After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage novel Chapter 3

Elaine decided to purge the house of her belongings, boxing up anything that was truly hers.

As she sorted through her possessions, she realized just how much of her life had revolved around Alistair.

The silver button from his Yale blazer she'd secretly saved. The leather-bound journal he'd bought for her birthday. A whole album of photographs she'd taken of him when he wasn't looking.

She opened the album, her fingers tracing the images.

The first photo showed him as a college sophomore, captured mid-jump shot during the basketball game. She's behalf on school photography team, this particular shot—the one that perfectly captured his intensity and grace,so she'd kept for herself.

The remaining pages contained stolen moments,Alistair asleep, Alistair accepting his MBA with that confident half-smile. And even... Alistair with Sophia, laughing by the fountain outside the Morgan Library.

How pathetically devoted must she have been to treasure even photos of him loving someone else?

Elaine closed the album with a decisive snap and buried it at the bottom of box before continuing her inventory.

During their three years of marriage, Alistair had given her countless gifts—all expensive jewelry in the same predictable style.

Expensive,exquisite and emotionless,all purchased by his assistant. She'd kept them pristine in their blue boxes.

Now she wouldn't need them anymore.

When she finished sorting, all that remained of her presence in the house were the furnishings.

This villa had been their marital home. From the day they'd moved in, she'd been waiting, hoping for Alistair to finally let go of Sophia and let her standing right in front of him.

But on their wedding night, with just a few cold sentences, he'd made it clear that would never happen.

Still, she'd persisted, deliberately weaving herself into the fabric of his life, hoping he'd grow accustomed to her presence, perhaps even dependent on it.

What a naive delusion that had been！

Alistair noticed the change as soon as he returned that evening.

"Did you get rid of things? Why does everything look so empty?" he asked, brow furrowed.

"Yes," Elaine replied with nonchalance. "Everything was outdated, and since you've brought someone new into the house, the old furnishings are inappropriate."

Hearing this, Alistair nodded in agreement.

"You're right—it has been a while. Vivian's pregnant, we'll need a nursery. I will invite the interior designers come redo the entire place."

She froze momentarily, then lowered her head without further comment.

She locked eyes with Vivian, all fake politeness vanishing in an instant. "It's me who is his legal wife!" she snapped. "The shameless person?It's obviously you！"

Vivian's face turned blotchy with rage as she pointed a shaking finger at Elaine, too furious to form words.

Then, before Elaine could process what was happening, the woman hauled off and slapped herself across the face.

Tears sprang from Vivian's eyes as she cradled her reddening cheek.

Elaine was still trying to make sense of this bizarre theater when she heard footsteps racing toward them.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Alistair roared, appearing out of nowhere.

The words had barely left his mouth when a violent force slammed into her. Alistair lunged forward and shoved her hard.She stumbled backward.

Right behind her was the staircase!

"No!"she yelled out.

Her hand shot out desperately, grasping at nothing,she collapsed and hit the floor straightly.

A searing pain shot through her body. Within seconds, her vision blurred, unconscious.