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Decisions
Last Updated:
2024-12-29 19:49:38
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Second Chances Under the Tree Who is it?
CALLIEThe savory aroma of tomatoes, garlic, and spices filled the air, though I wasn’t entirely sure if it was because Sebastian was cooking or because he was setting something on fire. I sat in the kitchen watching as he stirred a pot with a concentration that made me smile.“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” I teased, eyeing the pot of stew skeptically.Sebastian glanced at me, his lips curving into a grin. “Have some faith, Callie. I might not be a master chef, but I’ve got this.”I arched a brow, gesturing to the cutting board beside him. “You forgot to dice the peppers.”He froze, then glanced at the whole peppers sitting on the board. “That’s… intentional,” he said, grabbing a knife and quickly slicing them into uneven chunks.I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound echoing through the cozy kitchen. It felt surreal to see him like this… standing, moving, cooking, when just weeks ago, he could barely lift his head.“You’re unbelievable,” I said softly, shaking my head. “I s
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Second Chances Under the Tree Prisoner
SEBASTIANI didn’t want to open the door. I wasn’t ready for whatever he had to say. But when I glanced over at Callie, her eyes full of concern as she watched me, I knew she wouldn’t drop it if I didn’t open the door. She’d keep asking, and the last thing I wanted was to deal with her questions later.Sighing, I unlocked the door, pulling it open just enough to see who was standing there.“What’s going on?” I asked sharply. I wasn’t in the mood for this, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could stand in silence either.Lucas was standing there, looking uneasy, shifting from foot to foot, as if he wasn’t sure whether to speak or not. “I... I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice low.I was about to tell him no… no way was I letting him in, but before I could, I heard Callie’s voice.“Who’s that?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. “Sebastian, who is it?”I glanced back at her for a second, trying to gauge if I could get away with not letting Lucas in. But there was no way s
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Second Chances Under the Tree The job
CALLIEIt had been a week since I got back from prison, and things were... different. We’d settled into a new kind of routine at home, but it felt strange. Sebastian was out all day, every day, trying to find a job, while I spent most of my time at home, sorting through the little bit of savings we had left. The anxiety gnawed at me constantly. We couldn’t keep living off my savings forever, and I hated watching him come home empty-handed every night. The frustration was palpable in his eyes as he tried and failed to secure a job that would take him on.It was getting harder. Not just financially, but emotionally. We were both barely scraping by, and the silence between us had become more oppressive than the financial strain. Every time he came back home, he looked defeated. And I hated it. I wanted to fix everything for him, but I knew I couldn’t.I had to do something, and fast.The phone call earlier today had changed everything. A job offer had come through… a waitress position a
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Second Chances Under the Tree Bonus
CALLIE As I stepped into the car and started driving, the engine hummed quietly as I pulled out of the parking lot. For a moment, I allowed myself a brief breath of calm, but it didn’t last long.My phone buzzed in the cup holder, breaking the silence. I reached for it, glancing at the screen to see Lucas’s name flashing. I hesitated for a moment, then swiped to answer.“Hey, Lucas,” I greeted, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nerves that flickered in my chest."Callie, hey," his voice came through. "I really need to see you. Can you meet up?"I frowned, glancing quickly at the road before focusing back on the call. “I’m actually on my way to work right now,” I replied, my tone apologetic. “But I can meet you later. How about when I get back?”There was a pause on the other end, and I could hear him exhale. “Alright, sounds good. How about five? That work for you?”I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Yeah, five’s perfect. I should be done with work by then.”Before I
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Second Chances Under the Tree I love you too
CALLIEI reached over, taking Lucas’s hands in mine, feeling the warmth of his skin against my cold fingertips. I could sense the tension radiating from him, and for a moment, I wondered what was going on in his mind. "What's going on, Lucas? You’ve been acting... different," I said softly, my voice filled with concern.He hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. "Is this because of what happened with Sebastian? The way he acted?" I asked, trying to piece together the puzzle. I couldn't help but feel guilty for not addressing the situation sooner. "I'm sorry about him, Lucas. He... He didn’t just understand the whole situation."Lucas’s eyes darkened for a brief moment, but then he shook his head. "No. No, Callie. It’s not about that. It’s not about Sebastian at all."I blinked, confused, but before I could ask him to clarify, he continued."Please, just hear me out." His voice trembled slightly. "What I need to tell you... it’s been on my mind for so long, and I can’t keep it inside any lo
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree The stop
CALLIEThe engine of my car hummed to a stop in front of Le Pétale, the high-end restaurant where I worked. I stared at my faint reflection in the windshield for a moment, my mind drifting back to Lucas’s confession.It had been a week, and I still hadn’t heard anything from him. I reminded myself it wasn’t my fault… I couldn’t control how he felt or the timing of his feelings. Still, a tiny part of me wished things had played out differently, less messily.I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. Grabbing my purse, I stepped out of the car.The faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee and buttery pastries from nearby cafés filled the air. "Callie!" A voice broke through my thoughts.I turned to see Ava, one of my colleagues, walking briskly toward me. She looked effortlessly put together in her uniform, her blonde hair swept into a neat bun. She carried an oversized tote slung over one shoulder and a steaming travel mug in her hand."Hey, Ava," I greeted, smiling at her."Morning!" she
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree Confusion
CALLIEThe door creaked open, and I stepped inside, my breath hitching as tears blurred my vision. All I wanted now was Sebastian's arms around me, but the living room was empty."Sebastian?" I called out, my voice trembling. No answer.I dropped my bag onto the couch and walked further inside, scanning the empty space. The kitchen was untouched, the light in the hallway still off. He wasn’t here."Sebastian?" I tried again, louder this time, but the apartment stayed quiet.He hadn’t mentioned going out today. Where could he be? I pulled my phone from my bag, my fingers trembling as I dialed his number. The call didn’t connect.Just as I was about to try again, I heard the jingle of keys and the sound of the front door opening. My head snapped toward it, and there he was, stepping inside, a smile spreading across his face as he caught sight of me.“Hey, sweetheart," he said, closing the door behind him. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, and he carried a small bag in one hand. “Yo
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree The shock
SEBASTIANNora looked at me, her eyes narrowing as she hesitated for a moment before speaking."Sebastian, can I speak to you alone for a moment?" she asked. "This is a delicate matter."I glanced over at Callie, who was standing beside me, her face pale and tense from the stress of everything that had already happened today. "Callie doesn't need to leave," I replied. "She’s a part of this. Whatever you need to say, she needs to hear it too."Nora gave me a measured look, but after a beat, she relented with a slight nod."Alright," she agreed. "Then let’s go to my office. We can talk there."We followed her down the hallway, my heart pounding against my chest with each step, and I could feel the tension mounting. Whatever she had to say, I knew it wasn’t going to be good.Nora led us into a small, stark office, the walls lined with files and a desk cluttered with papers. She motioned for us to sit, and I pulled Callie close to me, our fingers intertwined, as we settled into the chairs
Last Updated : 2024-12-30
Latest chapter
Second Chances Under the Tree Unstoppable
CALLIEI slapped Sebastian’s chest, the frustration bubbling inside me. “You should’ve just told me all this sooner! You could’ve spared me all the stress and drama.”He winced slightly, “I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you’d be scared. You wouldn’t have agreed to let my guy shoot her. Not here, not today.”I was about to retort when I glanced around, my gaze landing on the guests who still remained eerily silent. My heart tightened with a sudden wave of discomfort. “Wait… have the guests been informed about all of this? About what’s happening?”Sebastian gave me that damn smile of his, the one that made everything seem like it was under control. “Oh, they know. I had to tell them. I didn’t want there to be chaos when it all went down.”I narrowed my eyes. “You’re not serious,” I muttered, lightly hitting his head playfully. "You had to make sure everything went according to plan, even the guests."He chuckled softly. “Callie, you’re the one who’s always thinking things throu
Second Chances Under the Tree Prove
CALLIEMy eyes were locked on Charlotte, blood staining the carpet around her. Why wasn’t anyone else reacting? Then, without warning, the doors burst open.Police officers flooded the room. I didn’t even have time to breathe before Nora walked in. She was followed by two other officers, their hands ready on their holsters.She moved toward Charlotte, her eyes scanning the scene slowly. The entire room seemed to tense as the officers approached Charlotte, who was still writhing on the floor, her hands desperately clutching at her bleeding legs."Charlotte Lawson," Nora’s voice rang out, echoing through the room, "You are under arrest for attempted murder. You’re also charged with the murder of Damon Wright and the murder of your son, Lucas Lawson."My heart skipped a beat. Attempted murder? Who’s Damon? Charlotte let out a painful, strangled scream as Nora and the officers knelt beside her. Her eyes were wide with terror, disbelief written all over her face. She tried to push hersel
Second Chances Under the Tree The shot
CALLIEIt was my day. My fucking wedding day.They were doing my makeup, but I couldn’t stop staring at my reflection. The brushes moved across my face like they were supposed to, but my mind kept drifting, wondering how the hell I had ended up here. This was supposed to be the day I’d dreamed about since I was a little girl, the perfect celebration of love and happiness. But instead, all I could think about was how surreal it felt. Was this really happening? Was I really about to marry Sebastian?The makeup artist was still blending foundation on my cheeks, oblivious to the whirlwind in my head. The soft smell of flowers, the faint noise of voices around me…it all seemed like a dream.How did I get here? How had I gone from feeling like I was losing everything to standing here, about to walk down the aisle with the man who’d promised me forever?I caught my reflection again, my eyes roaming over the dress. It was beautiful, something I never thought I’d get to wear.The past few mon
Second Chances Under the Tree One clean shot
SEBASTIANI kept my eyes on the road, but my attention was mostly on Callie. She was sitting there quiet, her fingers tapping nervously against her knee. I knew she was still upset about Charlotte… hell, I was too…but this surprise... it was meant to take her mind off things. It was meant to make her forget all about that witch and focus on us.I glanced over at her, and for a moment, our eyes met. I could see the worry still clouding her thoughts, but her lips curled up just slightly. That was all I needed. I wasn’t giving up. I had promised her everything, and I would keep that promise.I loved Callie more than anything. The thought of her standing by my side for the rest of our lives filled me with a sense of pride I couldn’t put into words. But today… today was about proving it. I wasn’t just going to let some meddling woman ruin our joy. Not today. Not ever.I pulled up to the curb, the tires rolling over the gravel, and stopped in front of the building. My heart was racing, my
Second Chances Under the Tree 21 cakes
CALLIEThe bell chimed softly as we stepped into the cake shop, the rich scent of vanilla and chocolate filled the air. The baker, a cheerful woman in her forties with flour dusting her apron, welcomed us with a bright smile.“Good afternoon!” she greeted. “You must be the Thompsons?”“That’s us,” Sebastian replied, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Or at least, soon-to-be Thompsons.”I smiled, still thinking about my wedding dress. I had just bought my dream wedding gown… a simple but stunning straight dress. I couldn’t wait to wear it as I walked down the aisle to marry the man standing beside me.The baker ushered us to a cozy table near the counter, where a variety of cake samples had already been laid out. “Alright, let’s get started. These are some of our most popular flavors. Feel free to let me know if there’s something specific you’d like to try.”We sat down, and I immediately reached for a small fork, eager to dive in. Sebastian, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair
Second Chances Under the Tree A family
CALLIEI was in the kitchen, still in my pajamas, hair tied up in a loose bun, trying to focus on slicing tomatoes without nicking my fingers.The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and I found it comforting as I hummed softly to myself.I was just about to layer the slices onto the bread when a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind, pulling me gently against a warm chest.“My fiancée,” Sebastian’s deep voice purred into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine, “what are you cooking?”I smiled, not even bothering to turn around. “My fiancé,” I replied, mimicking his tone, “I’m making sandwiches for breakfast.”He chuckled, the sound vibrating against my back. “Sandwiches?” he murmured, his lips grazing my neck. “I don’t want to eat sandwiches.”I paused, raising an eyebrow as I turned slightly to look at him. “Oh? What do you want to eat then?”Sebastian grinned, his dark eyes gleaming mischievously as he leaned closer. “You.”I rolled my eyes, though I cou
Second Chances Under the Tree Don't fail me
SEBASTIANCallie looked at me, her eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong?" she asked gently, sensing the shift in my mood.I let out a deep breath, leaning back in my chair. "Charlotte was released from prison."She blinked at me, clearly not processing the news at first. "What? How? Why?""Yeah," I sighed. "Turns out, they didn’t have enough to hold her. So, she’s free."Callie’s eyebrows shot up, her lips parting in shock. "She’s free? Just like that?"I nodded. "Yeah, just like that. But it’s fine. I’m meeting with Nora tomorrow. We’ll figure this out."She leaned forward, concern etched on her face. "But if she’s out, doesn’t that complicate things? What if she comes after you again?"I smiled, a slow grin spreading across my face. "Charlotte thinks she’s smart, but I’m smarter. I’ve got a plan. A backup plan."She lifted her head. "Backup plan?"I leaned in a little, lowering my voice. "Plan B. It’s time to put it into motion."Callie sat back in her chair, eyes locked on mine
Second Chances Under the Tree She's free
CALLIE The videographer approached us, his camera now lowered. “Congratulations,” he said warmly, extending his hand to Sebastian. “This turned out beautifully. I’ll have the footage edited and sent to you by tonight.”“Thanks, Matt,” Sebastian replied, shaking his hand. “You did an incredible job.”Matt nodded at me with a kind smile. “You’re going to love this when you see it. Congratulations again.”“Thank you,” I said, still slightly dazed by the realization that this entire moment had been documented. As Matt packed up his equipment and walked away, Sebastian turned to me, his hand resting lightly on my back.“Come on,” he said, steering me toward a table set up a few feet away.The table was set with twinkling candles, a crisp white tablecloth, and an array of dishes and wines.I stopped short, taking it all in. “Sebastian… this is incredible.”“I wanted it to be perfect,” he said simply, pulling out a chair for me. “For you.”The music continued to play softly in the backgroun
Second Chances Under the Tree Important things
CALLIESebastian parked the car in a reserved spot, cutting the engine before stepping out. I barely had time to open my door before he was already there, holding out his hand for me like some kind of gallant prince.“Seriously?” I teased, slipping my hand into his as he helped me out of the car. “You’re making me feel like we’re about to walk a red carpet.”He chuckled, his grip gentle as we strolled toward the venue. The pathway was illuminated with fairy lights that twinkled like stars. The soft hum of live music floated through the cool evening air.I glanced at him, shaking my head with a bemused smile. “Sebastian, I don’t understand anymore. Isn’t this just dinner? You’re acting like this is some kind of royal event.”He stopped walking for a moment, turning to face me. His dark eyes softened as he brushed a strand of hair off my face. “It’s not just dinner, Callie. You’ve been through so much lately, and I wanted to give you something... magical. You deserve it.”My heart did t
