No Past, No Pain, No Return Chapter 09

No Past, No Pain, No Return Chapter 09

Caleb showed up at Pack Registry.

But he came to bargain.

“Serena. I know I was wrong. I hurt you. You can’t forgive me. I accept that. But can we wait until Mom has her surgery? She can’t handle another shock.”

I was cold. “Those are two different things. Does us staying bonded increase her chance of survival?”

“You didn’t care how much I could take. Why should I pause my life for you?”

His face twisted in pain.

“Serena. I’m so sorry. I regret everything. I should have been calmer.”

“Give me a chance to make it right. Please.”

I cut him off.

“Are you going in or not? Don’t waste my time.”

He shook his head.

“Serena. Please. Just wait a little longer.”

“See you in court.”

I turned. He grabbed my arm.

“Serena. We have years of history. Don’t you feel anything?”

My eyes turned colder. “History? You don’t get to talk about history.”

“Then who do you want to talk about history with? Your junior colleague?”

He pointed at Theo. Theo was getting out of the car.

Theo ran over. He pried Caleb’s hand off me.

“What’s it to you? You lost the right to ask that question.”

Caleb swung at Theo’s face.

Theo dodged. “You lost the right to be jealous.”

Caleb snapped.

“Serena. You two were already together, weren’t you? You caught me first. So now you get to act all high and mighty?”

Theo threw a punch.

“Shut your mouth.”

I was done. I laughed. I got back in the car.

Theo got in too. He grabbed a handful of alcohol wipes and cleaned his hand.

Caleb ran to the window.

“Serena. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I know you wouldn’t…”

I didn’t look at him. I told Theo to drive.

In the rearview mirror, I saw Vanessa get out of a car with the pup.

She walked over to Caleb. The pup kept reaching for him.

Caleb pushed them away.

…

Theo had lawyers draft the bond termination papers.

But Caleb called the next day. He agreed to the bond termination.

My mother convinced him.

She said, “If you sever the bond, I won’t hold you back. You won’t be burdened by me.”

“In return, I’ll go to the hospital for treatment.”

Everyone was happy with this outcome.

I was fine with it. Except my mother texted me every day.

She told me about her treatment. How she didn’t want to be a burden.

Vanessa also kept trying to meet me.

She sent me photos of her son.

[He looks like Caleb, doesn’t he?]

[He recognizes you. He smiles when he sees your picture. Don’t you want to hold him?]

[Serena. I miss you too. Can we talk?]

Now that Caleb and I were done, she was winning.

She couldn’t help gloating.

I blocked her.

She used a new number.

[Sorry, Serena. But people are selfish. I fight for what I want.]

[I heard you’re with that junior colleague now. Maybe I was your matchmaker. Theo is richer and younger, isn’t he?]

I felt sick.

The day I got the bond termination certificate, I left Silvercrest Pack.

I didn’t see my mother.

Caleb was shocked. “Hate me all you want. But do you really hate her that much?”

“If you don’t see her one last time, won’t you regret it?”

I didn’t know.

But I knew I couldn’t forgive her.

Maybe someday. But that was the future.

Three months later, I got word my mother was dying.

Theo came with me. I saw her one last time.

The cancer had spread to her eyes. She was blind.

She held Vanessa’s hand. She thought it was me.

“Serena. I want to hear you call me one last time.”

“Mom.”

Vanessa’s voice.

Her pupils went slack. She let go.

“Serena. You still can’t forgive me.”

In the end, I couldn’t bear it. I walked over. “I’m here, Mom.”

She smiled. Then closed her eyes.

The funeral was simple.

I didn’t shed a tear.

Vanessa sneered. “Mom must be heartbroken. She raised a daughter for nothing.”

I ignored her.

She kept going. “Serena. Caleb and I will be happy.”

I wished her well.

Caleb wished me well too. “Take care of yourself. Whoever you’re with. Be happy.”

“It’s none of your business.” Theo laughed coldly. He put his arm around me and walked away.

The past. The pain. They stayed behind with the scenery outside the window.

I wasn’t going to look back.