Chapter 8 Inside the wedding banquet hall , chaos reigned . " What do you mean - you couldn't find them ?! " " Who the hell did this ?! " " Someone really waited until today to drop dirt on Estelle ? Are they trying to destroy her ? " A crystal glass shattered against the wall , hurled straight from Callum's hand . It struck one of the bodyguards ' eyebrows , the man's forehead instantly flushing red . Shards splintered across the marble floor . " Turn this whole goddamn city upside down . I want the bastard behind this found - now ! " No one dared move . No one even breathed . Until one bodyguard , bold or stupid - maybe both - finally stepped forward . " Sir … ever since Miss Moore came back , Mrs. Rivers ' been … upset . Maybe it was her ? " The implication was clear . Callum's eyes sharpened like a blade . " Where is Evelyn right now ? " His assistant tapped on a tablet , pulling up her GPS tracker . " At the estate . Still in the guest wing where you assigned her , sir . " Callum stubbed out his cigarette , tension winding tighter in his chest . His mind flashed back to the way Evelyn had looked earlier that day - quiet , detached , her smile unreadable . Part of him didn't believe she'd do something like this . But right now ? She was suspect number one . " Go to the estate . " Just as he turned to leave , the assistant's phone buzzed again . He picked up , listened a moment , then turned pale . " Sir … the person who leaked the photos just called . He claims to have more photos . One million to buy his silence . " Then , a slow exhale from Callum . Not Evelyn . His body relaxed by a fraction . 113 ) " If it's money he wants , that's easy . Pay him . Get everything he has . And those guests tonight - make sure not one word leaves their mouths . You know what to do . " The tension in the room eased , just a little . Callum turned to his driver . " Take me back to Evelyn . " He had taken Estelle upstairs earlier , right after the photos began to fall . The chaos downstairs was instant and absolute . Now , as he stepped into the penthouse suite above the hall , he found Estelle curled up on the couch , mascara streaked and hands trembling around a paring knife . " Callum … " Her voice cracked as she reached for him . " I don't want to live anymore . " " Those photos - they were from when I was held captive . They made me … I didn't have a choice . " Callum pulled her into his arms , whispering softly , " It's okay . I warned every guest . Nothing will leak . " " Really ? " she sniffled . " But who would do this to me ? Is it … was it Evelyn ? " " I mean , ever since I came back , she's been cold . Maybe she hates me because I took you away from her … " Before she could finish , Callum's voice cut through her pity - party , hard and flat : " It wasn't Evelyn . " Estelle bit her lip , shrinking in his embrace . Moments later , she looked up again with glossy eyes . " Do you think I'm … dirty ? Like the others ? Do you hate me too ? " Flashes of those explicit photos crossed Callum's mind - things no man wanted to see of the woman he was about to marry . His jaw tensed . He didn't answer right away . Then Estelle , seeing his silence , did the unthinkable . She pressed the knife to her wrist . " You won't even say it … that means you do hate me . " A drop of blood bubbled up from her pale skin . Callum cursed under his breath and knocked the blade away , panic flaring in his eyes . " Estelle , no ! I don't care , I just want you safe , okay ? That's all that matters " The truth ? He didn't know what he felt anymore . He couldn't bear to lose her again , not after everything- But he couldn't shake the unease settling in his gut either . Still , he soothed her . Held her . Eventually , she fell asleep in his arms . Just as Callum tried to slip away , her hand clutched his wrist in her sleep . " Don't leave me , Callum . Please don't leave me again . " He hesitated . Then stayed . But even in the stillness , sleep didn't come . Callum stared at the ceiling for hours before finally grabbing his phone and dialing Evelyn . No answer . He tried again . And again . Five times . Still nothing . His gaze dropped to her tracker - still blinking at the house . He frowned and called the estate . " Where's Evelyn ? Why isn't she answering her phone ? " The butler Harlan's voice came over the line . " Sir , she returned earlier this evening . Said she was exhausted , and didn't want to see anyone . Requested not to be disturbed . " " Wake her up . I want to speak to her - now . "