After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage novel Chapter 18

Alistair tailed Elaine and Atticus all the way to the hotel, lurking in the car until Atticus finally drove off.

The second the coast was clear, he bolted inside, catching Elaine by the elevators. While she watched the numbers creep down, he sweet-talked the receptionist into giving him a room key, then practically sprinted over just as the doors opened, sliding in right behind her.

Elaine kept her eyes glued to the floor. She was about to bail and wait for the next elevator when—too late—the doors shut in her face.

"Seriously?" she muttered under her breath as he jabbed the same floor button.

"What's your endgame here, Alistair?" she finally asked.

His face crumpled. He opened his mouth several times but nothing came out. Finally, as they stepped into the hallway, he just blurted it out "I don't want a divorce,exactly?"

She froze mid-step but didn't turn around. After a beat, she kept walking. "I'm done. Three years is too long, and I'm just... done."

The door to her room beeped as she swiped her card. She was closing it when a hand shot out to block it.

"Son of a—!"

The door slammed against Alistair's hand with a nasty thud. He sucked air through his teeth.Startled, Elaine yanked it back open.

"What the hell?" she snapped, frowning at him.

But when she looked up, he was actually grinning at her. His hand was turning red, but he looked absolutely thrilled.

"You still care," he said, looking like he'd just discovered buried treasure. "You wouldn't have opened the door if you didn't."

Something hardened inside her. She looked up at him, a challenge sparking in her eyes.

"You want to know what it'll take? Get rid of Vivian's baby."

Seeing him flinch, she let out a bitter laugh. "That's what I thought. Goodbye, Alistair."

As she pushed the door closed, he caught it again. "Why are you so care about this kid?"

He'd already promised that once Vivian delivered, he'd send her packing. Wouldn't that mean the baby would essentially be Elaine's anyway?

"Have you completely blocked out what you promised me when we got married?" she asked quietly.