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.

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

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

Unfortunately, Vivian didn't understand.

failed to get a reaction, Vivian fumed silently. After Elaine went to her room, Vivian stared at all her new things, a nasty gleam

the hour, a scream shattered the

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

new clothing with capsaicin, That's what

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

He remembered Elaine's strange behavior earlier that day

glared at her, suspicion written all

keep those

Elaine said, fighting to keep her voice steady despite the bitterness rising in her throat. "I never put capsaicin

further, he

handled 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

his mouth, Alistair froze, suddenly

looked at him with