"My assistant''s embezzlement has nothing to do with me!" Lisette was absolutely fuming. "She did it, so she''s responsible. Isn''t that justmon sense?"


    "But she''s always been handling things for you, hasn''t she?" Calliope shot Lisette a look. "Since she''s always been working for you, how do you exin that this money wasn''t for you, but for herself?"


    "Of course, if you can prove that all this cash really went to her, then sure, let her pay it back."


    Calliope''s tone was matter-of-fact, as if she were exining how to make a peanut butter sandwich.


    "Oh,e on, Calliope! You''re being downright impossible!" Lisette was nearly shaking with anger. "You''re doing this on purpose, aren''t you? You load me up with all this work, make me handle everything, and then, on top of that, you want me to pay up? You''re trying to push me out of the Jewell family, aren''t you?"


    "You promised Dad and the others you''d never kick us out, so instead you just make my life hell until I leave on my own, right?"


    Lisette red at her with a look of pure resentment.


    Calliope just crossed her arms, calm as ever.


    "Yep. That''s exactly what I''m doing. You used to love ying these little mind games with me, didn''t you?"


    "Honestly, I haven''t even given you half the trouble you once gave me. And you''re already losing it? If you can''t handle it, you''re wee to walk out the door."


    "I''m not going anywhere!" Lisette snapped, her jaw clenched tight. "You think you can keep this up forever? Horatio and Valerian will see right through you! You really think they''ll always be on your side?"


    She was sure she could win them back. After all, they used to be closer to her. She''d spent more time with them. Their loyalty had to be stronger.


    "I don''t know if they''ll always have my back. Honestly, they''ve never really been on my side, so this is already a step up for me."


    "And if one day they go back to you, if they take your side again, well, that''s fine too. The truth is, I don''t care about their approval anymore. If I left, I''d be perfectly fine. But you? Not so much."


    Calliope let out a small, amusedugh.


    Just then, Horatio and Valerian walked in from the hallway.


    They''d heard every word. And both of them realized, for maybe the first time, that Calliope didn''t really need them. Ss was already doing more for her than they ever had.


    Besides, she was sessful now. She had her own money, her own life, and a couple of other brothers to boot. She wasn''tcking anything.


    Their expressions changed.


    Sometimes, they liked to think they were her only real brothers, that their bond with her was special. But hearing Calliope say all that... it


    stung. Maybe they were rted by


    blood, but their rtionship with her just wasn''t that close.


    "Horatio, Valerian!" Lisette''s eyes widened when she saw them. She called out,


    her voice just a touch triumphant. She shot a smug look at Calliope.


    Calliope didn''t even flinch. She just took a step back and said, "Are you two


    worried about her? Well, don''t bother. She''ll get what she deserves. I''m not letting her off the hook."


    "Callie, you''re not wrong," Horatio said, stepping forward. "We''ve got your back."


    "Lisette, if you screwed up, you need to own it. If you need to change, then change And if you need to face consequences... well, that''s the way it is. Valerian''s gaze was steady as he said to Lisette.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!