Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 127

< Second Chance, His Unending Lo…

Chapter 127

St. Mary’s Church stood at the hill’s crest, its steep stone staircase a more demanding climb than the winding road

Yet step by step, Calista and her daughter Olivia pressed on-their breaths growing short, legs heavy.

Two hours passed before they finally reached the summit.

Within the chapel, Calista took a prayer candle, knelt on the cushioned stool, and closed her eyes. Sincerely, she prayed for Evander’s safety and peace throughout his life.

When she rose, she placed the candle into a wrought-iron stand, then approached the priest to receive a small silver pendant-a token of protection meant for Evander upon his return.

As mother and daughter turned to leave, three figures filled the doorway: Killian, Austin, and Stephanie.

Austin’s gaze fell instantly on the pendant in Calista’s hand. He let out a scoff. “How coincidental. I just broke theglast one yesterday, and here you are, already with1 5:59

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another. Still can’t let it go, can you?”

Calista said nothing, her face unreadable. She simply took

Olivia’s hand and moved forward.

But Olivia couldn’t hold back. “You broke it? That was / something Mom worked hard to get for you! Even if you didn’t want it, you didn’t have to destroy it.”

“I did. What’s it to you?” Austin said with a smirk.

“Maybe I can’t stop you, but God sees everything. Even how you treat Mom’s kindness.” Olivia retorted.

“God?” Austin laughed, short and mocking. “Come on, Olivia, don’t tell me you believe that. If these things actually worked, would anyone get sick? Would anyone fail a test?”

He paused, his tone shifting to something almost expectant. “But… if you really want to get me another, I wouldn’t say no.”

His eyes returned to Calista as Austin waited.

Shed

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another word, Calista walked past him.

Olivia shook her head. “If you don’t believe any of it, why even come up here? You’re the one who looks ridiculous.

Then she followed her mother down the steps.

Stephanie watched them go, her gaze cool. With a light pull, she ushered both Austin and Killian into the chapel. “Come along.”

“Grandma, I told you I didn’t want to come. Now Olivia’s laughing at me again,” Austin grumbled.

“Don’t mind them, dear. No one else’s blessings matter as much as your own sincere heart. I brought you here so God may watch over your chess tournament and guide your father’s work,” Stephanie said gently.

Lately, misfortune had clung to the Frost family like a stubborn shadow. Perhaps here, in this quiet space, they might turn their luck.

Killian didn’t truly believe in prayer, but to please his

mother, he murmured a few words-asking for success in his career.

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Austin couldn’t even pretend. When the priest drew near, he offered no blessing, only a watchful silence.

Later, Stephanie approached the priest, her voice low with concern. “Why does trouble keep finding our family?”

The priest was quiet for a long moment. Then he inclined his head slightly. “You need not return here again.”

“Why not?”

“The one who guarded your home is gone. The storms were always waiting.” With that, he turned and walked

away.

Stephanie couldn’t shake the priest’s words, turning them over in her mind again and again.

What had he meant by all that?

Why speak in riddles instead of just saying it plainly?

“Don’t waste your energy, Grandma.” Austin cut in with a scoff. “They keep it vague on purpose-so you’ll donate

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extra or pay for another blessing. It’s an old scam. Nothing to lose sleep over.”

“But everyone says St. Mary’s is special… that the prayers here really work. Isn’t it better to believe, just in case?”

Before she could finish, Killian raised a hand. “Enough, Mom. Let’s go.”

They started toward the parking lot along the smooth

pavement.

Without warning, Austin crumpled to the ground with a sharp cry.

“Damn it!”

He knelt on the asphalt, clutching his ankle, his eyes welling up from the sudden sting.

“Oh, goodness-what happened?” Stephanie rushed to his side.

Even at a glance, she could see the problem: his right ankle was already swelling, the joint visibly out of place.

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Beads of sweat dotted Austin’s forehead. “Twisted it, Grandma.”

Killian was already by the driver’s door. Seeing his son crouched on the pavement, he frowned, impatience edging his voice. “It’s just a sprain. Can you walk or not?”

As Austin heard that tone, his pride flared. Gritting his teeth, he tried to push himself up.

But this wasn’t an ordinary twist-beneath the sharp pain lay a heavy, numb feeling, as if his foot had gone dead. He couldn’t put any weight on it at all.

Stephanie helped support him, her voice tense. “He can’t walk on it, Killian. Carry him to the car. We need to get him to a hospital.”

The hospital. Again.

Killian pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long, tired breath.

He shut the car door harder than necessary and walked over, his expression cool.

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