After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage novel Chapter 82

Gloria Ramirez fell hard for her dad's friend, Elijah Phillips—a man old enough to be her father. He'd commanded every room he walked into, his designer suits and athletic build drawing all eyes to him. She still remembered how he'd flashed that perfect smile, messed up her hair playfully, and gifted her that stunning evening gown.

At twenty, her world imploded. Someone slipped aphrodisiacs into his drink at a gala, and she'd made a choice that would haunt her—wearing that same gown, she offered herself as his salvation, her innocence lost in one reckless night.

The next morning, Jenna Wright—his childhood sweetheart—burst into the room to find them half-naked in bed, clothes scattered across the floor, the evidence of their night together unmistakable. Her face drained of color as she stumbled backward. She fled the mansion in tears, her Mercedes swerving wildly on the driveway. Before anyone could stop her, a truck with failed brakes plowed into her car at full speed. The impact was devastating—Jenna died instantly, her body still warm when the paramedics arrived.

After that, Elijah became someone else entirely. He handled Jenna's funeral like a business meeting, married Gloria like signing a contract, and treated their marriage bed like a chore. When she got pregnant, he'd coldly insist they weren't ready, dragging her to clinic after clinic.

During her eighteenth abortion, Gloria lay on the operating table, blood soaking through the sheets as the doctors rushed around her. Her vision blurred as she heard the surgeon urgently calling Elijah. She was hemorrhaging badly, worse than any of the previous times.

His response through the speakerphone froze everyone in the room: "Dead yet? Don't bother me until she is."

In that moment, through the haze of blood loss and fading consciousness, Gloria finally understood the brutal truth—Elijah Phillips didn't just hate her, he wanted her dead. He despised her for offering herself as his "cure" that night when he was drugged, loathed her for inadvertently causing Jenna's death.

As Gloria felt her life draining away on that cold operating table, regret consumed every fiber of her being.

Then, impossibly, her eyes snapped open. She was back at the gala, on the night that had sealed all their fates.

There he was—the untouchable Elijah Phillips, sprawled across the bed, shirt half-undone, eyes glazed from the aphrodisiacs coursing through his system.

Her stomach twisted into knots.

Last time, seeing him like this had made her throw caution to the wind, forgetting he was her father's friend, ignoring their age gap, recklessly offering herself as his cure. She'd learned too late that Elijah and Jenna had been in love, their story cut short by her interference.

Maybe the universe had given her a do-over. This time, she had one mission—get Elijah and Jenna together.

She grabbed her phone and called Jenna, who showed up in minutes, looking confused and wary.

"Look, I know you two love each other," Gloria said, gripping Jenna's wrist. "You've just never found the right moment to admit it. He needs you right now—this is your chance."

"Gloria, what the hell are you playing at?" Jenna demanded. "Everyone knows you're obsessed with Elijah. He's drugged up on aphrodisiacs right now—you could have him wrapped around your finger. Instead, you're calling me to come 'save' him?"

"Darling, have you reconsidered moving to England? The London office is doing brilliantly, and there's a place for you here."

Years ago, when her father had expanded Phillips Industries into the UK market, he'd trusted Elijah to look after her. She'd stayed in the States even after the London operation stabilized, rejecting her father's numerous offers—all because of her foolish heart.

Now, with Elijah and Jenna where they belonged, it was time to start fresh across the Atlantic.

Taking a shaky breath, she said, "Yes, Dad. I want to come to London."

His voice brightened instantly. "Finally seeing sense! I've been telling you forever that Elijah's not the one. It's okay to want romance, but you need the right guy. Actually, I might have someone in mind—he's your age, successful. Just come out here, settle into Mayfair, see what else is out there."

Fresh tears welled up in her already puffy eyes. He'd given her the same speech in her past life, but she'd been too stubborn to listen, wasting years she couldn't get back.

Digging her nails into her palm, she forced cheerfulness into her voice. "Whatever you think is best, Dad. I'll start the visa paperwork today."