A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

Of course, they showered her with kindness and everything money could buy, desperate to prove she wasn't just the adopted kid. They bent over backwards, trying to give her the world. They never wanted her to feel like an outsider, so whatever she asked for, they'd make it happen.

But after nearly twenty years of living as the cherished daughter of the Jewell family, what did she remember? Not the luxury, not the love—just that she was adopted. Even now, she didn't really feel like she was part of the family.

Or maybe, she just didn't want to.

Or maybe, nothing they ever did was good enough for her.

Or maybe, they just felt they still hadn't done enough.

Horatio and Valerian both looked tense, their faces darkening.

Monty looked even worse, like he'd just bitten into a lemon bar that was all lemon, no sugar.

Calliope, though, seemed to wake everyone up with her words. Whenever something didn't go her way, Lisette'd play the "adopted daughter" card. Did she really think she could guilt-trip them like that?

“I—I didn't mean it that way!" Lisette blurted out, scrambling to explain. "I know you all treat me so well. It's my fault, not yours!"

"Oh, please," Calliope shot back, rolling her eyes. "You spend every day acting like you're some poor orphan. Who's treated you badly here? You've always been raised like you were their own, but you never once acted like you were."

"So what, when they get old and need someone to care for them, are you just going to say, 'Sorry, I'm just the adopted one, not my problem'?"

Calliope looked Lisette right in the eye and smiled, just a little.

Lisette stared back, stunned.

When had Calliope gotten so sharp? Since when did she know how to fight back?

"No! Of course not! I'll always do my part," Lisette stammered, on the verge of tears. "Callie, you've got it all wrong!"

"Only you know if I'm wrong, Lisette," Calliope replied coolly. "Are you gonna ery now? Relax, I was just

Og conversation. Oh dear, was I

out of line?"

"Sorry, it's all my fault!" Calliope added, mimicking Lisette's usual feeble look, her face full of mock panic. "I shouldn't have picked on you!"

Lisette was left speechless, totally thrown off her game. For once, she didn't know how to handle Calliope. She just stood there, lost.

Suddenly, Zelda stormed in, having missed most of the conversation, though even if she'd heard, she'd probably still be on Lisette's side.

Seeing Lisette's frightened face and the others crowding around Calliope, Zelda's expression darkened.noveldrama

"What on earth is going on here? All of you ganging up on Lisette?" she snapped. "She just got back, for heaven's sake!"

With a deep frown, Zelda announced, "Dinner's ready. Whatever this is, sort it out after you've eaten."

"Mom, it's not their fault. It's mine," Lisette said quickly, tears trembling in her er voice. "I shouldn't have

brought up the whole

thing."

"It's not your fault!" Zelda glared daggers at Calliope.

Right or wrong didn't matter. Zelda only cared about Lisette.

Calliope, though, didn't seem fazed in the slightest. If anything, it was Monty and the others who stole worried glances at Calliope, half afraid of how she might be feeling.

"What are you all staring at? I'm fine," Calliope said with a shrug. "Zelda's always been like this. I'm used to it."

"Callie..." Horatio said gently, suddenly feeling sorry for her. "I can't control Mom, but I promise, I'll never treat you like that again.”

"Don't be so quick to promise," Calliope replied, standing up. "You've all promised

before, and no one's ever managed to keep it."

She stretched. "Anyway, I'm starving. Let's eat."

"Yeah, let's eat!" Monty chimed in, hopping up from his seat and marching toward the dining room.