Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 2

Everyone looked at Calista like she’d just told a dumb joke.

Gregory’s tone was curious but dripping with mockery. “Calista, why? Because of what Austin said? Or that little wedding photo stunt?”

See, they all knew what they were doing was wrong. They just picked Killian’s side anyway.

At the head of the table, Stephanie narrowed her eyes, her scowl turning even frostier. “You’re gonna make a scene over something this trivial? Calista, cut the drama.”

“Calista, Austin’s your own flesh and blood,” another relative chimed in. “Can’t you cut him some slack as his mom? Getting bent out of shape over every tiny thing makes you look so petty.”

“If I had a son who took first place in the whole city, I’d let him do whatever he wanted!” someone else added, laughter bubbling up in the room.

The whole family jumped to defend Austin, and he sat up even straighter, his chest puffed out like he hadn’t done a single thing wrong.

Killian’s expression turned cold and intimidating. “Calista, take it back.”

For the first time ever, Calista didn’t flinch under his glare.

“I’ll draw up the divorce papers. You can come sign them whenever you’re ready.”

The only thing she wanted to take back was every last bit of love she’d wasted on this man and their ungrateful son.

She patted Olivia’s shoulder gently and walked out.

Olivia shot Austin a searing glare. “Are you happy now? Mom gave you everything, and you don’t appreciate any of it. But one lousy compliment from someone else, and you worship the ground they walk on. Austin, you’re a complete and total idiot!”

The door slammed shut behind them with a deafening bang.

Gregory leaned back in his chair, cackling like this was the best show he’d seen all year. “Did they actually just leave? Killian, aren’t you gonna go after them?”

Killian picked up his coffee mug and took a slow sip. “No need. She won’t actually go through with it.”

Gregory grinned, nudging Killian’s arm. “I bet Calista won’t last more than three days.”

“One day.” Killian held up a finger.

He’d never taken her divorce threats seriously, not even for a second.

It wasn’t that he looked down on her. They’d been married for 20 years, and she’d pulled this stunt before. Every time, she’d cool off on her own, no apology from him required.

Then she’d come crawling back, acting like nothing had happened, sweet and loving as ever.

She loved him. She loved the kids. And she loved their perfect little family.

But this time, Calista had dragged Olivia into her little tantrum. Even if she wanted to apologize later, it wasn’t going to be that easy to smooth things over.

Nicole tugged gently on Killian’s sleeve, pouting. “Mr. Frost, maybe I shouldn’t have come tonight. I feel like I caused this.”

Killian’s voice softened, his hand brushing hers reassuringly. “This has nothing to do with you. She’s just being oversensitive.”

“Ugh, sensitive middle-aged ladies are such a pain,” Nicole huffed.

She turned to Austin. “Hey, you should probably apologize to your mom. She did bring you a present, after all.”

Austin scoffed, his nose wrinkling with disdain. “Yeah, whatever. She bought it with Dad’s money anyway. What’s she got to be proud of?”

Nicole threw up her hands. “Okay, okay, I give up! You two are impossible!”

Gregory’s eyes drifted to the skateboard lying discarded by the trash can.

He leaned forward, his voice suddenly full of excitement. “Wait a second. Isn’t that an Arcadia & Lane board? That’s the Hermès of skateboards! My son’s been begging me for one for months.”

He turned to Austin, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. “Hey, Austin, if you don’t want it, how about passing it along to your cousin? He’d lose his mind over this.”

“Sure, take it!” Austin waved a hand dismissively.

He didn’t care about some fancy skateboard. If he wanted one, Nicole would buy him something even better, something more professional.

His deep voice carried a note of curiosity. “Which friend?”

“The woman in the photo in your wallet,” Connor replied.

Evander Hayes’ dark eyes narrowed slightly. When he capped his pen, his hand hesitated for just a split second.

He stood up and walked toward the door.

Connor followed right behind him, reaching ahead to clear the way.

At the end of the hall, Evander stopped, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the first floor below.

Under the hotel’s grand entrance awning, a mother and daughter huddled together.

The rain was coming down in sheets, soaking through their shoes and socks.

The wind gusted, threatening to sweep the two fragile figures right out into the downpour.

After a long moment of silence, Evander’s low voice came out, rough around the edges. “They’re trying to check in?”

Connor nodded. “Looks like it. Both of them seem pretty upset about something.”

Connor glanced up at Evander, and for the first time, he saw an emotion he couldn’t name flicker in his eyes.

Connor had been Evander’s second-in-command for years now. He’d followed him all the way from being a regular special ops soldier to becoming the highest-ranking special forces commander in the country.

Evander was 42 with a legendary military record, and there’d never been a single woman in his life. Except for one old photograph he kept tucked in his wallet.

The girl in the picture had long hair cascading past her shoulders, the sides tucked behind her ears. When she smiled, her eyes lit up like stars, bright and beautiful enough to be a model.

Connor didn’t know who she was or what their relationship had been. But today, when he saw the woman downstairs who looked exactly like the girl in the photo, he understood.

He needed to report this. As soon as possible.