Oliver sized up Ss, a slow, knowing smile curling at his lips-a smile that said he was always three steps ahead.


    "You two seem pretty close, huh?" he remarked, that glint in his eyes as sharp as a knife. "You want to protect Calliope, don''t you?"


    He leaned in a little. "If you really care about her, shouldn''t you be more willing to do what I say?"


    Oliver let out a low chuckle, his tone almost casual. "Because if you don''t, well, let''s just say I can''t promise she''ll stay out of trouble. I could go after her anytime. You know what I''m capable of."


    He could see Ss tense up, and Oliver almost enjoyed it. People with something to lose were always easier to control. Ss had a weakness, and Oliver intended to use it.


    If Ss didn''t care about anything, then Oliver would be out of options. But as it stood, Calliope was the perfect leverage, a stubborn one, sure, but still a means to an end.


    Ss''s face darkened. He looked at Oliver like he couldn''t believe what he was hearing, jaw clenched so tight he could''ve cracked a walnut with his teeth.


    So that''s his game, Ss thought bitterly. He wants to use Callie against me. He tried to kill me as a kid, ruined my mother''s life, and now he wants to drag Callie into it.


    Ss red daggers at Oliver.


    For years, he''d kept his distance, honoring his mother''sst wish that he stay out of Oliver''s way. He''d thought if they both stayed in their ownnes, things could be peaceful. Clearly, he''d been wrong.


    "Take a guess," Oliver said, his voice as silky and dangerous as a snake''s. "If you do what I say, nothing will happen. But if you don''t... well, you know me, Ss. I''m full of surprises."


    Ss stared back, pure ice in his eyes. A silent war of wills, neither man willing to blink first.


    Blythe, her voice gentle, almost pleading, broke the standoff. "Ss, maybe you should just listen to your dad, okay? He really does have your best interests at heart."


    Ss shot her a look colder than January in Chicago. "You don''t know anything,"


    he spat, then turned on his heel and walked away, not sparing Oliver another nce.


    He knew Calliope would be looking for him. If she didn''t see him soon, she''d start to worry, and he couldn''t let that happen.


    Blythe bit her lip, watching Ss as


    he left. It was obvious where he was going. So he really does care about her, she thought with a frown. She''d assumed their marriage was just for show, a convenient arrangement with no real feelings involved. But Ss''s actions told a different story.


    She had figured getting rid of Calliope would be a piece of cake. Now, she realized she''d seriously underestimated herpetition.


    Blythe turned to Oliver. "Mr. Myers, it looks like getting Ss to do what you want is going to take more time. That woman... she''s the real thorn in our side."


    Oliver nodded, his expression as cold as a winter''s night. "You''re right. She''s a problem. A big one."


    He paused, voice dropping to a whisper. "We need to find a way to deal with her. Without her, Ss might finally fall in line."


    Blythe agreed, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Without Calliope, Ss would be so much easier to control.


    Meanwhile, Calliope had no idea any of this was going on. She didn''t even notice when Ss slipped away. The show they''d just watched had been so captivating, she''d given it her full attention,pletely oblivious to the storm brewing around her


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