Chapter 20
Not long after, Callum hung up the phone, his entire body trembling with rage.
Vincent Hale. He was the one who helped Evelyn escape to this country.
Callum’s jaw clenched, fury flooding his eyes. “Mason, do something for me. He took Evelyn away–I want that bastard to pay.
Meanwhile, Vincent was experiencing something unfamiliar: peace.
Maybe it was Evelyn.
That stiff, stone–faced man had started smiling—just a little, but it was there.
He took on almost all the heavy lifting at Evelyn’s restaurant. He didn’t say much, but he was dependable and thoughtful. And easy on the eyes, too- something the younger female customers definitely noticed.
They flirted, left phone numbers, even asked him out.
Every time, Vincent politely declined. “I don’t have much to offer. I’m not the kind of guy you want to build a future with. I’m sorry.”
Evelyn overheard once and nearly choked on her drink. “He used to be a top–notch mercenary. After retiring, he was a highly sought–after talent among the young masters and ladies, yet he says he’s not the kind of guy.”
“Vincent, seriously. You should think about dating. You’re not dodging bullets anymore. You deserve happiness, too.”
He only gave her a fait smile. “I’m not built for happiness. I’d just mess it up.”
Her heart tugged at those words. Still, she teased, “Well, maybe I’m not built for it either. No wonder we’re stuck running a restaurant together.”
Vincent froze, realizing what he’d said. He glanced at her–really looked–and saw the hint of sadness behind her bright expression.
He wasn’t great with words. But after a long pause, he managed, “You’re… really good.”
Evelyn blinked, then burst out laughing.
His awkward sincerity–it was oddly adorable.
Vincent couldn’t help staring. It had been so long since he’d seen her laugh like that. When they first met, Evelyn smiled easily. Even when things were hard, she never wallowed. She pushed forward. Fierce. Resilient.
But after her mother died, the light in her dimmed.
Until now.
Her laughter felt brighter than the stars.
And Vincent couldn’t look away.
Evelyn thought things had finally settled down. She had Vincent. Her life was simple and safe.
She assumed Callum would forget her eventually–he had dozens of women orbiting him at all times. Why linger on a woman who’d never truly belonged
in his world?
She was just a stand–in. A substitute. And even if the original was gone, she could never be enough.
But a week later, after a routine check–up at the hospital…
Vincent disappeared.
