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

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 "Everything was outdated, and since you've brought someone new into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. | will

invite the interior designers credo the entire place."

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

Alistair moved with efficiency. In just 24 hours, the house was transformed beyond recognition.

Elaine watched as every trace of her existence was systematically erased, and strangely, she felt a creeping

sense of liberation.

Soon, not only would there be no evidence she had ever lived here-she herself would be gone.

"So, how's it feel watching yourself get erased?" Vivian taunted, her lip curling into a smirk. "I'm the one who

belongs here now. Give it a few weeks and you'll be nothing but that woman Alistair used to be married to."

Hearing the smug voice behind her, Elaine turned to find Vivian leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed

over her baby bump, wearing the self-satisfied smirk.

Weirdly, instead of the anger that should have surged through her, Elaine wanted laugh in the woman's perfectly

made-up face.

Poor clueless Vivian had no idea she resembled Sophia in Alistair's twisted fantasy. That the only reason he'd let

her keep the baby was to have a mini-Sophia running around the house. That in Alistair's screwed-up mind, no

living woman could compete with the ghost he'd put on a pedestal.

Elaine almost felt sorry for her.

Whatever.

She turned to leave, but Vivian grabbed her arm.

"You know what's pathetic on you?" Vivian sneered, her voice dripping venom. "How long have you been Mrs.

Chase? Still not having even a single child huh? Talk about failing at the one thing you're supposed to do." She

patted her own belly. "Lucky for Alistair, I'm here to pick up your slack. If you had an ounce of self- respect, you'd

sign those divorce papers and disappear before he has to watch you embarrass yourself anymore."

Elaine froze as the brutal words hit her. After a moment's shock, she almost had to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

She locked eyes with Vivian, all fake politeness vanishing in an instant. "It'swho 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.

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