We Never Broke Up (A Second Chance Romance)

Chapter 23

I released a shaky breath as the familiar door swung open, and I followed Thad inside, his grip on my hand firm and reassuring.

I glanced around the house, noting the significant changes that had taken
place, which made everything feel a bit strange to me.

We eventually made our way to the garden, and there she was—the woman I hadn’t laid eyes on in years. She was deeply engrossed in ensuring the food
was served correctly, so she didn’t notice us approaching.

“Mom,” Thad called out. She looked up from her tasks and fixed her gaze on
us.

“I know I mentioned I was bringing my girlfriend, and you may have met before in the past. This is Sera,” he introduced, glancing briefly in my direction.

I offered a small smile as I looked at Vivienne, a flood of memories from that
fateful night in the hospital rushing back to me.

Vivienne’s once-black hair now featured a few strands of white, adding to
her beauty. Her grey eyes still sparkled, much like Thad’s.

Shock overtook her face as she gazed at me. “Vivienne,” I croaked out.

Her eyes shifted to Thad, and the shock morphed into anger.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were bringing her here, Thad? You can’t bring her here,” she declared, her voice harsh, and it felt like a blow to my face.

“Mum… What do you mean?” Thad inquired, confusion evident.

“I thought I explicitly told you to stay away from my son, Seraphina. I will
never allow you two to be together,” she said, shifting her gaze to me.

I swallowed hard, expecting this reaction.

“You told her not to approach me?” Thad questioned, pulling his hands away from mine and walking closer to his mother.

“She’s a danger to you, Thad. She shouldn’t be here,” his mom yelled.
My heart raced as memories rushed back to me.

“Now I know the voice in my head was yours, Mum. You were the one who
said I was obsessed with her?” Thad said.

“Yes, I did say that. And I didn’t lie. Do you know what she did to you?” his mom retorted.

“I don’t care anymore!” Thad yelled, his anger becoming increasingly apparent
in the midst of this tense situation.

“She caused your accident, she’s the reason you had that accident and lost
half of your memories. You missed your high school graduation, and you
were in a coma for months. She’s not fit to be in your life anymore. I won’t
allow someone like her near you,” his mother accused vehemently.

Thad stared at her in shock.

“I… I don’t care about my accident anymore, Mum. Sera is the person I love, and I’m not leaving her,” he insisted.

“Well, you can continue, but I won’t accept her into this house,” she declared, turning her attention to me. “Aren’t you ashamed, Sera? After having my son wrapped around your finger all through high school, causing him to lose his memory, and now you come back to claim him, huh?” She shouted.

“Mom, stop it! I won’t let you talk to her like that,” Thad protested.

I released a shaky breath, feeling a raw nerve had been touched.

“She’s right, Thad,” I began, looking up at him. He turned to meet my gaze.

“I… I caused your accident that night, and…” I faltered, unable to control my
emotions. “I’m sorry for coming here, Vivienne,” I whispered, turning and
making a hasty exit from the garden.

“Sera!” Thad’s voice called out as he followed me, but I broke into a run, trying to escape.
“Sera, stop running!” Thad’s voice echoed behind me as he pursued me.

I had taken a taxi from his house, and he was following me with his car. Guilt
and regret weighed heavily on my heart for everything that had transpired.

I berated myself for believing I deserved Thad again, especially after running
away when he needed me most. Allowing him to have his way with me
multiple times, even though I knew I didn’t deserve him, was a mistake. I
shouldn’t have let him back into my life, gone on the trip, or—

I cried out as I continued to run down an unfamiliar, dark path. A strong
hand seized my arm, yanking me around to face Thad.

I stared back at Thad’s furious expression. “You should stay away from me,” i shrieked, tears streaming down my face as I jerked my arm from his grip, moving away.

“Is that what you think, too? Like my mom? How could you let our
relationship crumble because of her words?” Thad yelled, his voice laden
with pain.

“Because she’s right. Everything is my fault. I should’ve stayed away from
you, just as I’ve been doing,” I yelled back, my chest heaving. “I… shouldn’t
have let myself love you again. I had no right,” I whispered, hot tears trailing
down my face.

“I don’t care… I don’t. How many times do I have to say it for you to
understand?” Thad groaned, approaching me.

“Please, stop, Thad. I care because you don’t. I do, because I’m to blame here,”
I said, taking a step back, causing him to halt.

“Sera, you’re hurting me,” he whispered, his eyes locked on me. I saw tears welling up in his eyes, the same ones from the night of his accident.

My heart ached as I watched him.

“Don’t cry for me, Thad. Please don’t.
I should’ve answered your call that night, and none of this would have
happened,” I admitted.

A solitary tear slid down his face as he stared at me.

“If you’re thinking of leaving me, Sera, you need to discard that foolish notion
now,” he insisted. “Let’s just… go home,” he added, his voice filled with
desperation.

“I…” I started to reply when I noticed a figure behind him, holding a large
object in his hand.

“Thad!” I yelled, making my way toward him, but he was a fraction of a second
too late. The object struck his head hard.

Thad collapsed to the ground, his head slamming against the floor. I let out a
piercing scream, my eyes fixed on the assailant.

The man with disheveled dark hair, dressed in all black, approached me
and forcibly yanked me away from Thad.

“Is he your little boyfriend?” He sneered into my ear as I struggled to free
myself from his grip. His hold on my hair was unyielding.

“Thad!” I cried out, my gaze still fixed on Thad lying on the floor. His eyes
were closed, and he wasn’t moving.

Fear coursed through me as the man began dragging me towards the path I
had taken when Thad chased me.

“No… wait… you can’t leave him like that!” I pleaded, attempting to reach
Thad.

“Shut the fuck up!” he shouted, pulling me forcefully with him.

A car suddenly pulled up, and two men stepped out, sprinting toward us with
guns in their hands.

“Mr. Tate!” one of them called, aiming his gun at us.

The man with me brandished a knife, pressing it against my neck, his other
hand still gripping my hair. My head throbbed, and dizziness overcame me
as things spiraled out of control.

“Stay away from me, or I’ll slice her to pieces!” he threatened, pulling me
back.

I groaned in pain, my hand still on his, desperately trying to free myself from
his grip.

“Okay, okay,” the men, presumably the police, conceded, placing their guns
on the ground.

Seizing the opportunity, I struck him hard with my elbow in his chest, causing him to stumble backward.

I turned and rushed toward Thad, but the sharp sound of a gunshot echoed, freezing me in my tracks.