After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage
Chapter 54

My mother's seemingly innocent "Lifegram" post unexpectedly went viral.

The hashtags exploded:

#Sterling Family CEO Getting Married#

#Gavin Sterling Wedding Photos#

My mother was ecstatic, eagerly sharing screenshots of admiring comments. "Let that Luke see this," she declared triumphantly, "he never deserved you!"

I'd moved past caring.

You can't mourn the loss of love that never existed. Still, his message caught me off guard.

Though blocked on my main account, he'd managed to replace my alternate profile. He sent the photo of Gavin and me, then immediately called.

Wind howled through the connection like a storm. "So you ran home to this guy?" he snarled.

"What, did his money draw you in? God, you're pathetic, Yvonne," he sneered. "I know this is all to spite me. Come back, and I'll give you a wedding too."

I gazed at the silvery moon, cold and distant. "Yes, it's because he's rich," I

replied, voice heavy with irony, "and worth a hundred of you."

Luke's breathing grew ragged, barely containing his fury. His voice turned venomous, familiar in its cruelty. "Bet he doesn't know, does he?.

Seven years I've had you, three net

pregnancies. Think he'd still want you if he knew? Face it, Yvonne - you're mine."

My chest constricted as tears threatened to fall.

For what seemed like eternity, words failed me.

Luke must have sensed my distress because his tone softened,

manipulative as ever. "Yvonne ene

whovel.ne

surely these years meant something real?"

He was preparing another guilt trip.

Then Mandy's voice cut through the background: "Luke, the bath faucet's broken, can you check it?"

s to en.Nexttoons

A hollow laugh escaped me as I ended the call, cutting off his pathetic performance.

I permanently deleted my alternate account, excising that chapter of my life.

My face was wet with tears, not rain.

I'd only gotten involved with Luke because of a promise - one that should never have been made.

Given the chance for a do-over, I'd avoid him entirely. Every single time.