All Chapters of After My Last Breath: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

18 Months Later:[Elara]“This demonstrates our approach to developing a lab-grown artificial heart that can integrate effectively with a patient’s body, offering an alternative for those who are unable to find a suitable donor. Thank you."I end my speech and walk back to my seat, feeling slightly less nervous, now that the worst has passed. The applause followed right after, exploding the entire auditorium with awe and appreciation.I hold back the urge to bite my lip, well aware it would look terrible in front of the grand audience in front of us.“Now, I would like to invite Professor Grant onto the stage and say a few words,” The announcer says as one of the lab technicians helps him get out of his chair and walk to the podium.A few months ago, on the way to his apartment, Professor Grant got hit by a car. It was a terrible accident, one that not only took his ability to walk without support but also delayed the conclusion of our research by a few more weeks.But that's not what

[Griffin]After dropping Elara off at Cora’s school, I get into my car and drive straight to the private airport.The moment I step out, Liam follows me onto the plane.“Sir, the conference with the international clients has been pushed to midnight, just like you wanted. The land acquisition for the new research center has been greenlit, and the final papers will be signed by the end of the day. The media team is already prepared to release the announcement. Also, your father called.” He takes a rightful pause before searching for my face as I take my seat. “He wants you home in three days. He said that if you didn’t show up for your grandfather’s birthday party, he might as well disown you.”I almost laugh at the audacity to even think he’s capable of something so drastic.I wave him off. “Tell my father I’ll see him in Hell before I ever step foot in that house again.”“He also said he’ll cut your inheritance.”“He’s welcome to try.”Liam knows better than to push further. He nods a

I don’t know what he means by that, so I do my best to ignore that little flutter in my stomach.“So, where did you say we are going?” I ask instead, doing my best to move past the conversation that seems to be heading in a direction I’m not sure I want it to go yet.Griffin doesn’t push. He never does.He plays along. “I never said anything.”I watch him shrug before leaning back and crossing those broad arms over his perfectly sculpted chest—one that I have touched way too many times. A hell of a lot more than I ever did with Damon. If I were to be honest, in the five years of our marriage, Damon and I have only slept together five times, and each time, the name on his lips was Hannah’s. Not mine.I take a deep breath, realizing once again how I feel nothing for him anymore. It’s as if, the night Cora and I walked away, all my ties with him were cut for good, and whatever lingering feelings

[Elara]The drive to the mansion isn’t a long one.Barely ten minutes have passed when the cars start circling the roundabout and pulling up in the grand driveway.“Mommy, this place is so huuuuuge,” Cora gasps, her hands pressed against the window, her face glued to the glass. Then, as if struck by a thought that’s way too exciting than anything else, she turns to me with her eyes as wide as saucers. “Mommy, what if Nora is some princess? Only princesses live in a place like this, don’t they?”I’m pretty sure Nora isn’t some kind of royalty.That’s… what I almost say. But the words… they never leave my mouth.Because the truth is, I’m not so sure myself either.What do I really know about Nora anyway? That we share the same rare blood group? And although she looks every bit like a rich, pampered heiress, she doesn’t have that kind of obnoxious attitude?I take a deep breath, suddenly way too nervous for my own good.“Why don’t you ask her yourself?” I tell her, and just as those word

Stolen.The word hangs in the air, heavy and suffocating.I try to speak, to form a coherent sentence, but all that comes out is a choked gasp."How...?" I manage to croak out. I look around the place — the island, the mansion that looks like a freaking castle, the obvious wealth all around us, the power these people in this very room are oozing. "How could someone just steal something from someone like you, let alone a living, breathing human?"Amber's eyes flash with hurt, and so do Nicholas's.Tears once again start to pour down Amber's face. "That's because we weren't like this at that time. Your father and I... we got married against your grandparents' will. They hated me for my poor background. To them, I was nothing — just a girl who had no place standing beside their son, no right to carry their name. They made it very clear that I didn’t deserve to be a part of the prestigious Gordon family. But your father… he never once made me feel small. Not even for a second. He stood by