A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

Calliope watched Zelda, her face blank as a sheet of paper-impossible to read, impossible to guess what was going on inside.

But Zelda's attitude toward her was nothing like the way she treated Lisette.

Valerian and Horatio saw it too. That had to sting. Who doesn't want their own mother to love them? But for Calliope, it was like her mom had never really cared at all.

For the first time, the boys felt a twinge of sympathy for Calliope.

They'd never really thought about it before. Zelda doting on Lisette had always seemed natural-Lisette was just so bright, so talented, so sweet. But thinking about it now, Calliope hadn't really done anything wrong. Especially now that they knew she might just be even more remarkable than Lisette.

"You told Lisette to apologize to you, right?" Valerian slid onto the couch beside Calliope. "Why'd you back off?"

"Do you really think she'd have apologized if I'd insisted?" Calliope replied, her voice flat. "And if I did make her, wouldn't you guys just feel sorry for her?"

She let out a long, dramatic sigh, dropping her eyes. "My own brother says he's my brother, but his heart's always with someone else. Not much I can do about it."

Her voice was half-mocking, half-resigned. "Guess it's my own fault for not being the favorite. I'm just not as good as her, so obviously nobody likes me!"

Valerian and Horatio shifted uncomfortably. If Calliope had gotten angry or lashed out, they'd have jumped to defend Lisette without a second thought. But her sudden self-pity just made them feel... guilty.

"Aren't you guys going to go check on her?" Calliope continued, gesturing vaguely in Lisette's direction. "She'll probably start crying again if you hang around over here too long."

"Maybe I should just give her my room, too. You hate to see her suffer, right? Doesn't matter what happens to me—nobody really cares."

She sighed again, heavier this time. "Honestly, I shouldn't have come. Maybe I'm just ruining your happy family reunion. Maybe I should leave. I'm just in the way, aren't I?"

"Hey, who said that?" Valerian

frowned. "Nobody's asking you to

leave! We're actually glad you're

here. When's the last time we all had

Sunday dinner together with

everyone at the table?"

"Yeah, Callie, don't let your mind run wild," Horatio chimed in, quick to reassure

her. "You're our little sister. Of course we care about you."

Monty, hanging around the edge of

the living room with his mug of coffee, overheard enough to catch the drift. He'd been about to ask after Lisette, but thought better of it. Calliope looked genuinely upset, and honestly, they needed her here. noveldrama

Meanwhile, Lisette stood with Zelda across the room, expecting her brothers to come over and fuss over her, like they always had. She was used to being the center of the world, used to Calliope being

invisible.

But this time, not a single one of them so much as glanced her way. They were all with Calliope.

It felt like the world had turned upside down.

Since when did they care so much about Calliope? She'd always just been... background noise.

Lisette frowned, shooting a sharp glance at Calliope and her brothers. She couldn't hear what they were talking about, but she knew, deep down, it couldn't be good for her.

Has Calliope managed to win them over somehow?

No way. She wouldn't let that happen. The Jewell family was hers, and they'd better remember that.

She pasted on a sweet smile, walked over, and focused her attention on Horatio.

"Horatio, how are your legs?" Lisette asked, voice full of sugary concern. "Are you feeling alright? I'm so sorry I haven't been here to look after you!"