Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 99

< Second Chance, His Unending Lo…

Chapter 99

Calista pulled her hand back at once, her eyes wide with worry. “Does it still hurt? Any side effects?”

Throat tight, Evander yanked his pajama top shut in a hurry, clinging to the last shred of his self-control.

He stepped back quickly, putting distance between them, his voice rough and hoarse.

He had meant to tease her, but the game had backfired- now it was his own composure beginning to unravel.

“I’m fine-perfect health, no issues at all.”

Before she could ask another question, Evander grabbed his coat from the couch, his hair still damp and dripping, and headed for the door in a hurry. “Good night. Rest

easy.”

He practically fled the villa.

Thinking she had brushed against a painful memory, Calista didn’t dare ask anything more.

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*****

The house was quiet. Connor’s wife and kids were away, visiting her family, leaving him alone for the evening.

The moment he stepped inside, he grabbed his phone, / eager to stir up some gossip in the old squad chat.

[Breaking news! Mr. Hayes brought his girl home. The base is about to welcome its most stunning, high-status lady ever!]

The group exploded instantly.

[Tempted to knock on his door tonight and catch a glimpse of her.]

[Don’t you dare. Ruin his night and you’ll be running thirty klicks with a full pack tomorrow.]

[True. With Commander Hayes’s efficiency, if she’s home tonight, the wedding paperwork will be filed by dawn. We’ll be toasting at their reception before we know it.]

[Just waiting for the invite…]

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Connor grinned to himself, mentally cheering Evander

But before his smile could fully settle, a new message flashed on his screen-from Evander himself: [Open the

door.]

Connor stared, puzzled. Why wasn’t Evander at home with Calista? What was he doing here?

He opened the front door to a sorry sight: Evander stood on his doorstep, hair dripping, dressed in nothing but sleepwear beneath a hastily thrown-on suit jacket. He looked wholly defeated.

Any married man would recognize the signs-this was a man who’d been kicked out.

Without waiting for an invitation, Evander brushed past him into the apartment. “I’m staying here tonight.”

“Uh…what?” Connor scratched his head, utterly lost.

What’s going on?

Qnge it became clear Evander truly intended to spend the 378

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night, Connor couldn’t hold back the obvious question. “Sir… with all respect, are you even ‘capable’?”

He’d just boasted to the group that they’d soon have a new commanding officer’s wife.

Now here stood the famously formidable “Commander Hayes”, seeking shelter.

Connor couldn’t help but doubt whether a man who’d gone so long without romance still had it in him.

Evander’s expression turned to ice.

A sharp, warning glare shot Connor’s way. “I could still run circles around ten of you.”

Connor promptly shut his mouth, deciding some questions were better left unanswered.

*****

Near the military compound, Killian had been detained for some time before finally being released after lengthy explanations.

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Stephanie, however, remained in custody. Her sharp tongue and the act of covert photography worked against her, keeping her locked up.

Instead of calling in favors to secure her release, Killian chose to sit in his car at a distance, watching the compound’s entrance intently.

He wanted to know what Calista had done inside-and

when she would come out.

But through the long hours of the night, he never saw the off-road vehicle with VIP 1 plate emerge.

Nor did Calista or Olivia reappear.

By dawn, his eyes were bloodshot, stubble shadowed his jaw, and exhaustion aged him visibly.

*****

Calista was at the villa, snacking while watching her daughter study chess, when the call came from the local

precinct.

Stephanie had been held overnight and through the next

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day, demanding repeatedly to see her.

Fed up, Calista went down to the station herself.

The ordeal had left Stephanie disheveled, with her hair unkempt and her gaze distant-a clear sign of severe

stress and breakdown.

A cold smirk formed in Calista’s heart. Maybe this would teach them to keep their mouths shut.

She explained the situation plainly to the officers, confirming her relationship with Stephanie. Once it was verified that Stephanie was neither a spy nor any kind of criminal threat, she was finally released.

Outside the station, Killian stood beside his car, a cigarette wedged between his fingers, his eyes fixed. intently on Calista.

She wrinkled her nose at the smell of smoke.

He had largely quit in recent years for health reasons.

Clearly, this ordeal had driven him back to old habits.

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