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

Chapter 86

The slap knocked Gloria onto the marble floor. Her lip split, cheek burning red.

The room spun, voices blurring into white noise. Her trembling fingers touched her face, and the pain sent tears streaming down her cheeks. In all these years, Elijah had never hit her. Before she could process what happened, he'd already stormed

out.

Gloria scrambled up and ran after him. She'd seen this before—she knew exactly how Jenna's accident could play out.

Thunder cracked overhead as rain pounded the streets. Through the downpour, she spotted them: Elijah crushing Jenna against his chest.

"It was supposed to be my night," Jenna sobbed, pushing at his chest. "And she pulls this psycho move? I can't show my face in there again. If she's still this obsessed with you, I'm done competing. Go back to your little stalker-"

Elijah gripped her tighter. "That's never happening. I could never want her. You know I've been yours since day one. Pushing me away like this? You might as well put a bullet in my heart."

He leaned in for the kiss, but headlights suddenly cut through the rain.

in her

ER exploded into chaos. Medical staff swarmed Elijah with equipment, but he fought them

first," he rasped, voice weak

Phillips, you've got

That's

into surgery, but minutes later a doctor burst out: "Patient's crashing!

off the gurney. "Take mine.

"Sir, you're already critical-"

"Just do it!"

ghost. Only when they confirmed Jenna was stable did he finally pass out, letting them wheel

She fled the hospital, reality hitting harder than the slap. He didn't just love Jenna—she was his

letters and sketches she'd destroyed. Only one person could

three days in a daze. Then Elijah checked out of the hospital. His first move? Having security throw her into the industrial