"I just hope you''re ready to deal with them pooping," Ss said, looking seriously at Blythe.


    Blythe burst outughing. "Come on, Ss. Every pet poops. You feed ''em, they go, it''s part of the deal. I don''t see the problem."


    "But they''re adorable!" she went on, beaming. "They''re so cute, I could put up with anything. I love them! Ss, thank you! This is honestly so sweet of you!"


    "Guess we''ll see how sweet you feel when you''re cleaning up after them," Ss replied, deadpan.


    Calliope almost lost it. She knew perfectly well that rabbits poop a lot. She also saw right through Ss. He clearly didn''t want the hassle of these two bunnies, but Blythe hadpletely misunderstood. She thought Ss was giving her a heartfelt gift because he liked her.


    In reality, the rabbits weren''t even bought by Ss; they were just a pair Uriah had gotten rid of.


    Keeping her face neutral, Calliope nced at Blythe, who shot her a smug, triumphant look.


    Ss, now bunny-free, turned around and spotted Calliope standing nearby. He had no idea how long she''d been there, but she''d definitely seen him talking to Blythe.


    He figured he owed her an exnation. After all, Blythe knew him from way back, and if he didn''t clear things up, Calliope might get the wrong idea.


    He didn''t hesitate, striding over. "Hey, Callie. Can we talk?"


    "Sure,” Calliope said coolly, shooting a quick nce at Blythe before following Ss into another room.


    "I''m guessing you''re curious who that woman was," Ss said, waiting for her to sit down. "Her name''s Blythe White. We knew each other as kids. She helped me out back then."


    "I know," Calliope replied, calm as ever.


    If Blythe was here, chances were Oliver wasn''t far behind, or maybe he was already in the hotel.


    "You know her?" Ss blinked in surprise.


    "I''ve met


    not


    Calliope said. "She''s


    Talone, either. I figured i


    a bit longer to


    down, but I guess they''re


    at


    it."


    "You''ve seen Oliver?" Ss shot upright, fists clenched. "Did he get to you before me?"


    She shrugged. "He tried to buy me off. Wanted me to divorce you so you could marry Blythe and go back to inherit everything."


    Ss''s face darkened.


    "Don''t worry, turned him down," Calliope said, smirking. "I''m not an idiot, and I''m not scared of him. He threatened to go after the Jewell family but honestly, if he wants to stir


    up trouble, maybe it''ll work in my favor."


    Seeing how steady Calliope was, Ss


    obvioned down a little. It wa


    obvious Oliver wasn''t going to get anywhere with her. Calliope was sharp, tough, and not easily fooled.


    “Don''t stress. Oliver''s got nothing on me. Honestly, he picked the wrong person to


    mess with. As long as you''re okay, I''m good," Calliope said with a shrug.


    "If he bothers you again, tell me," Ss said. "I''ll blow him to kingdome."


    Calliope grinned. "Deal."


    She didn''t doubt for a second that, if Oliver messed with her, Ss would absolutely follow through.