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

Chapter 88

The mansion blazed with lights all night.

Gloria sat rigid on the sofa, nails cutting into her palms until they bled. She didn't even feel it, just stared at the clock as it ticked from midnight to seven AM.

When the clock struck seven, footsteps thundered down the hall. Elijah appeared, his eyes black with rage, holding a leather belt. Every step toward her sent ice through her veins.

"You almost killed them both, Gloria. Jenna and the baby."

Baby?

Jenna was pregnant?

The shock hit her, then understanding followed. Of course-in her past life, Jenna had gotten pregnant at exactly this time. Since Jenna had been with Elijah that night instead of her, naturally she was the one carrying his child.

Facing Elijah's fury, tears spilled down her cheeks. "I didn't tamper with the dress. I'd never hurt her. Think about it—the kidnapping, the letters at the party, now this? If I were behind it all, how could I possibly succeed every single time?"

She thought her logic might reach him he was usually so careful, so analytical.

But rage had consumed him. "So you're saying Jenna set you up? I love her. I'm marrying her. Why would she bother?"

"I don't know—"

exploded across her back as the

course he wouldn't believe her-Jenna

run, but security grabbed her, forcing

to admit what

shook with

silence earned another strike.

lips sealed. She was

and again until her back was a mess of welts and blood.

the housekeeper grabbed his arm. "Sir, you'll

the belt aside.

slumped to the floor, consciousness

next few days passed in a haze of pain. Elijah never came home, while Gloria lay in bed, unable to move without agony shooting through her back. The housekeeper secretly tended to her

of consciousness, the pain keeping her awake at night. The staff whispered around her, some pitying, others

she could walk again, though every step sent daggers through her back. That same

belongings, wincing as

I have to tell you to get over this obsession? You keep going after Jenna—and you think I was