After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage novel Chapter 86

The slap knocked Gloria onto the marble floor. Her lip split, cheek burning red.

The room spun, voices blurring into white noise. Her trembling fingers touched her face, and the pain sent tears streaming down her cheeks. In all these years, Elijah had never hit her. Before she could process what happened, he'd already stormed out.

Gloria scrambled up and ran after him. She'd seen this before—she knew exactly how Jenna's accident could play out.

Thunder cracked overhead as rain pounded the streets. Through the downpour, she spotted them: Elijah crushing Jenna against his chest.

"It was supposed to be my night," Jenna sobbed, pushing at his chest. "And she pulls this psycho move? I can't show my face in there again. If she's still this obsessed with you, I'm done competing. Go back to your little stalker—"

Elijah gripped her tighter. "That's never happening. I could never want her. You know I've been yours since day one. Pushing me away like this? You might as well put a bullet in my heart."

He leaned in for the kiss, but headlights suddenly cut through the rain.

Gloria's scream died in her throat as everything went red.

The ER exploded into chaos. Medical staff swarmed Elijah with equipment, but he fought them off.

"Save her first," he rasped, voice weak but determined.

"Mr. Phillips, you've got internal bleeding—"

"Save her. That's an order."

They rushed Jenna into surgery, but minutes later a doctor burst out: "Patient's crashing! Need type A blood, stat!"

That frozen lake accident in her childhood had wrecked her body's temperature control. That's why the mansion stayed heated year-round. But now Elijah was using her weakness as punishment—for supposedly still wanting him, for indirectly putting his precious Jenna in intensive care.

Gloria hugged herself, desperately seeking warmth, but only managed weak whimpers.

Outside, the housekeeper begged through the door: "Miss Ramirez, just apologize to him. Your body can't take this kind of cold..."

Gloria's eyes stung with fresh tears. In her past life, she'd deserved punishment. But this time? She was innocent. Besides, Elijah was so obsessed with Jenna, he wouldn't even let her explain.

The brutal cold attacked from every angle. Frost crystallized on her lashes. Her heartbeat slowed, thoughts growing fuzzy.

Finally, her eyes drifted shut as everything faded to black.