After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage novel Chapter 88

The mansion blazed with lights all night.

Gloria sat rigid on the sofa, nails cutting into her palms until they bled. She didn't even feel it, just stared at the clock as it ticked from midnight to seven AM.

When the clock struck seven, footsteps thundered down the hall. Elijah appeared, his eyes black with rage, holding a leather belt. Every step toward her sent ice through her veins.

"You almost killed them both, Gloria. Jenna and the baby."

Baby?

Jenna was pregnant?

The shock hit her, then understanding followed. Of course—in her past life, Jenna had gotten pregnant at exactly this time. Since Jenna had been with Elijah that night instead of her, naturally she was the one carrying his child.

Facing Elijah's fury, tears spilled down her cheeks. "I didn't tamper with the dress. I'd never hurt her. Think about it—the kidnapping, the letters at the party, now this? If I were behind it all, how could I possibly succeed every single time?"

She thought her logic might reach him—he was usually so careful, so analytical.

But rage had consumed him. "So you're saying Jenna set you up? I love her. I'm marrying her. Why would she bother?"

"I don't know—"

Pain exploded across her back as the belt struck. "You never learn, do you?"

Gloria's face went white. Of course he wouldn't believe her—Jenna was his everything.

She tried to run, but security grabbed her, forcing her down.

"Are you going to admit what you did?"

The belt cracked down again. Gloria shook with pain but refused to make a sound.

Her silence earned another strike. "Last chance. Confess!"

But she kept her lips sealed. She was innocent—why should she confess?

Elijah's control snapped. The belt came down again and again until her back was a mess of welts and blood. Still, she wouldn't break.

He grabbed her suitcase. "I'm driving you to the airport."

Gloria followed silently to his car, each movement careful to avoid aggravating her barely-healed wounds. They drove to the terminal in silence until he finally asked, "Where's your flight to?"

Before she could answer, he cut in coldly: "Stay somewhere nearby. Just until the wedding's over. Then I'll bring you home."

This time, Gloria just nodded. "I understand."

She took her bag and walked into the airport under his watch, hiding her pain with each step. Only when his car disappeared did she block his number on her phone and head for her gate, biting back tears as her suitcase pulled at her injuries.

Bring her home?

No thanks, Elijah.

She was never coming back.

Since she was so sick of that same old so-called love.