Elijah’s eyes widened, his hand instinctively dropping to his side.
The slap didn’t hurt him physically—it was nothing compared to the injuries he’d sustained on the battlefield.
But seeing Hermione’s gaze so full of fury and pain… it shattered him.
“Hermione… Why?” he asked, his voice strained with confusion.
“Why did you come back, Elijah?” she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. “Things weren’t fine before, but at least we were managing… And now, because of you, it’s all coming undone again. What reason could you possibly have for showing up now?”
The question stung, another blow he hadn’t seen coming.
He cast his gaze downward, hiding his pained expression from Hermione. “What did Cain say? Did he mention divorce again? Didn’t he fulfill his promise?”
“No.” She shook her h
