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The shock
Last Updated:
2024-12-30 10:46:08
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Second Chances Under the Tree What's the plan?
CALLIE I remained silent, my mind screamed in disbelief, and yet, the evidence was right there in front of me. It couldn’t be true. Could it? Lucas.. the man who had been at Sebastian’s side during his entire coma, the one who never left him alone, the one who told me everything would be okay… He was the one behind it all? I shook my head in disbelief, my hands trembling as I clutched them together tightly. The room felt like it was closing in on me, and I couldn’t breathe. Was I dreaming? Was this some kind of twisted nightmare? Or had I slipped into another dimension, into a future where everything was wrong? The tears that had been flowing earlier had stopped, leaving an emptiness that gnawed at me. Every word Nora spoke, every piece of the puzzle that clicked into place, only seemed to tear the world around me further apart. My heart ached for Sebastian, but the thought that someone… Lucas, whom I had trusted so blindly, was the mastermind behind everything… It was too m
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree Darkness
CALLIE“My father is dying.”I blinked, certain I’d misheard him. “What do you mean, dying? Dying how?”“I mean he’s really sick, Callie,” he said, his voice quieter now. “And this morning… when you left for work, I got a call from him.”I tilted my head, my confusion deepening. “Your father called you?”He nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line. “It wasn’t just the call that threw me off,” he continued, pacing the room now. “It was what he said. He apologized, Callie. My father… apologized. Can you believe that? He actually admitted he was wrong. About me. About everything.”My jaw dropped. “Wait, what? He apologized? As in, he admitted he was wrong about accusing you of… killing Ethan?”Sebastian stopped pacing and met my gaze, as his eyes darkened. “Yes. He said he didn’t believe it, not really, even though Charlotte swore I was guilty. He begged me to come see him. Begged, Callie. My father, who has spent his entire life acting like he’s untouchable, was on the phone, practical
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree Arousal
CHARLOTTEI took a deep breath, clutching the glass of water in one hand and the small tray of pills in the other. The air in the room felt suffocating, as I stepped through the doorway.This wasn’t what I signed up for.I paused in the doorway, watching him. My husband, once a formidable and untouchable man, now lay frail and sunken into the hospital bed we had installed in his study. His breathing was uneven, a rasping sound that grated on my nerves. He looked more corpse than man these days, and the thought of it made my lips twitch into a smile.It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I was supposed to be living a life of luxury, dining at the finest restaurants, traveling the world, and surrounded by admiration. But instead, I was here, shackled to a dying man who had done nothing but drain the life out of me.And now, Ethan is dead. My boy.The thought made my chest tighten, but I swallowed the lump in my throat. No. I couldn’t afford to wallow, not now. I had spent years mastering t
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree Out of our way
DAMONI swung the door open with more force than necessary, my jaw clenched in irritation. Standing on the other side was exactly who I expected- Kara.Her arms were crossed, her brow furrowed in that same expression she always wore."What the hell do you want?" I snapped.Her eyes widened slightly, but she recovered quickly. "Damon, you didn’t answer my calls, so I… "I didn’t let her finish. I slammed the door in her face without a second thought, the sound reverberating through the room. Turning back toward Charlotte, I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm the frustration bubbling inside me.She was sitting on the side of the table, still flushed from our interrupted moment."Who was it?”"Kara," I muttered.Charlotte arched an eyebrow, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "Your cousin? The one who’s always 'needing something'?"I sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "Yeah. She’s back to stress me out, probably about money again."She rolled her eyes, crossing her legs as she l
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree On my terms
CALLIEHis words hit me like a blow to the chest, knocking the air out of my lungs. My mind refused to process the reality of what he was saying.“No,” I whispered, shaking my head as tears blurred my vision. “No, you’re lying. You’re lying!”Lucas crouched down in front of me, his face inches from mine. His cold eyes bore into me as he spoke.“Do you think I’d lie to you, Callie?” he sneered. “I don’t play games. I told you he’s gone, and you need to accept it.”I recoiled from him, my body shaking with fear. “Why are you doing this?” I managed to say between sobs. “Why me?”He reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek, and I flinched at his touch. “Because, darling,” he said softly, “you’re mine now. And no one… no one, gets to take you away from me.”Lucas’s smirk returned as he pulled his phone from his pocket, “Clean it up,” he said into the phone, his tone devoid of emotion. “Now.”The call ended abruptly, and he turned his attention back to me, his eyes scanning my trembl
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree The plan
CALLIELucas gestured for me to sit, looking very surprised as I carefully took a seat across from him at the long dining table. The maid stood by nervously, wringing her hands.His gaze lingered on me, his expression softening in a way that unsettled me even more than his usual cold demeanor. Slowly, he reached across the table, his fingers brushing against mine before he took my hand in his. I had to fight the instinct to pull away. My heart raced, but I kept my face neutral, my breathing steady.“Callie,” he began, “I know you hate me right now. I know you think I’m a monster and maybe I am, but everything I’ve done, everything, has been for you.”I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “For me?” I repeated, incredulous. “You call this love? Dragging me here, killing Sebastian… ” My voice cracked, and I stopped myself, biting my lip to hold back the tears.His jaw tightened, but he didn’t let go of my hand. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I didn’t mean for things to go thi
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree Invitation
SEBASTIANI knew she was going to be furious. I could feel it in the way she stiffened as we sat on the couch, the way her jaw clenched and her gaze darted between my face and her hands. And honestly, I couldn’t blame her. If the roles were reversed, I’d probably feel the same way. But I didn’t have a choice. Not if I wanted to protect her and bring Lucas down.“Callie,” I began cautiously. “I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be. But please, don’t let that anger get in the way of understanding why I did what I did. I need you to hear me out.”Her eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Go on,” she replied.I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Detective Nora had one of her agents go undercover as a maid at Lucas’s hideout. We thought it would be our way in… our way to monitor him, get intel, and take him down before he could do more damage. But things didn’t go as planned.”Callie’s brows furrowed, but she stayed silent, waiting for me to continue.“When
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Second Chances Under the Tree Up to something
CHARLOTTEI pushed open the front door as quietly as I could. My heels barely made a sound on the tiled floor as I tiptoed toward the staircase, desperate to slip into my room unnoticed.“Charlotte.”The voice froze me in my tracks. My pulse quickened as I turned slowly, clutching my bag tightly to my side. There he was… my husband, sitting in his favorite chair in the parlor, the glow of the television illuminating his gaunt face.I forced a smile, though my heart pounded in my chest. “I didn’t realize you were still awake.”He leaned back, his frail frame sinking into the cushions, and cleared his throat. “Where were you?”I sighed, “I went out… to relax.”His eyes stayed on me for a moment, searching my face, but then he simply nodded. “Alright.”Alright? That was it? I couldn’t tell if he was too tired to argue or if he simply didn’t care anymore.He turned his attention back to the television, the news anchor’s voice filling the silence between us. “Sebastian and Callie will be h
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
