All Chapters of Second Chances Under the Tree : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

CALLIEThe door swung open, and there he was… Ethan, standing in the doorway, his eyes widened and mouth slightly opened. For a moment, he looked like he wasn’t sure if this was real or some vivid dream.“Callie,” he breathed, his voice filled with surprise and something else… desire. His eyes roamed over me, taking in every inch.I smirked, taking a step toward him. “You’ve been working too hard,” I said softly. “I think it’s time we both took a break.”Ethan’s eyes darkened with pleasure, but there was a hesitation in his gaze as he took a cautious step closer. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.I tilted my head slightly, letting my hair fall over one shoulder as I stepped forward, my body language dripping with intention. “Isn’t it obvious?” I replied, my voice teasing as I leaned against the wall, one leg bent slightly, showcasing the curve of my body. My eyes locked onto his, daring him to close the gap.Just as Ethan took another step toward me, his phone buzzed loudl

CALLIEThe drive was indeed a long one. I shifted in my seat, trying to get comfortable, but my mind wouldn’t let me. Ethan still didn’t know about this trip, and I had no way to contact him. Anxiety gnawed at me, but I shoved it aside. Emily needed me more right now.Emily suddenly turned to face me, a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes playing on her lips. “Thanks again, Callie,” she said softly. “You’ve made this mission so easy for me.”I blinked, caught off guard by her choice of words. “It’s no problem,” I said, brushing off the odd feeling creeping up my spine. “That’s what friends are for.”Emily nodded, her gaze lingering on me a moment longer before she turned back to the road.I glanced out the window, my thoughts drifting to a time I rarely revisited. “You know,” I started quietly, “when I lost my parents years ago, I had no one. It was just me, bearing all that pain alone… burying them without any help.”"I swallowed hard as the memories played back. “So, I get it. I

SEBASTIAN The second I stepped into the café, the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans hit me, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside. My heart pounded so loudly, and my hands trembled despite my attempts to stop them.I zeroed in on the counter and marched straight to it. “I need to see your manager,” I said, trying to keep my voice really calm.The barista, a young guy who didn’t look a day over twenty, barely glanced up. “Sir, you’ll need to wait in line.”I clenched my fists, taking a deep breath. “This isn’t about coffee. It’s urgent. I need to speak with your manager now.”He raised an eyebrow. “I get that, but you’re not the only person here. Everyone’s urgent. You can wait like everyone else.”His dismissive tone sent a fresh wave of frustration through me. My hands trembled, not from fear, but from the sheer force of holding back the storm raging within. I leaned in closer, lowering my voice.“You don’t seem to understand. A woman… someone I care about… has vanishe

SEBASTIAN My heart stopped. The room tilted as I struggled to breathe. Excuse me? The words barely escaped my lips. “What did you just say?” The officer asked also in shock. He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing on Emily.“She’s dead,” Emily repeated. Tears streaked her pale cheeks, but her expression was void of remorse.I surged to my feet, my heart pounding like a war drum. “You’re lying!” My voice thundered through the room, and a sharp ache shot through my chest. “Callie isn’t dead! You’re just trying to…”“I’m not lying,” Emily cut me off, her gaze locked on mine. “I paid a group of men to handle her. I met them in a bar. I didn’t know their names, only where they hung out. They agreed for cash. I told them to meet me at Harper Valley.”My stomach twisted into knots. “Why, Emily? Why would you do this?”She wiped her tears, her hands trembling. “Because I couldn’t stand watching her with you! She didn’t deserve you.”The officer slammed his hand on the table, making us both ju

Ethan sat slumped in the parlor, staring blankly at the floor, his mind consumed by thoughts of Callie. The days without her felt like a slow suffocation, and the pain of not knowing where she was, or if she was even alive, gnawed at him relentlessly. His mother, Charlotte, looked over at him from the dining table, her face filled with concern. “Ethan,” she said softly, “You haven’t touched your food. You should come eat with us. It's been days since you've had a decent meal.” He didn’t even glance up. “I’m not hungry.” Charlotte exchanged a look with her husband, then sighed. “What is it about that girl? What was it about Callie that had both you and Sebastian losing your minds? She’s just… a normal lady, Ethan.” Ethan finally turned to face her, his eyes red and exhausted. “You wouldn’t understand, Mom,” he muttered, his voice heavy with frustration. “She’s not just anyone.” Charlotte’s expression softened, but before she could respond, his father, Mr Thompson, spoke up.