After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage novel Chapter 21

His voice cracked with nervousness, but his smile crashed when he saw Elaine's face remain completely blank.

She slowly shook her head."You still just hear whatever the hell you want to hear, don't you?"

Her voice was quiet but razor-sharp. She stared at him standing there looking lost and repeated herself more clearly.

"Did you honestly think this was just about the baby? I already told you—you broke your promise first. We can't just rewind and pretend nothing happened. Terminating some pregnancy doesn't erase what you did to me."

"No, wait—that's not fair—you said if I—" he stammered, grasping for words that wouldn't come.

He'd screwed up first. He'd hurt her. He'd done this to them.

But how could he just let her walk away?

He tried to keep it together, but his eyes betrayed him, turning red at the corners. His breathing got heavier as he looked up at her.

"I know I messed up. Can't we just... move forward? We'll build something better. Create new memories. I swear to God, Elaine, I'll get it right this time."

He thought if he just sounded desperate enough, she'd cave. He was sure she must still trust him.

But her face might as well have been carved from stone.

"Just drop it, Alistair. I don't need anything from you except distance. Everything you've done 'for my sake' has only made things worse."

Storm clouds gathered overhead as she held her hand out into the rain. The chill crept into her bones, but she barely noticed.Through blurry eyes, she watched Alistair hurry through the parking lot with his umbrella, never once looking back at her.

A thought formed in her mind,what if she jumped? Right now?Would she die right in front of him?

Would he feel even a fraction of the regret for her same for Elaine?

She leaned forward, her upper body crossing the windowsill. The rain intensified, shocking her back to reality.Why give him the satisfaction of an easy ending? If she went to the hell, she'd make damn sure to drag them both with her.

A cold, calculating look crossed her face. She ran her hand over her empty womb and locked away any remaining emotions behind dead eyes.