Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 43

Chapter 43

After the wedding banquet, Killian returned to the office and had a driver take the entire group of relatives back to Frost

Manor.

Twelve people total-elders and children alike—poured into the villa’s living room in a chaotic, tour-group-style throng.

Casting curious glances everywhere, they drank in the legendary wealthy household they’d only heard about.

Nicole came downstairs to greet them, her smile faltering for a split second.

Country folks?

But since Killian valued them, she forced a grin and resigned herself to waiting on them.

“Ladies, please take a seat,” she said politely.

One woman sized Nicole up and down, her voice loud with amusement. “Oh, rich folks are so posh-even the nannies they hire are young and pretty girls.”

Nicole’s hand froze mid-pour as she made coffee, anger

simmering inside her.

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I’m not a nanny!

If it weren’t for Mr. Frost, who’d bother waiting on these old busybodies?

“She’s not a nanny!” Austin stormed down the stairs, his face twisted with open disdain as he snapped the words.

Among the group was an elderly woman, nearly seventy.

She was Miranda Lessing, the sister of Stephanie’s cousin.

Unaware of their exact relationship, Miranda stepped forward eagerly to take Austin’s hand.

The teenager jumped back, pulling away from her touch.

“This must be Austin, right? My, how you’ve grown! I’m your great-aunt-I held you when you were just a tiny baby!” Miranda gushed.

Austin shot her a disgusted glare. Her fingernails were caked with dirt-revolting.

Miranda paid no attention to his disgust.

Rich kids like Austin, she figured, were always a bit temperamental.

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She rambled on, “Oh, you were just a little thing back then, still in diapers. As soon as I picked you up, you peed all over me! Your little willy wiggled so much-you peed clear across the room!”

“They say the farther a baby pees, the more promising they’ll be. And sure enough, you’re a top student now!” another woman chipped in with a laugh.

Loud laughter erupted as they teased Austin without the slightest hesitation.

The sixteen-year-old stared at them in stunned silence, his handsome face flushing bright red with embarrassment, then darkening to purple with rage.

What are these old hags blabbering about?

He wasn’t a toddler anymore-why dig up such humiliating

stories?

Didn’t anyone care about his pride, his privacy?

Knowing these were Killian’s honored guests, Nicole didn’t dare argue with the elderly woman.

She patted Austin’s back gently, murmuring for him to stay

calm.

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“By the way, Austin, where are your mom and little sister? They didn’t even show up to the wedding. We’ve been here ages, and they still haven’t come out to greet their elders. How rude!” one woman asked.

Austin said nothing, refusing to engage further. His face cold with fury, he stormed back up to his room.

Nicole heaved a sigh that sounded sympathetic. “Ah, his mom’s throwing a fit—she won’t even take care of the family anymore.”

“Oh!” The elderly women exchanged knowing looks, their curiosity piqued.

“What happened? You have to tell us. We can be peacemakers— talk some sense into them,” one asked.

“She’s just gotten too used to her easy life—she doesn’t

appreciate it anymore.” Nicole shook her head regretfully. “With

a man as good as Mr. Frost, I can’t imagine what she could possibly complain about.”

“Exactly! Killian’s such a good man. Everyone in our village sings his praises!”

“Calista is simply outrageous!”

As they chatted, a seven or eight-year-old boy darted over.

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“Grandma! Can I go explore?” he asked, looking up with wide,

curious eyes.

He was Miranda’s grandson.

“Of course you can,” Miranda replied, then turned to her old friends who’d come with her. “None of you have been here before, right? Come on, let’s go look around while we chat.”

Miranda had visited once before, hosted by Calista.

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