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

Chapter 2

Early the following morning, when she descended the staircase, only to catch Alistair by the front door, car keys in hand.

She paused mid-step, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "Isn't today your day off. Where are you going?"

"Taking Vivian to her ultrasound scan." he replied without a hint of remorse or discretion.

She watched his Bentley disappear down the driveway, unable to suppress a bitter smile that twisted her lips.

After Alistair leaving, Elaine quietly finished her breakfast and left the house herself.

Her car cut through Manhattan traffic with practiced efficiency, quickly arriving at the sleek downtown offices of Davidson & Partners. The attorney was waiting, leather portfolio already open on the conference table.

"After both parties signed, you can get the divorce certificate after sixty days." Davidson explained, sliding the documents toward her.

Elaine examined the papers and nodded decisively. "Well. I'll have Alistair sign it and return them today."

When she returned to the estate later that afternoon, she heard unusual commotion before even entering. Pushing open the front door, she discovered not only Alistair in the living room, but Vivian as well.

Before she could process the scene, Alistair's voice

stated flatly. "She'll be staying here for a while. Just bear with it,

remained silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. She reached into her bag and extracted the divorce papers, opening them

she said, watching his face carefully, her

couldn't predict

his side, effectively blocking his view. "Alistair, darling," she purred, "the baby just kicked! Don't you want to

authorization. Vivian's interruption erased

scrawled his signature on the line without a second glance, then casually handed the

just get it. If you need more money,

upstairs, leaving Elaine

when he discovered he'd signed so carelessly was

had been nothing but

into their house, and from that day

as both shield and weapon, she reigned with unchecked

carefully cultivated roses brutally uprooted, the once-pristine

things made me