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

Chapter 6

The saleswoman's cheerful expression froze, and an awkward silence fell over the maternity section.

Meanwhile, Alistair had finished his maternity clothes spree and moved on to the baby department. When he returned, he was pushing a cart overflowing with packages. He looked surprised to see Elaine standing empty-handed in the same spot.

"Didn't find anything you liked?" he asked, "You haven't bought a thing."

She stared at his cart, saying nothing. As he started to return the items, she stopped him.

"Keep it all," she said flatly.

Her indifference seemed to confuse him, but he quickly shrugged it off. He spent the next hour selecting clothes and jewelry for Elaine, only to discover all the shopping carts were already filled with baby items.

"Don't bother," she said, cutting through his awkward attempts to rearrange things. "I don't need."

When they arrived home with their haul, Vivian was waiting in the living room. Seeing all the packages were for her, she could barely contain her glee.

"Elaine, you went shopping with Alistair and got nothing for yourself?" she asked with exaggerated concern, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

even respond. Vivian still didn't understand that Alistair's attention wasn't about her at

was just his twisted attempt to recreate what he'd lost-in his mind, it would be his

Unfortunately, Vivian didn't understand.

her performance failed to get a reaction, Vivian fumed silently. After Elaine went to her room, Vivian stared

a scream shattered the peace of the

happened?" Alistair rushed in to find Vivian covered in angry red welts, frantically scratching and

the new clothing with capsaicin, That's what caused the

"How could you be so cruel?" she sobbed dramatically.

darkened with realization. He

suspicion written all over his

let me keep those purchases.

keep her voice steady despite the bitterness rising in her throat. "I never put capsaicin on

could explain further, he cut her off

then who? Me or Vivian? We're

the words left his mouth, Alistair froze, suddenly

silence, Elaine looked at him with a smile that didn't reach her tear- filled