All Chapters of Second Chances Under the Tree : Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

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

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

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

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

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