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

Chapter 30

Others also stood up and left.

"Zoey, we're heading out now."

Someone muttered under their breath, but their words reached my ears clearly.

"Does she even have the nerve to go against Sara? Doesn't she know she's the one who stole someone else's man?"

"Jealous, obviously! Sara's beautiful and accomplished. What does she have?"

"She makes trouble for Sara, and in the end, it's her husband who goes to comfort Sara. How stupid!"

Their mocking laughter faded into the distance, leaving the large private room eerily quiet.

Alone, I let out a faint, bitter chuckle and poured myself another glass of liquor. I drained it in one gulp.

To be honest, Sara wasn't entirely wrong-I hadn't been to those places.

But I knew she was lying.

Because of my mother.

I wasn't born without parents.

My mother was a doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières, stationed in war zones.

In those days, for a woman to work abroad while her husband stayed behind to raise their child was unthinkable.

Neighbors would sneer and taunt, saying:

"Your mother doesn't want you anymore!"

I clenched my fists and fought to defend myself, protecting what little pride I had, only to face even harsher ridicule.

Mother frequently sent letters stamped with exotic postmarks, recounting her work and life in detail, often accompanied by photographs.

Whenever my father read her letters to me, I would envision the heroic image of a brilliant doctor.

She once told me:

are small, but the real world is vast. You must see it for

in the line of

colleagues at the hospital managed to recover only her ID

records she had risked her life to protect, there was a photograph of me-taken

what "killed in action" meant,

love the limelight never meet a

lost my mother, but her words stayed

for yourself. Document and experience

then will you know

old camera, its

hold some lingering

was her relic, and

face in my hands, I let my tears

miss you so

The next morning.

headache jolted me

struggled to open my eyes, recognizing the familiar

recollection

water to soothe my throat, I noticed Jackson sitting in the living room, his

you behave as the lady of the

and walked

desk was

froze, my voice hoarse as I asked, "Where's

Jackson smirked coldly.

it

My breath caught.

"What did you say?"

disdainful smile

tell her to take

deafening roar filled

had given my mother's relic

and shattered. I lunged

collar, shouting hysterically:

dare you touch my camera?! How dare