Chapter 16 In the early autumn down South , the evening breeze carried a sticky , humid heat . Sycamore leaves were starting to yellow . They rustled as they fell , blanketing the ground . Evelyn clutched a stack of professional books she had just borrowed from the city library and walked slowly along the sycamore - lined lane in the factory district . She wore the school - issued teacher's uniform , washed a few times until it had faded but still neat and tidy . It made her look even slimmer . Her cheeks had a healthy flush and her eyes held a quiet calm , the kind you got after weathering enough storms . For two years she had put down roots in this small southern town , far from Evermont . Through hiring exams and sheer grit , she had moved from an administrative post at the community high school to a full - fledged teacher . Recently she had been asked to run special activities for the student clubs . Her days were modest , but steady . She had learned to change lightbulbs , fix leaky pipes , and snag discounted groceries during evening sales . She had also learned how , in the dead of night , to sit with the dull ache of old memories and swallow the occasional pang that still surfaced . She almost believed time had washed that nightmare away - until a figure appeared like a stone dropped into still water , shattering the fragile peace she had worked so hard to build . That evening , just after work , she was laughing with a few colleagues as they left the school gates . Then she looked up and froze . Across the street , under the gnarled branches of an old sycamore , stood a man she had thought she would never see again - Graham . He wore a sharply pressed uniform and no cap . His hair had been shaved so close his scalp showed . The hard planes of his face looked carved . He had grown much thinner ; his eye sockets were hollow , his jaw tight . He seemed like a bowstring pulled taut , wrapped in a dense , unshakeable exhaustion and a streak of near - manic stubbornness . He and the dusty olive - green Jeep behind him looked wildly out of place in Harborbend's soft , Chapter 16 69.57 % humid air . His gaze , hawk - sharp , locked onto her . Her colleagues noticed the change in her and followed her eyes . Graham's presence and his uniform unnerved them . They murmured and drifted away . Evelyn felt her heart lurch . She almost turned and ran . " Evelyn ! " His voice was raw and hoarse , like sandpaper . There was an urgent , cautious edge to it that cut through the evening noise . In a few strides he crossed the street and planted himself directly in her path . His tall frame cast a heavy shadow that swallowed her up . She stopped , her fingernails pressing into the edges of her books . Forcing herself to meet his eyes , she lifted her chin . After the first shock , her expression cooled . Her gaze became as still and deep as a pool , showing no ripple - only a quick , tightly suppressed flicker of panic beneath the surface . She spoke in a distant tone , as if addressing a stranger . " Can I help you ? " Graham flinched at the chill in her voice and the steadiness of her stare . His breath hitched , uneven . He looked at her pale but stubborn face , at the clear wariness in her eyes , and regret and panic threatened to drown him . He swallowed hard and held out a neatly wrapped wool scarf and a tin of chocolates he had bought in Port Atlantis . His voice softened nearly to a plead . " Evelyn ... it's getting cold . These are for you . Come home with me , please . I was a fool before . I was a complete jerk . I'm sorry . I'm begging you to forgive me . " The scarf was soft , in the pale yellow she used to love . The chocolates had a glossy , rich look that screamed a good brand . Once , a gift like that would have made her sing with delight , fluttering around him like a sparrow . Now she glanced at them and looked away . Her tone held no heat . " General Sterling , I think the Chapter 16 69.57 % divorce papers 1 left make things clear . We are done . " " That doesn't count ! " Graham's voice jumped , raw and loud enough to draw curious looks from passersby . " I never agreed to it . Evelyn , I know I was wrong . I really know I was wrong . Give me one more chance . I swear I'll never let you down again . I won't see Sophie Monroe anymore . I- " Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!