They kept babbling on with all sorts of exnations, but honestly, it was like Calliope hadn''t heard a single word.


    The moment she walked out, the three of them just stared at each other, stunned.


    "What do we do now? She''s seriously pissed off this time. She won''t even look at us!" Monty looked helplessly at his two sons.


    If they''d really gone and upset Calliope over Lisette, that was like dropping a hundred-dor bill just to pick up a penny. After all, Calliope was the one running thepany now and besides, Horatio still needed her help with his surgery.


    The three of them genuinely believed Calliope was mad, and panic was starting to set in.


    "I told you, we should''ve kept our distance from Lisette. Just look at us now. Callie''s mad. What the hell are we supposed to do?" Monty was both worried and annoyed.


    "Don''t get worked up," Valerian said, trying to sound reassuring. "We''ll just talk to Callie again, calm her down."


    Horatio was less optimistic. "You think she''ll even care? She just ignored uspletely! What if she decides not to help me with the surgery? What then?"


    He nced down at his wheelchair, anxiety twisting in his gut. He''d never really been scared since he knew Calliope would operate on his legs. But if she refused now... he just couldn''t ept the idea of never walking again.


    Valerian squared his shoulders, jaw set. "I''ll figure something out, don''t worry. She has to do your surgery. We already handed her thepany. Why wouldn''t she help?"


    "Exactly," Monty added coldly. "She owes us that much. If she bails, I''ll tell everyone exactly what she''s like a woman who took our money, took over thepany, promised to help, then backed out."


    Monty went on, "She''s taken thepany, taken all those perks, so she has to help you."


    "Yeah, and what''s so bad if we''re nice to Lisette?" Valerian said.


    "Lisette''s still her sister, isn''t she?" Monty pointed out. "She''s family too. She''s had


    a rough time here, and now she''s suffering by sticking around for us."


    "Yeah, we even gave her the big bedroom, Valerian added, frowning. "Lisette''s never had to rough it like this before. She''s never stayed in a cramped room in her life!"


    At that, they all started feeling guilty. They nced over at Lisette. She''d just finished her lunch, quietly tidied up, and nced their way. She gave them a gentle smile, then slipped away without another word.


    Their guilt skyrocketed.


    Meanwhile, Lisette had already set off to find Calliope. She headed straight to Calliope''s office.


    Inside, Calliope was busy with paperwork, but her mind was elsewhere wondering if she should just hand thepany back to. Monty She wasn''t really a Jewell, after all; why should she even care about running this business?


    She''d originally wanted to save thepany for Kermit''s sake, but in hisst


    letter, Kermit seemed to anticipate this and told her not to worry.


    "Whatever happens to this family," he wrote, "is up to them. You''re not a Jewell. Don''t feel pressured because of me."


    "Callie, can I talk to you for a sec?" Lisette stood in the doorway, hesitant.


    Calliope didn''t even look up. She pointed to the crystal namete on her desk. "Can''t you read the sign?"