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

Chapter 104

After serving five years in San Quentin State prison, the first thing Aurelia Thorne did was arrange for a sky burial in Tibet.

"Miss Thorne, this is the sky burial service you requested. After your death, your body will be transported to Celestial Mountain for the ceremony. You'll need to pay a deposit now, with the remaining balance due within two weeks."

Aurelia nodded, pulling out a plastic bag from her faded jeans. She meticulously counted the bills and coins she had saved during her time in prison, finally scraping together enough for the deposit.

She had been diagnosed with cancer while incarcerated. Now in the terminal stage, doctors estimated she had only a month left to live.

Years ago, she and Nolan Creed had made a promise to marry in Tibet, letting the sacred peaks of Celestial Mountain bear witness to their undying love.

Now that their wedding vows could never be fulfilled, at least she could rest eternally in that sacred land—a small consolation.

The sky burial wasn't cheap. After leaving the funeral service office, she applied for a waitressing position at Nightshade Lounge to pay the remaining balance.

With her criminal record, finding legitimate employment was impossible. Nightshade was notorious as the most extravagant nightclub in North Kingston, but the waitstaff earned decent wages.

After briefing her on the basics, the manager handed her a uniform and told her to start that very evening.

Following a brief training session, she entered one of the VIP rooms carrying bottles of liquor. The room was dimly lit, filled with wealthy heirs and socialites playing games. She kept her head down, crouching beside the coffee table to place the bottles down. Just as she was about to leave, that painfully familiar cold voice reached her from across the room.

Her entire body going rigid!

Sure enough, Nolan sat on the elevated sofa, surrounded by admirers, his sharp features appearing particularly noble and aloof in the shifting light.

Five years had passed, but his appearance hadn't changed at all, though he now carried an unapproachable coldness.

She couldn't help stealing another glance, only then noticing he had his arm around a woman-her former best friend, Evangeline Winters.

They appeared to be discussing wedding plans.

"We'll have the ceremony just as you like, in the seaside chapel with pink roses spread along the shore."

"If you don't like the wedding dress the designer created last time, I'll have someone make a new one. Everything will be tailored to your preferences."

Hearing that familiar voice, Aurelia's thoughts drifted involuntarily. Five years ago, she had been so close to becoming Nolan's bride.

They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts.

parents died in an accident, it was Nolan who

her when she was period, and even

toward marriage-until the eve of their wedding, when she ran over Nolan's mother with

never forget that night, Nolan's eyes bloodshot

wall like a madman, demanding to know why she'd done it,

She looked up and smiled "No hidden reason. She caught me in bed with another man and threatened to

web of anger, hatred, and disappointment so thick it

end, Nolan personally handed her over to the

often wondered if she had told the truth, would things have turned out

reason reminded her

depression. On the eve of their wedding, during an episode, she had mistaken a security guard for Nolan's father and

wedding details with Nolan when she accidentally

mother regained clarity, she was overwhelmed with regret, begging Aurelia

ultimately agreed

car to leave, Nolan's mother, unable

had been the golden child since birth. If his mother's scandal got

him and the

circle would look at him differently, perhaps even

for Nolan's sake, she swallowed the bitter truth alone, taking all the blame.Now, Aurelia, with a terminal illness, there was even less reason to

would let him continue hating. That way, when she departed,

her name from behind. "Aurelia Thorne? You're out

the piercing gaze from the elevated seat.

crashed into the coffee table and fell hard to

hands were sliced open in multiple places, blood flowing freely.

Fresh out of prison and already working-how ambitious!" She kept her head down in silence, pressing her hands against

continued. "What are you waiting for? You've spilled alcohol everywhere.

remember, clean it on your

only pull out

wiping the spilled alcohol over

up, she could feel Nolan's hateful gaze fixed on

suspended above her head, waiting to deliver the

hated her so much-seeing her humiliated probably gave him

tried to rise and leave,

priceless. How do you plan to pay