All Chapters of After My Last Breath: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

[Elara]“Mommy! Where are you taking me, Mommy?”Cora tries to chase after us, but I look over my shoulder and tell her to stay put.She does as she’s told, helplessly staring as my father starts dragging me out of the banquet.I don’t try to fight him. The last thing I want is to make a scene—especially this soon.Once we’re away from the main hall, he hurls me forward.“I don’t know what you think you’re trying to pull,” he snaps, straightening his coat like I’m the embarrassment here, “but let me make this painfully clear—do not mess with Hannah. She’s about to become Damon’s woman, and you will step aside quietly, without a single ripple. I already made the mistake of investing in you once, marrying you into the Blackwoods and getting nothing in return. But Hannah? The moment she came back, the Blackwoods remembered our name. Contracts reopened. Favors returned. So don’t be selfish now, Elara. You’ve already cost me enough. I won’t let you ruin the one thing that’s finally paying

[Elara]Once the room quiets down, my clap sounds like a gunshot.I step forward, assured that my daughter is safely tucked away in the lounge, far from this chaos.“Just look at you,” I say, my every word too sweet—almost cloying. “One complete family. Who the hell wouldn’t envy it, right?”My mother-in-law is the first to wear a storm across her face.“What’s the meaning of this, Elara?” she shouts, then glares back at Damon. “I told you not to bring her. Why don’t you listen to me anymore?”Damon looks flustered—for someone who’s been cold toward me and my daughter for almost all these years. At first, he’s confused, then embarrassed, and finally outright annoyed.His gaze snaps to me, hard and sharp. “Stop it, Elara. Don’t cause a scene.”Before I can say anything, Hannah nearly collapses into Damon’s arms, sniffling.“It’s all my fault,” she cries. “I’m the one she’s upset with. You shouldn’t have thrown this surprise party for me, Damon. Elara clearly doesn’t approve of it.” She

“Elara,” Mom whimpers. “What happened to you? Why are you being like this?”I roll my eyes. Doesn’t she know this act of hers—playing the caring mother—grew old a long time ago? It sickens me now, the way she’s always tried to manipulate me with those tears and that fake sadness, the kind that comes and goes at her will.“Damon!” my dad shouts, taking the reins. “What are you waiting for? Just take this ungrateful thing away. We don’t want her ruining this occasion any more than she already has.”Damon immediately steps forward. “Let it go, Elara. Come on, let’s go.”I ignore him like he has ignored me for the whole five years.“Not before I’ve said my piece.”“What more is there left to say? Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?” He’s clearly losing his patience and is probably one step away from dragging me forcefully out of here.Good thing. I’m almost done.I finish the drink and stop the server passing by.“Can you please hand this over to the birthday girl?” I place the lit

[Damon]I rush out of the property and hastily look around.“Come on. Come on. Come on.” I search everywhere for her, looking inside every car in my sight.But there’s no sign of her. None at all.Panting, I take out my phone and call her.“The number you’re trying to call is switched off. Please try later.”“What the hell?” My chest tightens even more, sweat crowning my forehead despite the cool mountain air. I dial again.“The number you’re trying to call is switched off. Please try later.”“What the hell is happening?” I keep trying—keep looking—until I’m out of breath.“Sir, careful!” I look up to find Jordan catching me just before I collapse onto the road. He helps me sit on a nearby rock. “This is useless.”“No. I have to find her. You have no idea how badly I wronged her.”“I know, sir. I know,” he says, sounding sad. “I always knew Madam would never do something like this. She’s not that type. If only we had investigated a little more. Maybe—”I clench my fist and slam it aga

I’m about to knock when another thought occurs to me.What if… what if they’re already asleep?It is kind of late to disturb someone in the middle of the night, isn’t it?I step back, letting out a sigh.“It’s okay,” I say to myself. “Just a few more hours, and then I’ll finally be able to see her.”Elara and Cora have always waited for me all these years. It’s fine if I have to do the same.I head back to the car and lean my back against it, staring up at the porch light, wanting nothing more than for time to pass.Barely ten minutes go by when my phone rings. I pick up right away, not even stopping to check the caller ID.“Elara? Why the hell is your phone—”“Sir, it’s me. Jordan.”I pause. Pull the phone away from my ear and read the screen.Disappointment hits me harder than I want to admit. I put the phone on speaker.“What is it now?”“Sir, the cops are here at the banquet.”“What?” I frown. “Why?”“They’re here to arrest Ms. Graham and her family, along with the others involved