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.

increasingly close, while Elijah— summoned home by a barrage of urgent calls-found himself

every opportunity. Elijah's mother, who'd never dealt with public scandal, collapsed after a particularly

ran his

Phillips stock took a nosedive. One disaster after another kept Elijah scrambling. When

Gloria was engaged.

elegant invitation crumpled in his fist. Decorative jewels snapped off, slicing into his

register the pain as he crushed

How was this happening?

completely, even declaring she would never marry anyone else. How

that felt dangerously like heartbreak. After a long moment with his eyes closed,

The upper floor was reserved for

even get into the

blocking his path visibly flinched at Elijah's glare but

hosts were very clear that