Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Calista didn’t return to the hotel until after dinner at Hartwell

Manor.

Her parents had insisted she stay the night, but Calista worried that if Killian found out, he might cause trouble for the Hartwell family. For now, the hotel was the safer choice.

With some free time on her hands, she turned on her laptop to check the status of her job applications.

What Calista saw left her stunned. Every single application had been rejected.

A wave of confusion washed over her.

Am I really that incompetent, or is finding a job truly this difficult?

None of the companies had even bothered to grant her an interview before shutting the door in her face.

With a heavy sigh, Calista revised her resume, carefully emphasizing that she was single and that her daughter was

sixteen.

The implication was clear-her child was grown, so she wouldn’t need to rush off early or arrive late to handle childcare. And1 1:11

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without a husband to worry about, she wouldn’t be taking random days off for trivial family matters.

She might as well have written in bold letters: [I am free to work overtime and slave away without any distractions whatsoever.]

It was a desperate move, but even so, her revised resume was met with instant rejections.

Only one company, Prosperity Tech, hadn’t gotten back to her

yet.

Sensing something was wrong, Calista searched for the other companies on a business inquiry app.

Digging through the shareholder structures and affiliated enterprises, she followed the intricate web of connections until, without exception, she landed on familiar names.

All of them were Killian’s close friends or business partners of the Frost Group.

The pieces clicked into place. Killian was cutting off her escape

routes.

Did he really have to be this ruthless?

Haven’t I already stepped aside for him and Nicole? Shouldn’t he be happy?

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Still, there was no use fretting over the job hunt.

After sending out a few more applications, Calista spent her free time researching new market projects.

She even reactivated her long-dormant university alumni chat

group.

With time to spare, Calista hit the hotel gym and took a few laps in the pool.

Since stopping her endless catering to Killian and Austin, her schedule had opened up dramatically.

A sense of vitality she hadn’t felt in years surged through her, bringing her back to life after a long period of stagnation.

Christina had joked that Killian and Austin “clashed” with her, and Calista was starting to think there was some truth to that.

During her time with the Frosts, she had felt like a flower slowly wilting away, reduced to withered branches after enduring endless storms.

Now, free from them, she realized the sun was shining brightly outside.

However, the ringing of her phone shattered the peaceful

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Seeing Killian’s name on the screen filled Calista with revulsion. She hit the block button without hesitation.

Moments later, the phone rang again from a different number.

Calista leaned back against the edge of the pool and answered it with a casual swipe.

Killian’s cold voice cut through the line.

“Who taught you this childish game of not answering the phone?”

“You did,” Calista shot back.

Ignoring calls, leaving messages unanswered, keeping his whereabouts a secret, refusing to communicate… Weren’t those all his specialties?

When it came to the silent treatment, Killian was a true master.

A cold, disdainful chuckle came from the other end. “How immature. Resorting to such petty revenge tactics.”

He changed the subject abruptly. “Today is my uncle’s son’s wedding. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

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Killian was already at the office preparing for a meeting when Stephanie called.

If she hadn’t, he would have missed the whole thing.

Calista searched her memory. The invitation had arrived at Frost Manor half a month ago, with the wedding date set for today.

She had told Killian about it that very night and had even discussed gift-giving with him.

Stephanie valued family highly, always generous and warm-hearted toward her relatives back home. She often said they were her roots, her foundation, and insisted that the gifts and monetary offerings be nothing short of impressive.

Over the years, nearly everyone in the village had received some kind of favor from the Frost family. Eventually, even distant relatives-people she had to trace back three generations to find a connection with-started showing up.

Calista never even met this particular uncle, whose son was getting married.

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