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

school on his bicycle, fight for her when she was period, and even bought her sanitary products, blushing with embarrassment, the first time she got

progressing step by step toward marriage-until the eve of

never forget that night, Nolan's eyes bloodshot

to know why she'd done it, if she had

"No hidden reason. She caught me in bed with another man and threatened to tell you. In

that moment.A web of anger,

the end, Nolan personally handed her

in prison, she had often wondered if she had

reminded her

mother had suffered from severe depression. On the eve of their wedding, during an episode,

had wanted to discuss wedding details with Nolan when she

regained clarity, she was overwhelmed with regret, begging Aurelia not to

ultimately agreed to

mother, unable to live with herself, deliberately crashed

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

have devastated both him and the Creed

social circle would look at him differently, perhaps

truth alone, taking all the blame.Now, Aurelia, with a terminal illness, there was

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

she was about to leave when someone called her name

the elevated seat. As she

off guard, she crashed into the coffee table

shattered, and her hands were sliced open in multiple places, blood flowing freely. The room erupted

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

waiting for? You've spilled alcohol everywhere. Clean it

clean it on

She could only pull out

wiping the

look up, she could feel Nolan's hateful gaze

head,

so much-seeing her humiliated probably

tried to rise and leave,

already? Those bottles you broke are priceless. How do you plan