After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

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 sgown, 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 becsomeone 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 botheruntil 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, | 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 c'save' him?"

Gloria let out a bitter laugh. Yeah, her pursuit of Elijah had been the talk of the town. She'd convinced herself

that enough determination could overcany obstacle. Now she knew better-without love, all the effort in the

world just led to misery.

"I'm done," she said softly. "Completely done."

A muffled groan cfrom behind the door.

"Time's running out," Gloria urged. "If you don't go in now, you'll miss your shot."

Jenna glanced at the bedroom, biting her lip. Finally, she squared her shoulders. "Then why are you still hanging

around? Want to listen to us having sex all night?"

Gloria flinched, then stepped aside. As Jenna reached for the door, Gloria pulled it shut behind her.

The sounds of passion that followed shattered her heart piece by piece. She slid down the wall, tears streaming

silently. Yet underneath the pain, there was relief. She'd changed the story this time.

Gloria stumbled to her feet, wiping her face as she fled to her room. That night, while their lovemaking echoed

through the walls, sleep never came.

At dawn, her father called from London.

"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 tto start fresh across the Atlantic.

Taking a shaky breath, she said, "Yes, Dad. | want to cto 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, | might have someone in mind he's your age,

successful. Just cout here, settle into Mayfair, see what else is out there."

Fresh tears welled up in her already puffy eyes. He'd given her the sspeech 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."