

He looks at me with those wide, wet eyes like that’s going to mean something. It doesn’t. I’ve got nothing left to give him. Not attention. Not sympathy. Not even anger. Not anymore.

“I know you love me,” he chokes out, voice cracking like he’s reciting a line he’s convinced himself of. “I’m so sorry I lied. I was scared... but I need you to see that I’m here. I’m fighting for you.”

I laugh. Not because it’s funny. Because it’s fucking pathetic.

“Fighting for me?” I echo, voice bitter. “You think this is a fight? You think showing up after a damn year has passed and shoving letters in my face counts as fighting?”

Liam steps forward, jaw clenched. “Yeah... no. That’s not fighting for him, Tim. That’s barging into his life after he finally found some peace. So fuck off.”

But Tim just doubles down. “I loved you! You loved me! And you’re punishing me by being with her? Just for one mistake?”

“One?” I snap, stepping toward him. “You lied to me for months —maybe since the beginning. You chose to cheat instead of coming clean. And then—you know what? You’re not even worth this stupid monologue.”

I turn.

“I was protecting us! I wanted to make su—”

“You were protecting yourself,” Liam snaps.

“Stay out of this, Liam!” He growls at him.

“Stay out of his life and I will,” Liam answers calmly.

But apparently calm has left the planet.

“I’m still here!” he screams, desperate now. “She isn’t but I am and I need you, Lucian. Please...”

And then—he tries to grab my hand.

That’s it.

I rip my arm away like it burned. I’m done.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” I seethe. “Get the fuck out of my face. Go crawl back into whatever corner of hell you came from, but don’t ever come near me again. If you don’t—getting a job won’t be your biggest problem.”

Tim staggers back, blinking like I slapped him. Then... he goes quiet. Too quiet.

And that’s when he says it.

“You can’t be serious about her. That girl? You said it yourself. She barely even looks like a wo—”

My fist connects with his jaw so hard I hear the sickening crack before I even feel the pain in my knuckles.

“Fuck,” I hear Liam gasp.

Tim hits the sidewalk, lip split, blood already seeping down his chin. His eyes are wide, full of betrayal.

Like I’m the villain in his story. Hell, maybe I am.

Liam lunges, pulling me back by the collar of my jacket. “Don’t.”

I let him. I don’t fight it. My heart’s racing, my chest tight, my hands still curled into fists. But I let Liam pull me away because if I don’t, I’ll do it again.

Security runs over from the lobby, walkie-talkies crackling. One of them looks at me—recognition flaring.

“This man’s been stalking me,” I tell them, voice sharp but calm. “ Harassing me. Don’t ever let him in the building. Ever . If he’s ever here—call the cops and inform me.”

They nod.

But Tim is still sitting there, blinking up at me—horror shadowing his eyes.

He never thought I’d actually do it. That I’d choose someone else. Or that I’d cut him out like this .

Liam steps forward, looming over him like a goddamn executioner. “Leave Toronto, Tim. Or I swear to God, I’ll make it impossible for you to stay in the country. You think I can’t? Try me. I really hope you do.”

I’m not watching them anymore. I don’t care to.

Then Liam grabs my arm, and we head inside the building without looking back.

The doors close behind us with a satisfying thud.

In the silence of the lobby, my chest finally sinks.

Shit.

Is that what’s waiting for me in India?