Chapter 17
After dealing with Estelle, Callum booked the first flight back to Norland.
The moment Evelyn opened the door, there wasn’t even a flicker of joy on her face.
Just a quiet irritation.
Callum felt like something sharp had pierced his heart. The pain was instant and relentless.
“Evelyn,” he said softly, “you still don’t want to see me?”
She gave him a look that said everything. “What do you think, Callum?”
“But Evelyn, I made things right. Estelle lied to me about everything. She planned your mother’s death, framed you for killing that dog, pretended to fall down the stairs-”
“So what?” Evelyn cut in. “Does that bring my mother back?”
Callum froze.
She sighed and began to close the door.
“Wait! Please, sweetie.”
He reached out, gripping the doorframe. The impact crushed his fingers, but he didn’t even flinch. His amber eyes were filled with guilt and desperation.
“Evelyn, just give me one chance. I want to make this right. I know I was wrong.”
The once untouchable heir of Astoria, Callum Rivers, was now a man begging for a scrap of redemption.
But Evelyn had long buried the version of herself that loved him.
Only bitterness remained.
“I don’t want your apologies,” she said, voice flat. “My mom is gone. I just want a simple life with Lily.”
She met his eyes.
“A life without you.”
And she shut the door.
But Callum didn’t leave.
Instead, he bought out a luxury inn just a block from Evelyn’s beachfront cottage.
Evelyn had opened a small seaside restaurant when she first moved here. Busineszs thrived, especially during tourist season. It kept her busy and, more importantly, gave her peace!
Every day, Callum came in. He ordered food. He sat quietly in the corner. And he stayed all day.
Two weeks passed.
That afternoon, Evelyn was hunched over the register, calculating the day’s income, when she noticed him again.
Still there.
Still watching.
She had enough.
She stormed over and tapped his table with one annoyed finger.
“Sir. We’re closed.”
Callum smiled faintly and stood without protest:
But as he turned to go, Evelyn snapped, “What do you want, Callum? You just going to haunt this place forever? Don’t you have a company to run?” He paused, frowned slightly.
“Evelyn, isn’t it inappropriate to kick out paying customers? I came to eat. You’re closing, so I left. I haven’t caused any trouble.”
Technically, he was right.
Chapter 17
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And that only irritated her more.
She drew in a slow breath.
“Do whatever you want. I don’t care.”
The next morning, he was back.
She ignored him.
Fortunately, it was a particularly busy day–families, tourists, couples. Evelyn barely had time to think.
By dusk, she was exhausted, covered in flour and shrimp oil.
That’s when someone burst into the restaurant.
“Evelyn! Your sister–she’s in trouble!”
