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?"

didn't even flinch as his security team immediately slammed

we love each other and want this child together. That's how

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

almost killed

drain of

her out and put her at risk. If you have any

He tossed his torn jacket aside and headed back to the

no trace of the fight remained, he slipped quietly into

stomach, softened something in him instantly. He carefully gathered her into

Gloria woke the next morning, she

he kissed

that had kept her awake loosened its grip. She nestled closer with a soft sigh of

still not showing, they fast-tracked their wedding plans. Despite the

legal paperwork and took their wedding photos together. Gloria couldn't help smiling at the thought that their baby was already in

surprising speed. Though deliberately

flowers. Her dress, secretly commissioned by Lucas months before, fit perfectly despite her

keep things manageable for the pregnant bride, they invited

Gloria and Lucas remained in their own

had all

existed beyond

out of the press. Back home, Elijah didn't hear about it until

flared

he heard

clean break, no contact-that's the healthiest ending

make

continued buying gifts she would never receive,