Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Killian gave a sharp, dismissive snort. “To the hospital! You certainly know how to complicate my day.”

He bent down, scooping his son into his arms.

However, Austin, tense and resentful, kept his body rigid and uncooperative, forcing the middle-aged man into an awkward struggle before finally depositing him into the back of the car.

They drove straight to the emergency room.

The diagnosis was swift: a fractured third metatarsal with a partial ligament tear. Immediate hospitalization was required.

Even the attending physician seemed puzzled, unable to fathom how a simple twist could result in such significant damage to a healthy young man’s foot.

Killian, having just been discharged himself, now found. himself checking his son back into the same sterile

environment.

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With no desire to linger, he promptly arranged for Stephanie and Nicole to handle Austin’s care, going so far as to schedule the chess tutor for bedside lessons.

*****

Meanwhile, life at the military compound settled into a quiet rhythm for Calista and her daughter.

Alisa greeted them each morning with a warm smile, her kitchen producing an endless array of comforting meals.

Calista divided her attention between managing her ongoing projects and the daily chess matches with Olivia.

The peace was comfortable, yet it carried a subtle, persistent sense of absence.

One afternoon, Olivia rested her chin in her hand, her

gaze

fixed on the chessboard between them. “I know all your moves, Mom. There’s no surprise anymore. I really wish Mr. Hayes were here.”

Calista offered a gentle smile, pushing a pawn forward. “Mr. Hayes has his own responsibilities, sweetheart. Besides, you used to enjoy playing against yourself just 00

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< Chapter 128

fine.”

“That was different. Back then, I never expected Dad to play. I didn’t hope for anything. But Mr. Hayes… when he plays, it feels like I’m really learning. It feels solid,” Olivia sighed, the sound tinged with a quiet resignation.

The observation landed with unexpected weight. Calista realized, with a quiet pang, how effortlessly Evander had filled a space in her daughter’s world-a space Killian had left conspicuously empty.

He had provided the attentive, steady presence that should have been a father’s gift.

Their quiet moment was interrupted by the sound of the front door and Alisa’s cheerful voice greeting a newcomer.

The man who stepped into the living room had a distinguished head of silver hair and a calm, scholarly air about him, dressed in simple, light-colored casual wear. He looked around, his expression one of profound and genuine bewilderment.

Olivia sprang to her feet. After a stunned second, her hand flew to her mouth. “Sir Winchester?”

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“Sir Winchester, what are you doing here?”

Familiar with her daughter’s passions, Calista also recognized the renowned Grandmaster from photographs.

Both mother and daughter were utterly perplexed.

Wesley smoothed a hand over his silver hair, his confusion mirroring their own.

What’s going on? And what, precisely, was I expected to do?

Alisa said warmly, gesturing to an armchair, “Please, have a seat. Mr. Hayes mentioned he couldn’t be here to play chess with Ms. Frost himself. So, he made special arrangements to bring Sir Winchester here for some guidance.”

A soft, comprehending “Oh” escaped Wesley’s lips. “So it was that boy who orchestrated this. I was in the middle of a very quiet retreat when I was rather… abruptly escorted. here.”

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Olivia could only stare, struck by his tone of bewildered

acceptance.

Evander had essentially arranged a “kidnapping”?

The gentle, refined man she knew was capable of such a thing?

Profuse apologies immediately spilled from both Calista and Olivia.

Wesley, however, simply waved a dismissive hand, a faint, amused smile touching his lips.

“If I hadn’t seen the gates of a military compound, I might have believed it was a true abduction. Byron and that Hayes boy share a distinct lack of ceremony, not even a word of warning.”

He sighed, the sound more theatrical than annoyed, “But since I am here, we might as well make the best of it.” Hist keen eyes fell upon the chessboard Olivia had set up. He gestured toward it. “Well then, young lady. Shall we have a game?”

“9b… Yes, of course,” Olivia replied.

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Olivia’s steps faltered as she approached, her pulse still racing from the thrill of the moment.

To think she would be playing against Wesley, a true chess master. She felt unworthy of such an honor.

Ah! All thanks to Evander for making it happen.

The game began.

After setting out coffee and pastries beside them, Calista took a seat nearby and picked up her phone.

Her gaze lingered on Evander’s chat screen.

Even with pressing tasks demanding his attention, he’d still carved out time to arrange this.

He truly held both her and Olivia close, tending to every detail with genuine care.

Her fingers typed “Thank you,” then hesitated.

Deleting the words, Calista reconsidered—he wouldn’t

want to hear that.

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