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

Chapter 64

I never expected Nina to come looking for me.

The restaurant was crowded that evening, the warm glow of the overhead lights casting soft reflections on the polished wooden tables. I barely looked at her when I set down the dish, just another customer in the endless stream of faces I served every day.

"Enjoy your meal," I said, the words automatic, practiced.

But then she spoke.

"You're Cecilia?"

The way she said my name sent a slow chill through me.

I turned my head, finally meeting her gaze.

She was watching me, appraising me like I was something cheap on a store shelf, something barely worth a glance, let alone her attention. Her perfectly manicured fingers toyed with the stem of her wine glass, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips.

Then, she let out a soft laugh-sharp, disdainful.

"Do you even have more than a hundred dollars on you right now?" Her voice dripped with mockery. "Where the hell did you crawl out from, huh?"

I didn't react.

I just looked at her, my expression giving nothing away.

She smirked, tapping a nail against the glass. "Two years by Pax's side. You must be good at playing your cards."

tell me do you even know

slightly. "And if I

I'd say you're dumber than you

one who had

she could already see the cracks forming

voice lowering into something almost gentle. "Be smart about this.

my ground. "Or

her eyes. "Or you'll stick around just long enough to be discarded. And trust

I said nothing.

was there

I turned on my heel, ready

But she moved faster.

wrist, her grip delicate but insistent. Without thinking,

And yet-

against the polished floor, her body

glasses down in a cascading crash

seemed to

a moment, all I could hear was the sharp ring of broken

switch

sharp, arrogant woman from

expression crumpled, tears welling in

whispered, voice trembling,