All Chapters of I Saw Her Goodness Too Late: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Seth's blood went cold. The miracle hit him so hard that, for a moment, all he had was pure disbelief.If Tara was really awake, did that mean he could finally move past three years of messy love and resentment with Rita? Could whatever had frozen solid between them finally start to thaw?He pinched his arm before he could stop himself, the sting barely pulling him out of his shock. Seth remembered the last time his emotions had swung this hard. It was the day Rita said yes to his proposal.Even now, no matter how much distance he tried to put between them, his heart still kicked hard whenever he thought about her.He floored the gas, his car tearing through the night, his eyes flashing red at the edges.He burst into the hospital room, greeted by the soft beeping of machines. Doctors packed in around Tara, throwing around phrases like "once-in-a-century miracle."Seth pushed past them until his eyes finally met hers. Maybe because she'd just woken up, her eyelids fluttered, a

Three months later, Rita sat by the Vesenne River in Pavrielle, Fremoria's capital, enjoying one of the few clear days they got in the middle of spring.A breeze skimmed across the freshly trimmed lawn, carrying the sweet bite of lilacs and the sound of kids laughing.Warm sunlight from this strange new place caught on Rita's freshly permed waves, brushing them with a soft gold. Her forearms were smooth and bare. The silly rose tattoos she used to wear were gone.She'd scrubbed them off the moment her plane landed. It was probably the first act of rebellion she'd taken against Seth in three years.Getting the tattoos removed hurt. Heat crawled over her skin like fire, sharp and relentless. She ground her teeth and sat through it.Compared to Seth's cold expression while he'd inked her skin and the humiliation of him peeling off her clothes, this hardly even counted.The tattoo artist told her the healing would take a while, like getting over a broken heart. It just needed some ti

A cool, clean scent drifted into Rita's nose. She lifted her head a little, her lashes fluttering as her lips brushed Evan's throat."Don't move," he said, his voice rough, something unsteady flickering in his eyes.Rita felt light-headed and curled into the crook of his arm. She hooked both arms around his neck, pulling him closer before nuzzling in until she found a comfortable spot.Evan went rigid, his mouth flattening into a thin line. He stared at her lips, still stained with wine, then made himself look away.He set Rita gently in the back seat, catching her wandering wrists as he murmured, "Settle down. I'm taking you home."The car rolled toward her place, steady and quiet. Evan barely watched the road, checking on her every few seconds in the rearview mirror.When he finally pulled up, he couldn't find her keys anywhere. He asked her for them, patient and careful, but she was too drunk to offer anything besides a confused mumble about having no idea.Out of options, Ev

Rita had never expected anyone to accept who she was, but the way Evan shook his head still knocked out what little pride she had left.A tear clung to her jaw, on the verge of falling, which somehow made her look even more wrecked. She let out a disappointed laugh and headed for the door, eyes stinging.But Evan grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. A rough, broken sound escaped his throat while tears burned in her eyes."I'm sorry. This is on me… Why didn't I figure out the truth sooner, before you spent three years hurting for nothing?"Evan wrapped her up in his arms, holding her like he never wanted to let go, his breath skimming along her neck, warm on her skin."Rita, just give me a chance. Give me a chance to love you."He finally let out the words he'd been holding onto day and night, his voice low, steady, and sure. The right to love her was hers to give, not his to take by forcing her to love him.Rita's eyes reddened as she tried to calm the rush in her chest. "I

Seth was seconds from pitching into the freezing river when arms locked tight around his waist. He hadn't even noticed Winnie step up behind him.His eyes were blank and glassy as he tried to peel her hands off, but she just held tighter."I didn't fly all the way to Pavrielle to watch you toss your whole life away over some doomed romance. After what you did to Rita, how can you still expect her to love you? Snap out of it, Seth!"I'm right here. Just nod, and I'll stay by you."Seth gave up struggling. A wry smile tugged at his lips while his nails bit into his palms.Moonlight fell over him in broken bands, catching in his eyes and leaving him looking hollowed out. Without Rita's love, he couldn't find a reason to keep going.Winnie hauled him back to firm ground, her voice strained. "Rita's just torturing you, Seth. She's the one who should be setting things right, so why is she pretending she's the victim?"He finally dragged his head up. Under her stunned gaze, he let the