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2024-11-25 11:03:03Related chapters
Second Chances Under the Tree Happy new year
CALLIEIt had been three days since we arrived here, and every moment felt like a dream. I never imagined Sebastian could be this loving. The man I first met at work had a cold demeanor… so different from the tender, playful person I was seeing now.I'm so glad I’d agreed to be his fake girlfriend. And following him on this holiday? Best decision ever.A smile played on my lips as I stretched on the bed. The sound of the running shower in the bathroom stopped, and moments later, Sebastian strolled into the room, completely naked.I smirked, unable to help myself. “Oh, so now you’ve forgotten how to cover that long thing of yours, huh? You’ve gotten real comfortable walking around like this.”He glanced at me, the corner of his mouth lifting in a cheeky grin. “Why should I bother? I’m with my baby. I can do whatever I want.”I laughed, shaking my head. “Oh, so this is my future, huh? Walking into a room and seeing that all the time? Especially since we’re getting married soon.”But as
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Second Chances Under the Tree Trust
SEBASTIAN “Did we pack everything we brought?” I asked, glancing around the room one last time.Callie, kneeling beside her suitcase to zip it shut, nodded. “Yes, I triple-checked. I just hope we didn’t forget anything. You know how I am with leaving things behind.”I smirked, leaning against the doorframe. “You’re not wrong. Remember when you forgot your bag at the restaurant?”She glared playfully. “Don’t remind me. Thankfully we saw it where I left it.”As she stood, brushing her hair out of her face, I stepped closer and gently tugged her into my arms. She let out a small gasp, tilting her head to look up at me.“I wish this vacation didn’t have to end,” I murmured, my thumb tracing her jaw.Her lips curved into a cute smile, her hands resting on my chest. “Can’t we stay a little longer?” she asked.I chuckled, brushing a kiss against her temple. “I really wish we could. But we have a wedding to plan, remember? And work’s waiting for us.”She pouted, crossing her arms. “Okay, oka
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Second Chances Under the Tree My wedding day
CALLIE My fingers trembled slightly as I stared at the note in my hand. Before I could even think of how to respond to his sudden reappearance, Sebastian walked in.“Callie?” Sebastian’s deep voice cut through the tension as he stepped inside, his gaze darting between Ethan and me. “What’s going on here?”Ethan’s smug smirk melted into a smile. “Nothing, just a little chat,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets.As soon as the door clicked shut, Sebastian turned to me, his eyes dark with worry. “What happened? Did he say something to you?”I hesitated, then held out the note. “He left this.”Sebastian took the paper from my hand, unfolding it slowly. I watched as his face darkened, his free hand balling into a tight fist.“Ethan is really starting to step on my toes,” he growled.I stepped closer, placing my hand on his arm. “Sebastian, don’t. He’s trying to provoke you, to get under your skin. Don’t let him win.”His eyes softened slightly as he looked at me, but the tension
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Second Chances Under the Tree Disbelief
CALLIE “What the hell is going on?” I snapped, spinning around to face Mr Thompson. My voice echoed off the walls of the church, and the murmurs of the congregation rose behind me.But Mr Thompson said nothing. Instead, his gaze shifted to Ethan.I turned back to him, my chest tightening as my thoughts spiraled. “Where is Sebastian?” Ethan’s calm, smug expression didn’t falter as he stepped down from the altar. Before I could react, he reached for my hand, gripping it firmly.“Callie,” he said gently, “let’s not make a scene.”“A scene?” I wrenched my hand away from his. “You’ve got some nerve… ”“Please.” Ethan’s voice softened as he leaned closer. “Let me explain. Come with me.”He guided me toward a small door at the side of the altar, and my mind raced with questions and anger. I barely noticed the confused whispers of the guests as we disappeared into a small side room.The moment the door closed behind us, I whirled on him. “What the hell is going on, Ethan?” I demanded, my vo
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Second Chances Under the Tree Tears
CALLIE My breath hitched, and for a moment, I couldn’t respond. Every fiber of my being screamed to run, to leave this twisted nightmare behind. But the image of the hundreds of eyes waiting beyond those doors… judging, whispering, pitying, rooted me to the spot.“You can’t ask this of me,” I whispered. “You’re asking me to pretend, to marry you, to stand in front of those people and lie.”“I know,” Ethan admitted, his tone softening. “I know it’s a lot, but it’s just three months. Think about what’s at stake… your dignity, your reputation, everything you’ve worked for. Don’t let Sebastian take that from you too.”The mention of Sebastian sent a fresh wave of pain crashing through me. The man I loved, the man I trusted, had already taken so much. Could I let him take this too?“What about you?” I asked, my voice filled with bitterness. “What do you get out of this, Ethan? Why are you so willing to step in and save the day?”His expression hardened for a brief moment before softening
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Second Chances Under the Tree Hello?
CALLIEI stood there, stunned. Mr Thompson had never spoken to me like that before, and the sudden shift felt jarring.“You’re married to Ethan now,” he repeated. “Whatever you decide to do, it has to be with him from this moment on. Understand?”Before I could find my voice, Ethan stepped forward, his expression darkening as he faced his father.“That’s enough,” Ethan said. “You don’t get to raise your voice at her. She’s my wife now, not someone to be ordered around.”I blinked, surprised by the protective edge in his tone. Ethan turned to me, his gaze softening.“Callie, you can do whatever you want,” he said. “If you want to leave today and travel back alone, I’ll book the ticket for you. Take the time you need to figure things out.”I opened my mouth to respond, but he wasn’t finished.“You’ve been through enough,” Ethan continued. “Take a week… no work, no obligations. After that, we’ll figure things out together. You can come back, start living with me… to avoid people talking.
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Second Chances Under the Tree Power outage
CALLIE“Callie,” his voice was low and husky, sending shivers down my spine.“Sebastian,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. “What’s going on? Are you okay? Did you… ” I paused, swallowing hard. “Did you do this on purpose? Or was it your family? Did they force you? Please, tell me the truth.”The tears I had been holding back finally spilled, streaming down my face as the silence on the other end of the line stretched unbearably.“Callie…” His voice cracked slightly, and I could hear the guilt dripping from his tone. “I’m sorry.”“Sorry?” I repeated, my voice breaking. “That’s all you have to say? You disappeared without a word, Sebastian. You left on our wedding day. I thought… ” My breath hitched, and I forced myself to continue. “I thought I meant something to you.”Another pause. Then, quietly he said, “Turn on your TV. Channel 12.”“What?” I frowned, confused. “Sebastian, what are you talking about?”“Just… do it, Callie. Don’t call me a
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Second Chances Under the Tree No choice
SEBASTIAN “What… what the hell?” I hissed into the phone, pacing my office like a caged animal. My pulse raced, my hand tightening around the device. “You guys must be insane! I’ve done everything you asked. Everything! Why are you doing this?”The voice on the other end was cold and it made my blood boil.“This wasn’t part of the deal,” I snarled. “I’ve played my part. If this is some kind of twisted game…”Their response cut me off, like my protests were nothing more than static noise.“You know what?” I said, my voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “Do your worst.”Without waiting for a reply, I ended the call and threw the phone on the desk. I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head as I stared at the faint reflection of my own scowl on the desk’s glossy surface. “What a mess,” I muttered to myself.The door creaked open behind me. “What mess?”I froze for a moment, recognizing the voice immediately. I turned, and there he was… Lucas, leaning casually against the doorframe, a s
Last Updated : 2024-11-27
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
