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.

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

nobody except Sophia. This baby was just his twisted attempt to recreate what he'd lost-in his mind, it

Unfortunately, Vivian didn't understand.

After Elaine went to her room, Vivian stared at

shattered the peace

angry red welts, frantically scratching and crying. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and raced to the

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

pointed the finger directly at Elaine. "How could you be

face darkened with realization. He remembered

glared at her, suspicion written all over his

let me keep those purchases. You're' going

said, fighting to keep her voice steady despite the bitterness

explain further, he cut her

those clothes. If you didn't do it, then who? Me or Vivian? We're the baby's parents-why would we do anything to harm

moment the words left his mouth, Alistair

with a smile that