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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Second Chances Under the Tree : Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

148 Kabanata

Anticipation

EMILYThe door creaked open as I stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of lavender. My mother was seated in her favorite armchair, her sharp eyes lifting from the book in her hands. “Welcome back, darling,” she said, closing the book. “So? How did it go?”I couldn’t help but smile wickedly as I slipped off my coat, hanging it neatly by the door. “It went perfectly,” I replied, sauntering into the living room. “The plan worked better than I expected.”“Tell me everything.”I flopped onto the couch, crossing my legs. “It wasn’t hard. All I needed was a couple of kids and a few bucks. I told them to ‘accidentally’ hit her with their bikes. They thought it was just a fun prank.” I chuckled, recalling the scene. “That took care of the rest. Callie was so guilt-ridden, she practically begged to buy me another coffee.”“And?” my mother prompted, leaning forward.“We exchanged numbers,” I said, my grin widening. “She already trusts me. She has no idea what’s coming.”A satisfied smil

Performance

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

Let’s just do this

CALLIE Sunday mornings were supposed to be sacred. I had promised myself a day of rest, no interruptions, just me and my peace. Thankfully, Ethan wasn't around. Monday was close by, and I needed every ounce of energy to survive another week at work.But of course, life had other plans.My phone buzzed beside me, dragging me out of my blissful laziness. It was a text from Emily.Emily: Hey, can we meet? It’s urgent.I sat up, frowning. Emily rarely sounded this serious. We’d only known each other for a few weeks, but we’d already met up a few times, and I could tell she was a really good person. Her warm, nice personality had quickly made her a friend I could rely on.Curious and slightly worried, I replied:Me: Of course. Where?Emily: The usual spot. But please, don’t come with your car. Just take a cab.That last part was odd, but I didn’t question it. If Emily needed me, I wasn’t about to let her down. I grabbed my bag, threw on a brown short dress, and hurried out.****The cab p

I trusted her

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

Anyone else?

ETHANPanic clawed at my chest as I paced the length of my parlour. It had been 24 hours since Callie’s phone last connected. I couldn’t go to work, couldn't sleep, couldn’t think. Every second stretched into an eternity, my mind replaying the worst scenarios.The police were notified, but it was like they weren't doing anything. “We’re on it,” they had said, as if that would bring her back. I had called my parents. They were already on a flight, promising to be here as soon as possible.I grabbed my phone again, dialing the housekeeper. “Did Callie tell you where she was going? Anything at all?”“No, sir,” she replied. “She didn’t mention a thing.”I clutched the phone tightly. “Did you actually see her leave the house?”“Yes, sir,” the housekeeper replied. “She dressed up in a brown dress and walked out. I thought she might’ve mentioned where she was going, but she didn’t say a word.”A brown dress. My mind raced, trying to recall any mention of plans or places. “What time was thi

Realisation

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

Where is Callie?

EMILY“Food’s ready, Emily,” my mother called from the kitchen, her voice warm as always. “Come carry your plate.”I walked over to her, and as I approached, she raised an eyebrow. “So, how did you feel now that you've finally got rid of that bastard?”A smile tugged at my lips, but it quickly faded. “Oh, I am really happy,” I said, though my voice faltered. Something in me wasn’t quite satisfied.My mother studied me. “What’s wrong? You don’t seem so happy.”I shrugged, unsure of how to explain the emptiness I felt. “I don’t know, Mom. It’s just… I don’t feel completely satisfied. What I did doesn’t change the fact that I still couldn’t get Sebastian.”In my mind, I saw him again. I still thought about him. I still dreamed about him. And now, with Callie gone, it felt like the last thread of hope had slipped away.I looked at my mother, making up my mind. “Since I can’t have Sebastian, I don’t want any other woman to have him, either. The best thing to do now is to get rid of him for

Duskfall Island

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

The boat

CALLIE“No,” I whispered, shaking my head as my breathing grew rapid. “No, please. Not this. What do we do?.” The words tumbled out in a frantic rush as my vision blurred with tears. My legs gave out beneath me, and I crumpled to the ground.Nora crouched beside me, her eyes full of concern. “Callie, we can’t fall apart now,” she said gently. “We need to figure out how to get off this island… quietly and as soon as possible.”What’s the point of running when the world always finds new ways to corner you?My hands trembled as I clutched at the sand. “I’m tired,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “I’m so tired, Nora. Every time I try to trust someone, they betray me. Life just… keeps getting worse. Maybe it’s better if I just stay here. Let this place take me.”My tears fell freely now, mixing with the grains of sand beneath me. “What’s the point of surviving if it only leads to more pain?”Nora sat down closer to me. She didn’t rush to comfort me or dismiss my despair. Instead, she

This is madness

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.

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