All Chapters of Second Chance At Love: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Cassie.The suitcase felt heavier in my hand than it should have, but I knew the real weight wasn’t in my suitcase. It was in the decision I’d just made—or, rather, the decision that had been made for me.I hated it.I hated that I had no choice but to follow him. I hated that even as I considered running, my own mind betrayed me with the reality that Axel would find me. Running would only make it worse.When I reached the car, the sight of Axel froze me in place. He was leaning against the sleek black SUV, arms folded across his broad chest, one boot crossed over the other. His head was tilted down, a strand of dark hair falling into his face as if he didn’t have a single care in the world.Even from here, I could see how the black tee clung to his shoulders, outlining every sharp, defined muscle. My throat went dry, and I cursed myself for noticing.“This is the same man who destroyed you, Cassie,” I had to remind myself under a muffled breath.Axel looked up then, and the intensity

Cassie.The pack house stood before me like a dark reminder of everything I’d fought to leave behind. My feet stayed glued to the ground as my heart hammered wildly in my chest. Through the large windows, I could see my suitcase sitting in the far corner of the living room where Axel had left it. It looked so small and out of place—just like I felt standing outside, unable to go in.Axel had vanished with Warren and Jake into the pack house after my rather rude inquiry. And now it was just me, alone in the biting cold of the night, staring at the place that had been my hell for so many years.The living room looked just as I remembered it—almost too much the same. Sure, the couches were newer, and the center table wasn’t the old scratched one from before. But the walls, the scent, the energy—it was all the same. Too familiar. Too suffocating.I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and took a shaky step toward the door. My fingers grazed the frame, but I froze, unable to go further

Cassie.I woke up for the second time to a gentle tapping on my shoulder, a sound soft but persistent enough to drag me out of the sleep I hadn’t realized had claimed me. My head jerked up, and I blinked, trying to organize myself, and my thoughts. The living room came into focus—the same one I’d reluctantly stepped into last night. My suitcase was still where Axel had left it.A sigh escaped my lips and I closed my eyes again, too tired to deal with anything.The tapping came again, and I turned my head to find a young girl standing beside the couch. She looked to be in her late teens, with dark hair tied into a loose braid and eyes that mirrored curiosity.“Who are you?” she asked her voice light but laced with caution.I froze, startled by the unfamiliar face. My mind jumped to conclusions—ones that made my stomach churn. Was she… Axel’s?I gasped, sitting upright. “Are you—are you married to Axel?” The question tumbled out before I could stop myself, and the girl’s brows shot up

Cassie.The faint sound of furniture being moved greeted me as Axel raised a brow, curiosity etched across his face. His features were calm, yet there was a sharpness in his eyes that unsettled me. He gestured toward the apartment, his broad shoulders brushing past me as he stepped ahead. I followed silently, feeling my chest tighten with every step.When we reached the apartment, the door was already ajar, and inside, men were working diligently, shifting furniture and unpacking boxes. I paused in the doorway, taken aback by the sheer size of the space. The white walls glistened, reflecting the soft rays of sunlight that poured through the open windows, making the whole apartment feel warm and inviting.It was far more spacious than I had anticipated, with high ceilings and polished wooden floors. For a moment, I allowed myself to admire it. But then, as if on cue, Axel’s presence loomed behind me like an unspoken reminder of everything I was trying to forget.“We can talk in the b

Cassie.“So does that mean you won’t be returning? Or do I need to hold on to your spot for a week—which quite frankly is all I can do?” Eric asked over the phone.I smiled, shaking my head even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “No need to hold on to it,” I said, keeping my voice as even as possible, “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone for.”The moment the words left my mouth, I heard the soft clearing of a throat from the other side of the table. I didn’t need to look up to know it was Axel, seated with his iPad in front of him, though I could tell his attention was zeroed in on my conversation. His presence was suffocating, even when he wasn’t saying a word.I rolled my eyes, turning my gaze back to the piece of bread in my hands. I dragged the butter knife through the Nutella jar with more force than necessary, my phone still pressed between my ear and shoulder.I’d hoped that the harsh sunlight that filtered through my window when I woke up would somehow prove everything from th