Chapter 6 " The plan's changed , " Evelyn said in a hushed voice . " Lily's going to be the flower girl . I can't leave without her . " She paused , then added , " And the bigger problem - five years ago , after I faked my death , Callum had a tracker implanted in me . He's terrified I'll run again . I can't just vanish . " There was a long silence on the line before a calm , steady voice finally responded . " No problem , ma'am . I'll handle everything . You just need to get that tracker out . " A breath left her lungs , and a faint glimmer of relief crossed her face . " Alright . I'll wait for your signal- " " Evie . " Callum's voice sliced through the air behind her . She hung up instantly and slipped the phone behind her back , heart racing . He stepped aside , eyes narrowed in suspicion . " Who are you waiting for ? " She barely had time to answer before his hand clamped around her throat , the chill in his eyes cutting like ice . " You're not trying to pull the same trick again , are you ? " His voice was dangerously low . " Faking your death a second time ? Or is it some other man this time ? " " I told you , " she gasped , struggling for air , " I'm waiting for Lily . She doesn't know where the ceremony's happening . " His grip loosened , just enough for her to suck in a breath . But the next second , his mouth crashed down on hers , stealing the very air from her lungs . His hands were already on her , flipping her over , yanking her skirt up as he drove into her with brutal force . She bit her lip , bearing the storm like she had a thousand times before . An hour later , Callum finally pulled away , his fingers brushing her hair back as he pressed a kiss to her temple . " Evie , " he murmured , almost gently , " never betray me . You still have my tracker . Don't forget that . " As if to make his point clearer , his thumb grazed the ring on her finger - the one he had personally designed . " The Eternal Love collection , " he said casually . " Estelle wants to wear it on the wedding day . Give it to her , will you ? " Her eyes turned glassy , tears brimming at the edge . " That ring was our symbol , Callum . Doesn't it mean anything to you ? " He kissed her fingertip as if trying to soothe a child . " It's just a ring . I can get you a hundred more . Don't be difficult . " Of course . Just a ring . Because what really mattered was Estelle's happiness . Biting back the scream in her throat , Evelyn slowly slid the ring off , leaving behind a pale , empty band of skin . Once he left , she allowed herself a moment to breathe . Then she got to work . She'd been preparing for this for a while now - selling off every last asset he'd ever given her , liquidating everything into offshore accounts . She still had Lily to protect . And they'd need every dime to stay free . Everything she couldn't take , she gathered into a steel barrel behind the estate . Photos . Matching sweaters . The 999 love letters he'd written when he was obsessed with winning her over … Last came a leather - bound journal , filled with Callum's meticulous notes . Daily observations . Her habits . Her favorite tea . The way she tied her hair when she was nervous . How many sugars she liked in her coffee . He'd studied her . Memorized her . Loved her in his own twisted way . She lit a match . The fire crackled to life . She stood there , watching the flames devour everything- His devotion . His madness . Their past . A single tear slipped down her cheek , falling into the ashes . It was over . The fire hissed out as quickly as it had started , smoke curling into the sky like a final goodbye . " Goodbye , Callum , " she whispered . And this time , she meant it .