Chapter 7 Callum and Estelle's wedding went ahead as scheduled . The guest list ? Every name that mattered in Astoria's high society . Evelyn sat quietly in the far corner of the grand ballroom , wearing a soft lilac sheath dress . The vintage cut framed her delicate figure , elegant yet subdued . Callum had always been the center of attention - loud , proud , possessive . He never used to go anywhere without her . For years , everyone in this town had known her name : Evelyn Rivers , the woman Callum Whitmore had fought the world to marry . Now ? She was watching her husband marry someone else . The woman he once buried in his heart - and had now resurrected in front of the entire city . A twisted smile curled on Evelyn's lips . " That's his wife ? " a whisper came from nearby . " God , she must really have no shame . Watching your husband marry another woman - what kind of self - respecting woman sits through that ? " " If it were me , I'd have burned the whole damn place down . " " Please , you think she dares ? Callum's known for being unhinged . Didn't you hear how he once tied her little sister to a plane when she threw a tantrum over his ex ? " " I mean … yeah . Word is , if you're part of the Rivers circle , loyalty isn't optional . It's mandatory - like a dog trained to heel . " Every word sliced into Evelyn like a shard of glass . But she didn't flinch . She couldn't . Not here . The officiant's voice echoed across the room : " Do you , Callum Whitmore , take Estelle Moore to be your lawfully wedded wife ? " And she watched . Watched the man who once swore to never let her cry , smile softly and say , " I do . " A wave of grief surged through her chest . And yet , she stayed seated . " And now , " the officiant continued , " would the flower girl please bring the rings ? " Lily , her baby sister , walked slowly down the aisle in a rose - pink tulle dress . Tears shimmered in the little girl's eyes . Callum shot her a warning glare . She quickly looked down and did as she was told . " Isn't that Evelyn's sister ? " someone whispered . " Seriously ? That's just … disgusting . Talk about rubbing salt in the wound . " " Estelle Moore was always the main character . Evelyn ? Just the placeholder . Guess her turn's over . " Lily stepped forward and offered the " Eternal Love " ring - once Evelyn's , now worn by another woman . Callum didn't hesitate . He slipped it onto Estelle's finger . Then , as the crowd applauded , he leaned down and kissed his bride . But even as he kissed Estelle , his eyes drifted to the far corner To Evelyn . He wanted to see her break . To watch her crumble under the weight of it all . That was his brand of control - watching her seethe , watching her care , watching her stay . Except … this time, their eyes locked . And then- BOOM ! A thunderous explosion cracked above them , and the sky suddenly filled with falling photographs . Dozens . Hundreds . Explicit images of Estelle - one more damning than the last - rained down like confetti . Gasps erupted . Panic followed . Thick smoke flooded the ballroom , blinding the crowd . The orchestra screeched to a halt . Security scrambled in every direction . In the chaos , someone snatched Lily away from the altar and disappeared into the smoke . Evelyn slipped through the crowd , her heels in hand , heart pounding . She ducked into the women's restroom , locked the door , pulled out a scalpel she'd hidden in her clutch- And dug into her arm . Blood streamed down , but she didn't stop until the tracker - barely the size of a grain of rice - popped out into her trembling palm . She wrapped it in tissue , pressed it into the gloved hand waiting just outside the window . " Goodbye , Callum , " she whispered . Then she kicked off her shoes , slipped through the back exit- And didn't look back .