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 . " Chapter 17 21 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 . 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 ! " Chapter 17