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

Chapter 82

Gloria Ramirez fell hard for her dad's friend, Elijah Phillips-a man old enough to be her father. He'd commanded every room he walked into, his designer suits and athletic build drawing all eyes to him. She still remembered how he'd flashed that perfect smile, messed up her hair playfully, and gifted her that stunning evening gown.

At twenty, her world imploded. Someone slipped aphrodisiacs into his drink at a gala, and she'd made a choice that would haunt her-wearing that same gown, she offered herself as his salvation, her innocence lost in one reckless night.

The next morning, Jenna Wright-his childhood sweetheart-burst into the room to find them half-naked in bed, clothes scattered across the floor, the evidence of their night together unmistakable. Her face drained of color as she stumbled backward. She fled the mansion in tears, her Mercedes swerving wildly on the driveway. Before anyone could stop her, a truck with failed brakes plowed into her car at full speed. The impact was devastating-Jenna died instantly, her body still warm when the paramedics arrived.

After that, Elijah became someone else entirely. He handled Jenna's funeral like a business meeting, married Gloria like signing a contract, and treated their marriage bed like a chore. When she got pregnant, he'd coldly insist they weren't ready, dragging her to clinic after clinic.

During her eighteenth abortion, Gloria lay on the operating table, blood soaking through the sheets as the doctors rushed around her. Her vision blurred as she heard the surgeon urgently calling Elijah. She was hemorrhaging badly, worse than any of the previous times.

His response through the speakerphone froze everyone in the room: "Dead yet? Don't bother me until she is."

In that moment, through the haze of blood loss and fading consciousness, Gloria finally understood the brutal truth-Elijah Phillips didn't just hate her, he wanted her dead. He despised her for offering herself as his "cure" that night when he was drugged, loathed her for inadvertently causing Jenna's death.

As Gloria felt her life draining away on that cold operating table, regret consumed every fiber of her being.

eyes snapped open. She was back at the gala, on the night that had sealed all

across the bed, shirt half-undone, eyes glazed from the

twisted into

time, seeing him like this had made her throw caution to the wind, forgetting he was her father's friend, ignoring their age gap, recklessly offering herself as his cure. She'd learned too late that Elijah and Jenna had been in love, their

her a do-over. This time, she had one

phone and called Jenna, who showed

each other," Gloria said, gripping Jenna's wrist. "You've just never found the right moment to admit it. He needs you right

Elijah. He's drugged up on aphrodisiacs right now-you could have him wrapped around your finger. Instead, you're calling me to come 'save'

the town. She'd convinced herself that enough determination could overcome any obstacle. Now she knew better-without love, all the effort in the world just

said softly.

groan came from behind

out," Gloria urged. "If you don't go in

at the bedroom, biting her lip. Finally, she squared her shoulders. "Then why are you still hanging around? Want to listen

flinched, then stepped aside. As Jenna reached for the door, Gloria pulled

piece by piece. She slid down the wall, tears streaming silently. Yet underneath