All Chapters of After My Last Breath: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

[Elara]The drive to the beach isn’t a long one, but it still takes us half an hour to get there.Mostly because, on the way, Nora decides we need a change of clothes. A gown is apparently not appropriate for a stroll or a drink on the sandy beach.When we reach the place Nora has been talking endlessly about during the whole drive, I realize this so-called ‘party’ isn’t as party-like as I thought. It looks more or less like a bonfire.The first person to greet us happens to be one of the older cousins—the one who, if I remember correctly, is the same age as Lucas, Levi, and Leo.“You’re late,” he says with a grin, raising the beer can in his hand. “You know the rule—anyone who shows up late owes ten crates of beer.” He glances over at Nora, who looks utterly unfazed by the statement. “But since it’s your sister’s homecoming, I’ll let it slide. This one time.”“Very generous of you, Ethan,” Nora rolls her eyes playfully. “Elara, this is Ethan, our cousin. Don’t mind him, he’s always t

Through the windshield, Elara watched the ugly scene unfold, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach.The woman’s rage was palpable, a raw, desperate force that seemed to electrify the air around them. But it wasn’t the domestic dispute that made her skin crawl. It was the fact that the woman wasn’t alone. There was a little girl with her—a little girl who seemed to be about Cora’s age.Elara’s heart ached for the child. No child should have to witness something like this. No child should have to be caught in the crossfire of their parents’ demons.“I’m not lying, Jenny,” the cab driver pleaded, trying to grab her flailing hands. “I swear. There’s no one else.”“Then explain this!” Jenny screamed, shoving her phone in his face. “Explain these messages!” She searched over his shoulder. “You planned to meet her here, didn’t you? Where is she? Where is she?”“I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the cab driver said, his voice cracking with desperation. “The only passen

[Elara]When I take my seat at the dining table, I feel awkward as hell.A part of me wants to assume that none of my parents or siblings know about Griffin’s stay in my room. If they did, I wouldn’t know how to explain it. How would I even begin? And what could I possibly say to make it any less awkward and embarrassing?But that’s clearly not the only thing I’m worried about.I also don’t like the idea of any of my family members—who have shown me nothing but love and kindness—thinking badly of me.I swallow, hating the idea very, very much.“I heard the Magnuses will be hosting this year’s Global Scientific Summit, too. Is that right?” Nicholas asks, looking at Griffin with intelligent eyes.Griffin, who seems to have taken a seat right across from him, nods. “Yes. You heard right.”Nicholas nods. “That’s great. Last year’s summit was a huge success in itself. I’m sure this year will be no different. Your grandfather must be really proud of you.”Griffin smiles softly. “I hope so.

[Damon]After mother leaves, I sink into the couch and sigh.It’s obvious my position as the CEO of the company isn’t safe anymore.But I don’t blame anyone.In the past few months, the performance of the company has only declined.Not that I have been bothered by it.I don’t even know why, but I can’t bring myself to care about the business anymore. The same business that I spent day and night working for, the same business I almost died proving my worth for so I could inherit it from my other siblings, the same business that used to be my pride, the root of my arrogance, the guise that I used every time Elara and Cora expected something from me.It’s funny how I never realized the importance of Elara in my life until it was too late—funny how I never allowed Cora to call me Dad, but that’s all I’m dying to hear now.Just one last time.One last time, I wish my daughter would call for me.One last time, I wish my wife would wait for me to come home.One last time, I wish we all could

[Elara]“Are you sure you can handle it alone?” Lucas asks, looking way too hesitant for someone whose one glare is enough to make people in front of him tremble. Literally. “If not for this urgent matter that just came up, I would never leave you and Cora alone.”I smile, feeling my chest warm up. “Of course I can handle it. It’s just an exhibition today. Nothing serious is going to happen. Besides, my team is coming too. Their flight must have landed by now.”“I’m not worried about that.” He looks away, his gaze distant before he turns to face me once again. “I’ll be straight with you. In the list of all the big businesses that were invited to the Summit, I saw the Blackwoods too. You know what I mean, right?”My smile falters a little.Of course I know what he means. But isn’t that something Griffin already warned me about?I look at Cora and run my fingers over her braided hair. “So what? Them being here has nothing to do with me. Even if they show up, it makes no difference to me