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

Chapter 101

Elijah never saw the punch coming. Lucas's fist connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling across the rooftop.

For once, Lucas's carefully cultivated control shattered completely. Each blow landed with brutal precision. If his security team hadn't finally intervened, Elijah might not have made it off that roof alive.

Lucas ignored his bloodied knuckles, glaring down at the man gasping at his feet.

"What kind of hatred makes you keep trying to destroy her life?" he demanded.

"Do you have any idea how many people watched her birthday tonight? How many saw your little drone show? What do you think the headlines will say about her tomorrow?"

"Are you only happy when she's humiliated in public?"

"No, I wasn't trying to—" Elijah choked out, blood trickling from his mouth as he struggled to sit up.

Lucas shut him up with a swift kick that sent him back to the ground.

"Wasn't trying what? Listen carefully-if Gloria didn't still have some misplaced sympathy for you, you would've disappeared the day you landed in London."

Elijah lay there, unable to rise again.

Lucas stood over him, his voice dropping to something dangerous. "Something else you should know today wasn't just her birthday. It's also the day Gloria found out she's pregnant."

The words hit Elijah like electricity. His mind went blank as he stared up in shock. "What did you just say?"

Finding some hidden reserve of strength, Elijah staggered to his feet, lunging toward Lucas.

"You son of a bitch! She's way too young! How could you do this to her?"

security team immediately slammed Elijah

I? Because we love each other and want this child together. That's

about throwing a woman with cold sensitivity into a freezer? Or beating her until she nearly

father trusted you to protect her, and you almost killed her. So tell me again about crossing

watched Elijah's face drain of color

tonight stressed her out and put her at risk. If you have

Elijah's response. He tossed his torn jacket aside and

no trace of the fight remained, he slipped quietly

one hand protectively resting on her stomach, softened something in him instantly. He carefully gathered her into his arms and

woke the next morning, she found herself tucked

he kissed her forehead. "It's

worry that had kept her awake loosened its grip. She nestled

Gloria's pregnancy still not showing, they fast-tracked their wedding plans. Despite the

couldn't help smiling at the thought that their baby was already in

speed. Though deliberately intimate, the ceremony spared no

commissioned by Lucas months before, fit perfectly despite her changing figure. Even the guest favors reflected their personal touch, hand-selected and assembled by

they invited only those who

Gloria and Lucas remained in their own world, focused entirely on each

husband and wife, they kissed like they had all the

existed beyond the two of

didn't hear about it until photos

something drastic flared briefly, but reality quickly extinguished

his eyes, he heard Gloria's voice from

clean break, no contact-that's the

couldn't make himself let

never receive, clinging to the fantasy