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Benefit of doubt
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2024-12-01 04:25:56Related chapters
Second Chances Under the Tree Final blow
CALLIE“What the hell?” I blurted, my heart racing as I stared at the screen.Ethan was at my side in an instant. “What happened?”Wordlessly, I handed him the phone. His eyes scanned the message, and his jaw clenched.‘I’m giving you a few days to leave Ethan, you harlot. He’s mine.’Ethan’s face darkened. “What the… who sent this?” he demanded, his voice laced with anger.“It’s from an unknown number,” I muttered, collapsing onto the bed. My hands trembled as I rubbed my temples. “I can’t believe this. I just got back, Ethan. I’m still trying to process everything that’s happened, and now this?”Ethan sat beside me, his expression shifting from anger to concern. “Callie, don’t let this get to you. Whoever sent that message is just trying to mess with your head.”“But why? Who could hate me this much?” I asked, my voice breaking. “I’ve already been through so much. I’m not ready to dive into another nightmare because of some delusional person who thinks they have a claim on you.”Eth
Last Updated : 2024-12-02Second Chances Under the Tree Now we’re talking
CALLIEThe soft hum of the elevator surrounded us as Ethan and I stood side by side. His hand enveloped mine, grounding me. It was my first day back at work after everything that had happened, and though I had been itching to return to work, I still feel very nervous.“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Ethan asked, his voice low and gentle. “You could take more time if you need it. No rush.”I glanced up at him, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow. “I’ve been cooped up at home long enough, Ethan. I need this. I’m ready.”He studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. But if you need a break or feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to step away. You’ve been through a lot.”I smiled, used to his caring nature, that was one of the things I loved about him. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”“Good morning, Mr Anderson. Good morning, ma'am,” the receptionist said with a bright smile, offering a respectful nod in my direction.“Good morning,” Ethan and I replied in unison. His tone was
Last Updated : 2024-12-02Second Chances Under the Tree Room 120
ETHANSophie’s predatory smile deepened as she walked toward me. The sharp click of her heels against the floor was the only sound in the room. My pulse quickened as she stopped mere inches away, so close I could feel her breath on my face.“I’m not asking for much, Ethan,” she murmured. “All I want…is you.”I stiffened, a cold chill racing down my spine. “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, trying to steady my voice though the tension in my body was undeniable.She chuckled softly. “Oh, don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I mean. You and me, back together. But this time, we keep it private. No one has to know…not yet, at least.”I took a slow step back, putting some distance between us. “That’s not happening, Sophie. I’m married. Callie and I… ”“Don’t!” she snapped, her voice rising as she jabbed a finger at my chest. “Don’t you dare say her name.”Her sudden outburst echoed through the room, and I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm. “This isn’t a negotiation
Last Updated : 2024-12-02Second Chances Under the Tree Heartbreak
SophieI sat on the edge of the bed, smoothing the silky fabric of my robe with a smile that could rival the devil’s. The thought of Callie walking in on us was delicious… I couldn’t wait to see her reaction.She had no idea what was coming.Ethan thought he was clever, thought he could resist me. But men like him? They always came crawling back, driven by their own desires and weaknesses. And Callie? I was going to mess with her head until I decided to eventually end her.The knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I stood, letting the robe fall open just enough to reveal my curves. Taking a steady breath, I walked toward the door, my bare feet sinking into the soft carpet. I opened it to find Ethan standing there, looking so tense.He stepped inside, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “You were really prepared for this, weren’t you?” he muttered, his hand settling on my waist.I smirked, leaving the door slightly ajar, just as I’d promised. “Always, Ethan,” I purred, circl
Last Updated : 2024-12-02Second Chances Under the Tree Still, no answer
CALLIE Time slowed as his voice echoed in the room. Ethan stood there, frozen, naked, with Sophie lounging smugly behind him, as a smirk appeared on her face. She looked like a queen reveling in her conquest.“Callie, I…” Ethan’s words faltered, his expression shifting from shock to panic.I didn’t move. My hands clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I tried to steady my breathing. The rage inside me burned hotter than ever, but I wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.“Don’t.” I raised my hand, stopping him in his tracks. “Don’t you dare.”Ethan took a cautious step toward me, his hands raised as if to placate me. “Callie, it’s not what it looks like…”I let out a bitter laugh, cutting him off. “Not what it looks like?” I gestured to the bed, to Sophie lounging like a cat that got the cream. “So what is it, Ethan? A business meeting? A friendly catch-up?”Sophie chuckled softly, sitting up and adjusting her robe with deliberate slowness. “Oh,
Last Updated : 2024-12-02Second Chances Under the Tree Yeah, that’s him
CALLIEMy apartment was cold, dark, and eerily quiet as I stepped inside. I closed the door behind me, leaning against it for support. Sliding down to the floor, I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.How did it come to this? How did my life spiral so far out of control?I had nothing left. No family, no friends to call on. Every man I had loved and trusted had betrayed me, and I felt utterly alone.Each breath I took felt like shards of glass slicing through my chest. The deep, gnawing ache in my heart made it hard to focus on anything else.I pressed a hand to my chest as though that could keep it from shattering completely. But it was too late. Ethan had taken the last unbroken piece of me and crushed it underfoot.My body trembled as I gasped for air between cries. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold the pieces together, but it was futile. Every tear that fell felt like it carried a part of my soul away with it.I couldn’t stay like this. I needed someone… anyone… to
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Second Chances Under the Tree One Chance
CALLIE The loud sound of Nora’s voice jolted me awake the next morning. "Callie, wake up! Oh God, I overslept!" I blinked groggily, my eyes still heavy with sleep. "Nora?" I mumbled, struggling to sit up. She was already on her feet, grabbing her coat. "I’m late for work. Seriously, I need to go," she said in a rush. I rubbed my face sluggishly, trying to shake off the fog of sleep. "Thanks again, Nora," I whispered. Nora stopped mid-motion, turning to face me. She gave me a concerned look, her gaze softening. "Callie, you need to take care of yourself, okay? Be good to yourself. Don’t bottle it up. You’ve been through a lot." I smiled weakly, the gesture more to reassure her than myself. "I will, I promise." She stepped forward and pulled me into a tight hug, the warmth of her embrace grounding me. "Good. And don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything. Seriously. Anything." "I will," I replied, holding onto her a little longer than I meant to. Then I pulled away, heading t
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Second Chances Under the Tree Still nothing
CALLIE"What?" Nora's voice echoed through the phone, laced with disbelief.I sighed, pacing the room with my phone pressed to my ear. "I don’t know, Nora. I feel like... everyone makes mistakes, you know? Maybe I should give him one last chance."Nora’s laugh was dry, humorless. "Oh, baby girl, no. Are you sure about this?"I scratched my head, glancing out the window. "Kind of? I mean, I’m not sure about anything, honestly. But... I want to try. Just this once."There was a heavy pause on the line, the sound of Nora exhaling slowly. "Look, Callie, you know I love you, right? And I’ll support you no matter what, but I’m not cool with this.""I get it," I said quietly. "I’m not really sure I’m cool with it either. But it’s my decision, and I need to see it through."Nora groaned softly. "Alright, fine. It’s your call. But if he messes up again, I’m coming for him. You hear me?"I chuckled, despite the weight in my chest. "Loud and clear, Nora."She was about to say something else when
Last Updated : 2024-12-05
Latest chapter
Second Chances Under the Tree Bad News
CALLIEIt wasn’t Sebastian’s voice that greeted me.“Hello? Is this Callie?” a woman’s voice came through the line.My heart skipped a beat. “Y-Yes, this is Callie. Who is this? Where’s Sebastian?”There was a brief pause, as though the woman was trying to find the right words. “My name is Nurse Erica. I’m calling from Fairview General Hospital. Sebastian was… involved in an accident. He’s in critical condition, but he’s stable for now.”The phone nearly slipped from my trembling hand. “What?” I whispered, my voice cracking. “What happened? Is he okay?”“I can’t share all the details over the phone, but it’s important you come as soon as possible,” she said. “He’s at Fairview General. Please hurry.”The line went dead before I could respond.The phone clattered to the floor, my hand too weak to hold it any longer. For a moment, the world blurred. My legs gave way, and I sank to the ground. Tears welled in my eyes, streaming down my cheeks as sobs escaped my lips.“No,” I whispered to
Second Chances Under the Tree Five minute drive
CALLIEThere was silence. None of us said anything for a while. My heart clenched painfully, and I found myself struggling to form a response.Finally, I swallowed hard and spoke. “So… when is the date?”Sebastian exhaled deeply, his gaze dropping to the floor. “In two days. January 2nd.”I nodded slowly. “That means you’ll have to fly out tomorrow.” “Yeah,” he said softly. “I don’t have a choice.”The words stung, even though I knew he didn’t mean them to. I straightened my shoulders, meeting his gaze. “Then I’ll go with you.”Sebastian’s head shot up, his eyes narrowing. He took a step closer, his hands gently wrapping around mine. “No, Callie,” he said softly. “You don’t have to do that.”I frowned, my chest tightening at the seriousness in his tone. “Sebastian, you don’t have to do this alone. I want to be there for you.”He shook his head, his grip on my hands tightening slightly. “Lucas will be there. He has to be, as part of the team. I’ll go with him. You… you’ve been through
Second Chances Under the Tree What's wrong?
CALLIEI couldn’t help but laugh as I leaned back on the couch. “What do you mean by that? You’re something else.”He grinned at my reaction, his sharp features softening. “Who knows? You might start crying again tonight. You’re just a softie.”His playful tone was such a contrast to everything that had happened that I couldn’t stop smiling. For a moment, it felt like we’d stepped out of the storm. The warmth in his gaze, the way his lips curved just enough to let me know he was teasing… it was exactly what I needed.But before I could respond, Sebastian closed the space between us. His hand gently cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear I didn’t even know was there. “I mean it, Callie,” he murmured, his voice low, sending a shiver down my spine. “I love you. More than anything. We’re going to get through this together. You hear me?”His eyes bore into mine, searching, waiting for my answer.I nodded, my throat tightening with emotion. “I love you baby,” I whispered.An
Second Chances Under the Tree White and Black
SEBASTIAN I opened the door, and there she was… Charlotte. Her hair was disheveled, her face pale, and her eyes bloodshot, swollen from tears. “Sebastian!” she spat my name, her voice cracking with raw emotion. Her eyes darted to Callie, who stood frozen behind me. “You… both of you… you’ve done it. You’ve killed my son!”“Charlotte, stop,” I said firmly, stepping in front of Callie to shield her. “We didn’t…”“LIARS!” she screamed, her voice cutting through the tension. She shoved past me into the room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.Callie took a step forward, her own tears flowing freely. “We didn’t do this, Charlotte. I swear to you, we had nothing to do with Ethan’s death…”“Shut up!” Charlotte whirled on Callie, her face twisted in grief and rage. “How dare you even speak to me? You! You’re the reason my son is gone!”“Charlotte, that’s not true!” Callie’s voice cracked as she tried to defend herself.“Not true?” Charlotte sneered, her lips curling in disdain. “D
Second Chances Under the Tree Complicated
CALLIEA scream tore from my throat, echoing through the empty warehouse. My hands clutched the edges of my coat as if they could hold me together. My knees pressed against the cold concrete floor, the image in front of me searing itself into my mind."What the hell is happening?" My voice cracked, the words ripping out of me like shards of glass. "Why is Ethan here? He was supposed to be… "My thoughts fractured, and I pressed a hand to my mouth, trying to suppress the rising panic. My stomach churned as I stared at his lifeless body.Sebastian's hurried footsteps echoed behind me, and then he was there, dropping to his knees beside me.He froze beside me. His eyes widened, and for a moment, he didn’t move. It was as if the sight of Ethan’s bloodied body had rendered him incapable of action.“Oh my God,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “Ethan? No, no… this can’t be happening.”I turned to him, my voice trembling. “Sebastian… he’s dead. Ethan’s dead. What are we supposed to do?” His
Second Chances Under the Tree Stay Strong
CALLIEThe phone buzzed in my hand, its vibration thrumming against my palm. I glanced at Sebastian, his eyes dark and focused as he gave a slight nod. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the phone to my ear."Hello?"Silence."Hello?" I tried again, my voice louder this time. The only response was the faint sound of breathing. My heart rate spiked, my fingers gripping the phone tighter. "Who is this?"Still nothing.The silence stretched for another second before the line went dead. I stared at the screen, the unknown number taunting me.Sebastian leaned forward. "Who was it?"I shook my head, my stomach twisting. "No one said anything. They just... hung up."His jaw tightened, and he reached out to take my hand. "Let me see the number."Before I could hand him the phone, it buzzed again. This time, a message notification lit up the screen. My blood ran cold as I opened it.Unknown:Go to 152 Riverwood Lane tonight. Come alone, or someone you care about gets hurt.My breath caught in my
Second Chances Under the Tree Answer it
CALLIEI woke up to the gentle warmth of Sebastian’s lips pressing against my forehead, then my cheeks, and finally, my lips. His voice was soft but insistent.“Wake up, Callie,” he murmured. “We’ve got a flight to catch.”I groaned, stretching lazily as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. My muscles ached in the best way possible, a reminder of last night’s escapades in the bathroom. It had been… intense. Sebastian had a way of making every moment feel like an adventure, and that bath had been no exception.As I sat up, my eyes met his, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Good morning,” I said, my voice still raspy from sleep.He smiled back, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “Good morning, beautiful.”His gaze lingered, filled with a tenderness that made my heart flutter. It was moments like these that reminded me why, despite all the chaos and danger, I couldn’t imagine my life without him.“You slept like a rock,” he teased, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I was
Second Chances Under the Tree Challenge Accepted
CALLIEI was exhausted, my body aching from the stress of the day. Every part of me wanted to collapse, to just curl up and forget about everything, but I couldn't. Not now. Not with Sebastian at my side, looking as worn out as I felt. I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes seemed to cloud over with the weight of the pressure pressing down on him.But it wasn’t just the stress from his father. It was the way everything was falling apart, how our lives seemed to be spiraling out of control… and I couldn’t help but feel like I was the reason for all of it. If I hadn’t made that stupid mistake at the club, if I hadn’t gotten involved with Sebastian in the first place, none of this would be happening.I closed my eyes for a moment, my fingers curling around his as we walked through the empty parking lot toward yet another hotel. The guilt squeezed at my chest, but I refused to let it break me. I couldn’t.I wasn’t going to let Sebastian go through this alone.When we reach
Second Chances Under the Tree Not for you
SEBASTIANI stared at the receptionist, my brows knitting together. "I'm sorry, what?"She fidgeted with the clipboard in her hands, avoiding my gaze. "I… I really am sorry, sir," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "But the order comes directly from the manager. He insists that you have to vacate the building immediately.""Vacate the building? Why?"She glanced down at her clipboard again, her fingers tightening around it. "I'm not at liberty to discuss the specifics," she said quietly, "but it’s urgent. The manager instructed me to offer you a full refund as compensation. Please, pack your belongings and come downstairs as soon as possible to sign out and collect it."I folded my arms across my chest, feeling my irritation spike. "That’s not exactly reassuring, you know. You can’t just kick us out without a valid explanation."The receptionist flinched slightly but held her ground. "I understand, sir, truly. But I’m afraid I can’t say more. I’ll be waiting downstairs."Without w
