All Chapters of Second Chances Under the Tree : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

CALLIEI arrived at the VIP section 112 of the club where we had agreed to meet, my heart pounding harder than the bass shaking the walls. I paused at the door, smoothing down my dress as I glanced inside.And then, I saw him.He sat casually on the couch, sipping a drink. His appearance took me by surprise- too refined, too elegant, and way too good-looking for someone in his line of work."Get it together, Callie," I whispered, straightening my back and summoning a confidence I didn’t feel as I walked toward him.“You’re late,” he said, raising his head to meet my gaze with those gorgeous brown eyes.Ignoring the formality, I sat into the seat across from him and crossed my arms. “Let’s skip the small talk.”His brows lifted slightly, but he didn’t reply.“I didn’t come here for pleasantries,” I continued. “I came here for one thing. So let’s get to it.”He gave me a surprised look, but I didn’t care. Reaching for the zipper of my dress, I tugged it down, and it slid off my shoulde

SEBASTIAN I hated putting her in this position. Seeing the tears threatening to spill from her eyes twisted something deep inside me.But this was the only way. If I didn’t frame it this way, there was no way she’d accept the offer I was about to give her.Her hand hovered over the doorknob as she turned back to face me. Her voice wavered, though she tried to keep it steady. “What’s the condition?”I took a deep breath. “You can keep your job,” I began, “but you have to agree to one thing.”Her brows furrowed, and she crossed her arms, waiting.“You’ll act as my date for my family’s Christmas and New Year’s celebrations,” I said, watching her expression carefully. “You’ll have to pretend to be my girlfriend. After that, everything goes back to normal. You’ll keep your job, and I’ll stay out of your way.”Her jaw dropped. “You’re joking.”“I’m not,” I replied. “My father has been breathing down my neck, insisting I bring someone home. If I don’t, I’ll never hear the end of it.”She bl

CALLIEI was stunned. Was he seriously asking me to marry him? Right here, in front of his parents?This felt surreal… like a scene from one of those over-the-top romantic movies where the heroine swoons and says yes. Except, this wasn’t a movie. It was my life, and I wasn’t sure what to say.I glanced at the ring, the diamond glittering under the soft glow of the Christmas lights. It was beautiful… almost as beautiful as the man kneeling before me. My heart wavered as I met Sebastian’s gaze.I loved him. There was no denying that now. But we’d only known each other for a week. Was this crazy? Yes. But did I want to lose him if I said no?My thoughts scrambled for clarity, and in a moment of desperation, I silently asked, ‘Santa Claus, what do you think I should do?’The room felt like it was closing in on me, with his parents watching and smiling widely.I needed a second. Just one second to think.As I took a slow step back, my foot caught on something and before I could steady myse

SEBASTIAN My heart shattered the moment I saw Ethan’s lips on Callie. My chest tightened painfully as if something had physically been ripped out of me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Ethan, standing there kissing the woman I cared about so deeply… right after the audacity of gifting her those… panties.Callie’s eyes widened in shock the moment she saw me, her lips parting as she stammered, “Sebastian, it’s not… it’s not what you think!”Her voice cracked as she tried to explain, but my gaze had already shifted to Ethan. He wasn’t even trying to look apologetic. Instead, he stood there with a smug grin plastered across his face.That was it.I felt my blood boil, the heat rising to my face as I took a step toward him. My fists clenched, and before I knew it, I hit him hard on his face.Ethan stumbled back, but instead of retaliating, he simply wiped the corner of his mouth, still smirking.“Feel better now?” he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. “You should enjoy it whi

CALLIE When we arrived, Sebastian didn’t waste a second. Tossing his jacket over his shoulder, he grabbed my hand and led me inside. At the front desk, the receptionist barely had time to smile before Sebastian cut in. “We’ll take a room. Now.” The woman blinked, flustered, but quickly handed him the key. I bit back a laugh, loving how commanding he was. The moment we stepped into the room, the door clicked shut behind us, and Sebastian turned to me. His eyes burned with an intensity that made my breath hitch. “No interruptions this time,” he murmured, stepping closer. “None,” I whispered, reaching for him, closing the distance between us. He wasted no time pulling me into his arms, his lips capturing mine in a heated kiss. He pulled my coat and I followed suit, pulling off his shirt and letting my fingers trace over his chest. His hand curved over my breast, sending shivers down my spine as he kissed me again. His touch trailed downward, slipping beneath my jeans a