After 3

Chapter 261.

Songs for this chapter are:

Monster- Eminem ft. Rihanna

 Skinny Love - Birdy

Blood Bank - Bon Iver

Hardin's POV.

What? What is happening? For one of the few times in my life, I find myself speechless. My mum's hands move from Vance's hair down to his jaw, her mouth pushing harder against his.

I must have made a noise, probably a gasp, I don't fucking know, because my mum's eyes spring open and she immediately pushes at Vance's shoulders. His head quickly turns to me, his eyes go wide and he steps away from the counter. How did they not hear me coming down the stairs? Why is he here, in this kitchen?

What the actual fuck is happening?

"Hardin!" My mum says, her voice high with panic as she jumps down from the kitchen counter.

"Hardin, I can-" Vance starts. I hold up my hand to silence them while my mouth and brain work together, trying to make sense of the fucked up sight in front of me.

"How-" I begin, the jumbled words flying through my mind aren't connecting, "how?" I repeat, my feet begin to move backward. I want to get away from them as fast as I possibly can but I need an explanation at the same time.

I look back and forth between the two of them, trying to recognize the people I thought I thought that I knew but fail to see any resemblance. It doesn't make sense.

My heels hit the back of the stairs and my mum steps toward me. "It's not-" she begins.

I'm relieved to feel the familiar burn of anger beginning to chip away at my shock, sweeping over me, pushing away any vulnerability that may have been present seconds ago. Anger I can deal with, I revel in it, shock and stunned silence, not so much.

I'm walking toward them again before I realize and my mum steps back, distancing herself from me and Christian steps in front of her. What?

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I interrupt her, ignoring the selfish tears shining in her eyes, "you are getting married tomorrow!" my voice raises drastically.

"And you," I seethe at Christian, "you're fucking engaged and here you are about to fuck my mum on the god damned kitchen counter!" I lower my hand in a harsh blow to the fragile countertop. The cracking sound of the wood splintering beneath excites me, makes me want more.

"Hardin!" My mum yells.

"Don't you fucking yell at me!" I nearly scream. I hear the rush of footsteps above me, a signal that our voices have woken Tessa up and I know she is on her way to find me.

"Don't talk to your mother like that," Christian's voice isn't loud but the threat in his tone is clear.

"You don't get to tell me what the fuck to do! You're no one, who the fuck are you?" My nails dig into my palms and my anger grows, gathering into a large mass, ready to explode.

"I'm-" he begins, my mum's hand wraps around his shoulder and pulls him back.

"Christian don't," she begs him.

"Hardin?" Tessa's voice calls from the stairs and she enters the kitchen only seconds later. She looks around the room, to the unexpected guest first, then her eyes settle on me as she stands next to me. "Is everything okay?" She nearly whispers, wrapping her small hand around my arm.

"Everything is just fine! Perfect really!" I pull my arm out of her grip and wave it in front of me, "Although, you may want to warn your friend Kimberly that her beloved fiancé has been caught with my mum,"