Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135

The car hummed along the highway, the rhythmic sound of tires on asphalt filling the comfortable silence between mother and daughter. Suddenly, Olivia sneezed, a sharp, unexpected sound that broke the quiet.

“Feeling chilly? We can turn the AC off,” Calista asked, her eyes still on the road.

“My intuition tells me Austin is talking about me,” Olivia declared with mock seriousness, rubbing her nose.

Calista offered no reply.

A strange, subtle connection often existed between twins, and she’d long since stopped questioning its odd manifestations.

Settling back into her seat, Olivia heaved an exaggerated, world-weary sigh.

Calista smiled, a soft curve of her lips. “What’s this? One little sneeze has you all worked up?”

“Abit, I suppose.”

16:03

< Chapter 135

“That’s a first. Countless exams never made you blink, but this tournament has you nervous? Afraid of letting Sir Winchester down? Hasn’t Sir Winchester’s training

sunk in?”

“It’s not the tournament.” Olivia shook her head, her hair brushing her shoulders. “Sir Winchester taught me so much. How could I not learn?”

Her current total stood at 16 points, placing her second overall—a rank she maintained deliberately.

Out of ten matches, she’d conceded two, a strategic choice to conceal her full strength and avoid drawing premature

attention.

This record was respectable enough; it wouldn’t bring any shame to Wesley’s name.

A sly, knowing smile played on Olivia’s lips as she studied her mother’s profile. “What makes me nervous is that Mr. Hayes seems to have gained another competitor,” she drawled, her voice teasing.

“Hmm?” Calista’s attention remained fixed ahead, so she

2/9

16:03

< Chapter 135

missed the glint of amusement in her daughter’s eyes..

“Mom… I think Mr. Ferrer might be interested in you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Reaching over without looking, Calista gave her daughter’s head a gentle, playfulsswat. “Mr. Ferrer and I went to the same university. Hiss just being polite to an alumna. It’s nothing like that.

“Your focus should be on your own future, not on

matchmaker for me.”

She was in no hurry to remarry, yet her daughter wass already busy scouting for a stepdad. It was both amusingg and a little exasperating.

Another long, dramatic sigh escaped Olivia as she gazed out the window. “My poor mother. Dad did a number on you. You can’t even recognize when someone likes you. Mom, you’re actually really charming! You should have more confidence!” she lamented, her tone a blend of

affection and frustration.

Calista could only shake her head in fond exasperation. “Besides charm, I also have a strong arm. If you keep trying to set me up like this, I might just have to give you

16:03

TH

< Chapter 135

a memorable “physical persuasion.”

“You and Uncle Kyle are definitely twins. You share the same sarcasm gene.”

Olivia let her head loll against the headrest with a groan. “When is Mr. Hayes coming back? I really wish he could be there to watch the finals!”

“Is having just your mom here not good enough?”

“Of course I want you there, Mom. But I also want M Hayes to see how much I’ve improved. I can’t waste all the opportunities he arranged for me,” Olivia said.

“No, we certainly can’t waste them.”

The memory alone of Evander persuading Wesley to personally tutor Olivia in strategy was enough to fill Calista with profound gratitude.

And despite herself, the same quiet thought echoed in her mind.

When was he coming back?

4/9

16:03

< Chapter 135

A mere week apart, and she found herself missing him.

*****

так

The next morning, the sun peeked through the curtains as Calista and Olivia rose early.

After a quick breakfast, they gathered their things and set off.

It was Saturday, and the roads were bustling with tra

Anticipating potential jams, Calista had left well ahead of schedule to reach the chess tournament venue.

The plan was to arrive with plenty of time to spare, but as they drove, a series of strange vehicles started to cause trouble. One after another, cars whizzed by on the side.

Then, out of nowhere, three vehicles-a van, a pickup truck, and an SUV with out-of-town license. plates-blocked their way.

The van in the front slowed them down, the pickup on the side prevented lane changes, and the SUV at the rear stopped them from reducing speed.

16:03

так

< Chapter 135

The only unobstructed side led to the green belt.

At first, Calista didn’t think much of it. After all, everyone was on the road, and these maneuvers, though annoying, weren’t illegal.

However, when she changed the route and took a turn, the three vehicles followed suit.

Realization dawned on her-they were being deli delayed.

Olivia also sensed something was amiss. “Mom, are th blocking our way on purpose?” she asked, her brows furrowed.

Calista nodded, her eyes narrowing. “It seems someone doesn’t want you to make it to the finals.’

Suddenly, she recalled Nicole’s confident claim

the previous day that Austin would surely win the championship.

She didn’t know if the Frost family was behind this, but one thing was clear: she couldn’t afford to be late.

6/9

16:03

le have enough tgh time. I just need to my match,” OlOlivia reassured her,

to break througbugli Calista replied,

the steering wheelieel.

< ChaChapter1

The The young pl

were wire sizing

“That mats must

of awardsards an

another.her.

the mother-daughterhter duo remained “With him hienene

anoth

cesp

“If the

I stage of the junior chesshess

outstand if the point

sphere was charged withith

The first-ranked

Ethan Lessing. D

ings to get top-notch judges fes for the dibility and fairness.235

casual suit, he ex

were a figure step

e chess legend Wesley, but alasalas 3 had thwarted that plan.com.

eir parents had arrived early andand a dedicated room.

He sat quietly in

Coxcommotion.

HiHis friend playful

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify