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

Chapter 18

Alistair tailed Elaine and Atticus all the way to the hotel, lurking in the car until Atticus finally drove off.

The second the coast was clear, he bolted inside, catching Elaine by the elevators. While she watched the numbers creep down, he sweet-talked the receptionist into giving him a room key, then practically sprinted over just as the doors opened, sliding in right behind her.

Elaine kept her eyes glued to the floor. She was about to bail and wait for the next elevator when-too late-the doors shut in her face.

"Seriously?" she muttered under her breath as he jabbed the same floor button.

"What's your endgame here, Alistair?" she finally asked.

His face crumpled. He opened his mouth several times but nothing came out. Finally, as they stepped into the hallway, he just blurted it out "I don't want a divorce,exactly?"

She froze mid-step but didn't turn around. After a beat, she kept walking. "I'm done. Three years is too long, and I'm just... done."

The door to her room beeped as she swiped her card. She was closing it when a hand shot out to block it.

"Son of a-!"

Alistair's hand with a nasty thud. He sucked air through his teeth.Startled, Elaine yanked it

she

when she looked up, he was actually grinning at her. His hand was turning red, but

like he'd just discovered buried treasure. "You wouldn't have opened the door if

his brain had connected those dots. She took a deep breath. "What do you want

them, just their breathing in the empty hallway. Just as she was about to slam the door in his face again, he wedged his

take," he said, his voice raw. "Whatever you want. Whatever I need to do to

Not the broken shell he'd become after Sophia's death, pushing everyone away, drinking himself to

a ledge, waiting to hear if she'd talk him down

he actually cared

caught herself and immediately shut that

told her straight to her face