All Chapters of Second Chances Under the Tree : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

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

ETHANI leaned back in my chair, my fingers drumming idly on the edge of my desk, a slow smile curling across my lips. Callie was mine now. Truly mine. No one could take her away from me, not Sebastian, not her doubts, not even her stubborn will.I hadn’t realized just how much I wanted her until they came home for Christmas, when she walked into the room with Sebastian, her hand in his. It was like a flame had ignited inside me, consuming every rational thought. That day, I decided she would be mine, no matter what it took.I reached for the small bowl of sweets on my desk, unwrapping one with deliberate care. The sugary taste spread across my tongue as I sucked on it, the sweetness mirroring the satisfaction I felt. She was under my roof now, sharing my space, my life. And soon, she’d share my heart completely.Very soon, she’d see there was no escape from me.She’d fall for me. I’d make sure of it.I chuckled to myself. I never thought I was capable of feeling like this. This kind

CALLIEMy stomach churned. I didn’t like where this was going. “Sebastian, stop,” I said, cutting him off. “Please. I don’t know why you’re calling me in the first place, but whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it.”“Callie, just listen to me… ”“No!” I screamed. “I can’t do this with you, Sebastian. Whatever you think I need to know, keep it to yourself. And don’t call me again.”“Callie…”“My husband wouldn’t like it,” I snapped. “So don’t call me again, Sebastian.”With that, I ended the call, my hand trembling as I lowered the phone. My chest heaved with the effort of holding back tears, and I felt like I’d just run a marathon.Why now? Why did he think he had the right to invade my life like this, especially now, when everything already felt like it was crumbling around me?I couldn’t let Sebastian ruin my day any further. I needed to eat, to find some semblance of normalcy.I called for the maid and she reappeared moments later.“What did the chef prepare today?” I asked, tryin

SEBASTIAN I froze, Ethan’s words cutting through me like a knife. My chest tightened, and my fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms.“You… you killed him” I asked, my voice trembling with fury.Ethan laughed, a low, mocking sound that made my blood boil. “Yes I did, Sebastian, because he was going to tell Callie. He thought he was doing the right thing, exposing the truth, saving her from me.” Ethan leaned closer, his smirk widening. “But what he didn’t realize was that no one messes with me and gets away with it.”“You bastard,” I growled, taking a threatening step forward.Ethan didn’t flinch. If anything, he seemed to revel in my anger. “Oh, don’t look so shocked,” he said, his tone dripping with condescension. “You told him everything, didn’t you? About the whole marriage thing, about my mother’s little… extracurricular activities. Did you really think he’d keep his mouth shut?”The rage inside me boiled over. Without thinking, I lunged at him. My fist connected wit

CALLIEBefore I could react, the handlebars clipped my side, throwing me off balance. I stumbled forward, colliding with a woman walking ahead of me. Her coffee cup tipped, the steaming liquid spilling all over the front of her coat.“Oh no!” I gasped, taking out my earbuds as the kids sped away, one of them shouting, “Sorry!” without even slowing down.I turned to the woman, horrified. She was patting her now coffee-stained blouse with a napkin.“I am so, so sorry,” I blurted, my words tumbling out in a rush. “I didn’t see them coming, and then I… oh my god, your coffee! I’m really sorry.”The woman looked up at me, her lips twitching into a weary smile. “It’s okay,” she said, though it was obvious she was frustrated by the way she sounded. “I just really needed that coffee.”“Please, let me buy you another one,” I insisted, feeling really guilty.She waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine, really. Don’t worry about it.”“No, I insist,” I said. “I feel terrible. Please, let me make i