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

Chapter 96

Gloria's father watched the couple with obvious approval. After dinner, he and Lucas disappeared into his study.

When Lucas emerged thirty minutes later, he told Gloria he needed to head out. She walked him to the door, surprised by the twinge of disappointment she felt. They'd only just met, but she already didn't want him to leave. Still, she hesitated to say anything, worried about seeming too eager.

Lucas caught her expression. He smiled, pulling her closer and giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"Tomorrow?" he said softly.

Her eyes lit up as she looked at him. His smile deepened as he hugged her once more before sliding into his car.

Gloria lingered until his car disappeared behind the gates before heading back inside.

Outside the estate, Lucas immediately spotted the luxury sedan lurking in the shadows. The tinted windows hid whoever sat inside, but he seemed unconcerned. He simply rotated the wooden beads on his wrist.

"Someone needs a hobby," he murmured.

the next month, Gloria and Lucas grew increasingly close, while Elijah— summoned home by a barrage of urgent calls-found

custody, her family wreaked havoc at every opportunity. Elijah's mother, who'd never dealt with public scandal, collapsed after a particularly vicious

cousin deliberately ran his car off the

took a nosedive. One disaster after another kept Elijah scrambling. When he finally sorted through

Gloria was engaged.

elegant invitation crumpled in his fist. Decorative jewels snapped off, slicing into his palm. Blood seeped through, staining the cream-colored

as he crushed the invitation

How was this happening?

even declaring she would never marry anyone else. How

discovering a treasured possession gone, his rage mixed with something deeper-something that felt dangerously like heartbreak. After a long moment

two levels. The upper floor was reserved for family,

couldn't even get

flinched

hosts were