Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

A faint smirk appeared on Olivia’s face.

14 min left

“Aunt Alice, haven’t you ever noticed how differently

Grandma treats you compared to Dad and Uncle Gregory?

She’s tamed you completely. And I refuse to end up like you.”

Olivia’s words landed like a bombshell in the quiet room.

Alice froze, her eyes darting nervously to Stephanie for help.

Stephanie looked away, guilt flickering across her face before she slammed a palm on the table, her voice sharp

with anger.

“Fine! Don’t come crawling back to us when you’re begging for mercy later! I’ll keep my eyes wide open and watch what kind of future your useless mother can build for you!”

Calista took Olivia’s hand, her gaze burning with a fire that

could have scorched Stephanie where she stood.

“Don’t bother yourself with our lives. You’d better take good

care of your health. Otherwise, you’ll end up with no one to wait on you in your old age.”

15:28

14 min left

< Chapter 26

Stephanie’s face turned crimson with rage, her finger

pointing at Calista, trembling uncontrollably.

Austin hurried to steady his grandmother, his eyes fixed on

Calista with the coldness of a stranger.

“Don’t you dare come back after you leave! I’ll never

acknowledge you as my mother again!”

This was no heartfelt plea to keep her around. Austin had

seen this day coming-even longed for it, in a way.

But it wasn’t supposed to happen like this. Calista wasn’t supposed to be the one asking for a divorce.

He couldn’t put his finger on why it bothered him so much. All he knew was that no matter how broken the family became,

she was his mother. She was supposed to stay right where

she was, unshakable.

Hearing that, Calista met Austin’s gaze for a long moment, then turned away without a word. She swept toward the door, her posture straight and unyielding.

Connor gestured for Killian to follow, his expression unreadable.

2/6

15:28

14 min left

< Chapter 26

Killian stood rooted to the spot, his mind racing. He couldn’t tell if these men were here to protect Olivia or to keep him under control.

The imposing convoy surrounded Calista’s car, rolling toward the Courthouse in a procession that turned heads at every

corner.

Whispers followed in their wake, everyone wondering who

could command such a formidable escort of five military

vehicles.

Before long, Calista and Killian emerged from the Courthouse one after the other.

In thirty days, their marriage would be nothing more than a

memory.

Six off-road vehicles stood in perfect formation at the

Courthouse entrance.

Killian barely registered the extra car, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white, his eyes darkening with an

emotion he couldn’t name.

He stood on the steps, watching Calista’s resolute back, then 3áffed out suddenly.

15:28

< Chapter 26

“Calista.”

9) 14 min left

Then, he descended the steps slowly, his boots tapping

against the concrete.

“Divorce isn’t some petty tool to get back at me for jealousy. I’ll give you thirty days to calm down and think this through.”

Killian couldn’t even remember what had sparked this fight in the first place.

It must be something trivial; he was sure of it.

He recalled how Calista had once made a fuss about Nicole’s presence in their lives, only to eventually accept it and go back to their usual routine.

This time, he’d given her plenty of chances to back down.

His family had also talked sense into her, again and again.

Yet Calista refused to budge, determined to go through with

the divorce.

He couldn’t understand it. What was wrong with going back

to the way things were?

4/6

15:28

14 min left

< Chapter 26

However, Calista had no desire to drag this out any longer.

“Killian, this isn’t about jealousy. It’s about the fact that I don’t love you anymore,” she said.

Killian’s heart skipped a beat.

“That’s impossible.”

Twenty years of marriage had taught Killian everything there

was to know about Calista.

This couldn’t be the truth.

She was standing with her back to him, too cowardly to look

him in the eye.

How could Calista not love him anymore?

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify