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

Chapter 83

Gloria hung up the phone, quickly wiped her tears away, and grabbed her passport. The moment she opened her door, she walked straight into Elijah.

Her eyes instantly locked onto the trail of hickeys down his neck. Even though she'd mentally prepared herself for what Elijah and Jenna had done, she still had to look away.

He caught her subtle flinch and noticed her puffy eyes. His voice turned ice-cold. "Let's get one thing straight, Gloria. Jenna and I are together now, whether you like it or not."

"I'm going to marry her. As long as you're staying here, you need to show her respect. Cut out all that schoolgirl crush bullshit from before."

Gloria kept her eyes down. "I understand... Mr. Phillips."

The formal address caught him off guard. He studied her face intently, trying to remember the last time she'd called him that.

When she'd first moved in, she'd always used "Mr. Phillips" so properly. Then, after falling for him, she'd insisted on just "Elijah," refusing any hint of formality between them.

He started to say something, but Jenna's voice cut through the tension.

here. Which

pulling Jenna into his arms. "You always complain about needing natural light. Gloria's room faces south-best sunlight in the house.

at Jenna's lips, though her voice dripped fake concern.

I mean, I'm the newcomer here. Maybe I should take the guest

of heading downstairs but squealed when Elijah pulled her back against his chest. "Baby, you're going to be my wife-the lady of this house. No way you're staying in

Gloria's had that room forever.

needs to accept that I'm getting married, this house has a new

as she swallowed hard,

Just a houseguest...

wrong. That's

fake smile. "I'll start packing for the

dad, never setting foot in this place again. This

handling her visa paperwork, doing anything to avoid running into Elijah. But she couldn't escape witnessing his

food, he hired Michelin-starred chefs