All Chapters of Second Chances Under the Tree : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CALLIEThe moment we entered my room, I turned to Sebastian, unable to contain the swirling emotions inside me any longer. “What’s going on, Sebastian?” I asked. “Why the hell did you propose to me in the first place? We weren’t even dating! The plan was to pretend we were lovers, and then suddenly, you’re down on one knee. Was that part of the plan too? Or is there something you’re not telling me?”He sighed, slipping off his jacket and tossing it onto the nearby chair. “Callie,” he said softly, “I’m just as lost as you are when it comes to Sophie. I don’t know what’s gotten into her. And as for the proposal...” He stepped closer, his brown eyes locking onto mine. “That wasn’t part of the plan. It had nothing to do with pretending.”My heart stuttered at his words, but I kept my guard up. “Then why did you do it?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Why did you propose out of the blues?”“I did it because I couldn’t imagine you not being by my side,” he admitted. “Because I love you, Calli

SEBASTIAN As soon as we walked out of the house earlier, Callie broke down. She clung to me, tears streaming down her face as she blamed herself for everything that had happened. For Sophie’s rage. For the chaos. “It’s my fault,” she’d whispered brokenly. I held her tightly, stroking her back. “None of this is your fault, Callie. Not one bit. You didn’t deserve what she did.”But even as I said it, I knew words alone wouldn’t take away the pain. The way her shoulders had shaken in my arms had gutted me. She didn’t deserve any of this.Now, hours later, as I watched her gaze out the window and I felt relieved. The tears had stopped, and the sadness in her eyes seemed to have lifted. Even if only for a moment, it was enough.She was better now, at least outwardly, and that was all I needed to focus on for the next few days.The sprawling luxury resort loomed ahead as I drove through the gates. Callie leaned forward in her seat, her eyes lighting up as she took in the grandeur.“This

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

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

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