After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 1

The third year of their marriage, Elaine Faerwyn gazed at the woman sitting across from her and released a soft.

This was the ninety-ninth mistress of Alistair Chase's that she had handled-and unquestionably the most difficult of the lot.

No matter how substantial the settlement Elaine offered, this woman remained immovable, stubbornly insisting on staying by Alistair's side.

Elaine took a deliberate sip of her espresso, the bitter liquid matching her mood perfectly as her lips curved into a self-deprecating smile. "You really should name your price," she said, setting down the porcelain cup with a soft clink against the saucer. "He's a wanderer who's never found his star. Surely you can see that in him? I'm his wife, yet my primary function seems to be disposing of lovers he's grown bored with as you see now."

Despite Elaine's candid counsel, Vivian Turner showed not the slightest glimmer of comprehension. Instead, she tilted her chin upward with unmistakable defiance, her manicured hand sliding provocatively over her stomach with a smugness that made Elaine's skin crawl.

"I'm different," Vivian declared, eyes flashing with triumph. "You simply lack what it takes to hold his interest. Alistair loves me. He made sex with me day and day, can't bear to look away from my face, and his has practically memorized all my preferences."

"Besides," she added with calculated timing, "I just found out I'm carrying his baby..."

A child?

Elaine's gaze fixed on the woman's still-flat abdomen, her mind momentarily short-circuiting.

He had promised that he would never father a child to humiliate her publicly or privately.Alistair, you couldn't even keep the only pathetically small promise you made to me.

Her painted lips parted to respond, but before she could articulate the acid rising in her throat, the villa's doors swung open with theatrical timing.

strode in, his iPhone screen still illuminated with an active call, his deep, whiskey-smooth voice flowing with practiced charm as he soothed whoever waited on the other

to recognize the tell-tale

recalibrated, slipping into his signature devil-may-care expression. Leaning against a nearby table

I'm pregnant, don't

side with the desperation of a gambler placing her final bet, her expression transformed

a moment, the carefully crafted mask of indifference slipped from his aristocratic features as he ended

his hand brushing over her stomach. Something

arrangement. Go home for now," he instructed, his tone making it clear this wasn't a request. "I'll be in

answer she'd gambled for, Vivian finally relented, leaving the Chase mansion with undisguised triumph

decisive click, her voice laced with a

his few redeeming qualities. As he walked toward his state-of-the-art bathroom, loosening

is born, I'll send her packing with an NDA. Your

for

of that name-Sophia

only to Sophia, his golden-haired first love, taken tragically young in

Sophia's death, Alistair transformed from devoted

New York's elite dating pool. Every eligible socialite except Elaine. She remained the only untouched name on the list-her features lacking

ago, when Faerwyn Industries faced a hostile takeover while the Chase family board pressured Alistair to marry and project stability to nervous investors. Seeking a solution to both problems, he would leverage his vast resources to save her family's company

She agreed.

extramarital pursuits, but in return, he would ensure her position as Mrs. Chase remained unassailable. Most importantly, he would never father a child that might complicate their