Horatio said, "Even if you''re not close with us, you can''t just walk away from the


    family like this!"


    "Yeah, Callie, you can''t just break family ties like snapping your fingers!"


    Calliope turned around, a small, amused smile ying on her lips. "You guys have


    been tailing us this whole time? Family ties, huh? But what if I told you there''s no


    blood between us? Would you still be saying that?"


    She shrugged. "Anyway, you don''t need the details. Leaving the Jewell family is


    only a matter of time for me."


    Horatio and the others frowned, clearly unsettled.


    But Lisette''s eyes sharpened. She''d caught that one little phrase-no blood


    between them.


    What did she mean by that?


    Could it be... Calliope wasn''t really a Jewell? Lisette had always thought it odd.


    Calliope looked nothing like her so-called brothers, Monty or Zelda. The family


    resemnce just wasn''t there.


    Horatio and the others brushed it off, thinking Calliope was just talking out of


    anger.


    But Lisette''s curiosity was piqued. She decided she had to look into it. Maybe


    Calliope really wasn''t a Jewell after all.


    The movie theater lights dimmed, and the previews started to roll.


    Calliope nced at them and said coolly, "Movie''s starting. Time to zip it."


    With that, she turned around, not bothering to look back.


    Horatio and his crew couldn''t focus on the movie at all. Their minds kept circling


    back to Calliope''s threat to leave the Jewell family. She sounded dead serious this


    time, and they all knew, if anyone could pull off something like that, it''d be her.


    They barely paid attention as the film yed, and before they knew it, the credits


    were rolling.


    Calliope praised Julius''s acting, then added, "Didn''t expect the movie to be this


    good, honestly."


    As they headed out, they overheard snippets of excited conversation from other


    moviegoers.


    "Julius was just incredible in this one!"


    "The pacing was perfect, not a dull moment. And it was so moving!"


    "Yeah, Julius really nailed it. Good-looking and talented, what abo!"


    Julius couldn''t hide his little smirk. Calliope shot him a thumbs-up.


    Their group trailed behind the crowd,ughing and chatting as they left the


    theater.


    Lisette and the others followed at a distance.


    Valerian called out, "Calliope, we need to talk."


    He still couldn''t wrap his head around the idea of her leaving the Jewell family.


    Worse, he was convinced she might try to take over the family business.


    "Not now," Calliope tossed over her shoulder. "Whatever it is, save it for the


    office."


    She linked arms with Ss and Quentin, and the three of them hurried toward the


    exit.


    Valerian glowered, his whole face stormy.


    Once outside, Calliope ducked into


    the restroom. She didn''t expect to


    bump into Lisette or the others on


    her way out, but she did run smack


    into a man she recognized instantly.


    He was one of Oliver''s assistants.


    She''d thought Oliver was done


    causing trouble, but here he was


    again, rearing his head at the worst


    possible moment. Running into his


    sour anyone''s mood.


    "What do you want?" Calliope asked, clearly annoyed as he blocked her path.


    "My boss would like to invite you for


    coffee, Ms. Jewell," the assistant


    said smoothly. "Would you prefer to


    walk with me, or do I need to get a


    little more persuasive?"


    "Coffee? Seriously?" Calliope rolled her eyes.


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


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!