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Liability
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2024-11-27 14:44:45Related chapters
Second Chances Under the Tree You’re safe with me
SEBASTIAN I froze, Ethan’s words cutting through me like a knife. My chest tightened, and my fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms.“You… you killed him” I asked, my voice trembling with fury.Ethan laughed, a low, mocking sound that made my blood boil. “Yes I did, Sebastian, because he was going to tell Callie. He thought he was doing the right thing, exposing the truth, saving her from me.” Ethan leaned closer, his smirk widening. “But what he didn’t realize was that no one messes with me and gets away with it.”“You bastard,” I growled, taking a threatening step forward.Ethan didn’t flinch. If anything, he seemed to revel in my anger. “Oh, don’t look so shocked,” he said, his tone dripping with condescension. “You told him everything, didn’t you? About the whole marriage thing, about my mother’s little… extracurricular activities. Did you really think he’d keep his mouth shut?”The rage inside me boiled over. Without thinking, I lunged at him. My fist connected wit
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Second Chances Under the Tree Watch out!
SEBASTIAN It had been days since my encounter with Ethan, but the pain lingered, sharper than any physical wound. The memory of Callie’s horrified expression haunted me. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t even focus on work.She hated me now. She believed Ethan’s lies, and I didn’t blame her. He’d spun his web perfectly, painting me as the monster.I buried my face in my hands, wishing I’d made a different choice… wishing I’d never listened to my father. If only I’d left with Callie, far away from this wretched family, from the schemes and betrayal. She might still be with me, looking at me with love instead of disdain.A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. I straightened, wiping a hand down my face.“Come in,” I said.My secretary, Emily, entered, holding a clipboard and a file. She looked at me with the same carefully composed professionalism she always had, though I could feel her gaze lingering on me a second too long.“Good morning,” she said briskly. “Her
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Second Chances Under the Tree The ex
CALLIEBefore I could react, the handlebars clipped my side, throwing me off balance. I stumbled forward, colliding with a woman walking ahead of me. Her coffee cup tipped, the steaming liquid spilling all over the front of her coat.“Oh no!” I gasped, taking out my earbuds as the kids sped away, one of them shouting, “Sorry!” without even slowing down.I turned to the woman, horrified. She was patting her now coffee-stained blouse with a napkin.“I am so, so sorry,” I blurted, my words tumbling out in a rush. “I didn’t see them coming, and then I… oh my god, your coffee! I’m really sorry.”The woman looked up at me, her lips twitching into a weary smile. “It’s okay,” she said, though it was obvious she was frustrated by the way she sounded. “I just really needed that coffee.”“Please, let me buy you another one,” I insisted, feeling really guilty.She waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine, really. Don’t worry about it.”“No, I insist,” I said. “I feel terrible. Please, let me make i
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Second Chances Under the Tree Anticipation
EMILYThe door creaked open as I stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of lavender. My mother was seated in her favorite armchair, her sharp eyes lifting from the book in her hands. “Welcome back, darling,” she said, closing the book. “So? How did it go?”I couldn’t help but smile wickedly as I slipped off my coat, hanging it neatly by the door. “It went perfectly,” I replied, sauntering into the living room. “The plan worked better than I expected.”“Tell me everything.”I flopped onto the couch, crossing my legs. “It wasn’t hard. All I needed was a couple of kids and a few bucks. I told them to ‘accidentally’ hit her with their bikes. They thought it was just a fun prank.” I chuckled, recalling the scene. “That took care of the rest. Callie was so guilt-ridden, she practically begged to buy me another coffee.”“And?” my mother prompted, leaning forward.“We exchanged numbers,” I said, my grin widening. “She already trusts me. She has no idea what’s coming.”A satisfied smil
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Second Chances Under the Tree Performance
CALLIEThe door swung open, and there he was… Ethan, standing in the doorway, his eyes widened and mouth slightly opened. For a moment, he looked like he wasn’t sure if this was real or some vivid dream.“Callie,” he breathed, his voice filled with surprise and something else… desire. His eyes roamed over me, taking in every inch.I smirked, taking a step toward him. “You’ve been working too hard,” I said softly. “I think it’s time we both took a break.”Ethan’s eyes darkened with pleasure, but there was a hesitation in his gaze as he took a cautious step closer. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.I tilted my head slightly, letting my hair fall over one shoulder as I stepped forward, my body language dripping with intention. “Isn’t it obvious?” I replied, my voice teasing as I leaned against the wall, one leg bent slightly, showcasing the curve of my body. My eyes locked onto his, daring him to close the gap.Just as Ethan took another step toward me, his phone buzzed loudl
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Second Chances Under the Tree Let’s just do this
CALLIE Sunday mornings were supposed to be sacred. I had promised myself a day of rest, no interruptions, just me and my peace. Thankfully, Ethan wasn't around. Monday was close by, and I needed every ounce of energy to survive another week at work.But of course, life had other plans.My phone buzzed beside me, dragging me out of my blissful laziness. It was a text from Emily.Emily: Hey, can we meet? It’s urgent.I sat up, frowning. Emily rarely sounded this serious. We’d only known each other for a few weeks, but we’d already met up a few times, and I could tell she was a really good person. Her warm, nice personality had quickly made her a friend I could rely on.Curious and slightly worried, I replied:Me: Of course. Where?Emily: The usual spot. But please, don’t come with your car. Just take a cab.That last part was odd, but I didn’t question it. If Emily needed me, I wasn’t about to let her down. I grabbed my bag, threw on a brown short dress, and hurried out.****The cab p
Last Updated : 2024-11-28Second Chances Under the Tree I trusted her
CALLIEThe drive was indeed a long one. I shifted in my seat, trying to get comfortable, but my mind wouldn’t let me. Ethan still didn’t know about this trip, and I had no way to contact him. Anxiety gnawed at me, but I shoved it aside. Emily needed me more right now.Emily suddenly turned to face me, a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes playing on her lips. “Thanks again, Callie,” she said softly. “You’ve made this mission so easy for me.”I blinked, caught off guard by her choice of words. “It’s no problem,” I said, brushing off the odd feeling creeping up my spine. “That’s what friends are for.”Emily nodded, her gaze lingering on me a moment longer before she turned back to the road.I glanced out the window, my thoughts drifting to a time I rarely revisited. “You know,” I started quietly, “when I lost my parents years ago, I had no one. It was just me, bearing all that pain alone… burying them without any help.”"I swallowed hard as the memories played back. “So, I get it. I
Last Updated : 2024-11-28Second Chances Under the Tree Anyone else?
ETHANPanic clawed at my chest as I paced the length of my parlour. It had been 24 hours since Callie’s phone last connected. I couldn’t go to work, couldn't sleep, couldn’t think. Every second stretched into an eternity, my mind replaying the worst scenarios.The police were notified, but it was like they weren't doing anything. “We’re on it,” they had said, as if that would bring her back. I had called my parents. They were already on a flight, promising to be here as soon as possible.I grabbed my phone again, dialing the housekeeper. “Did Callie tell you where she was going? Anything at all?”“No, sir,” she replied. “She didn’t mention a thing.”I clutched the phone tightly. “Did you actually see her leave the house?”“Yes, sir,” the housekeeper replied. “She dressed up in a brown dress and walked out. I thought she might’ve mentioned where she was going, but she didn’t say a word.”A brown dress. My mind raced, trying to recall any mention of plans or places. “What time was thi
Last Updated : 2024-11-30
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
