Calliope nced at Ulysses, sizing him up with a flicker of curiosity and suspicion. She wasn''t sure what he was after, but he definitely seemed different from before.


    Ss, always the protective one, stepped a little closer to Calliope. He didn''t say anything, but the frown on his face and the tightness in his jaw spoke volumes. He didn''t want this guy upsetting his wife.


    Ulysses ignored Ss and everyone else, his gaze fixed on Calliope. He was waiting for her answer, nothing else.


    After a moment, Calliope sighed and said, "Alright, you''ve got five minutes."


    She turned to the others. "Go on up. I''ll catch up with you after I talk to him."


    Ss hesitated but nodded, ushering everyone else into the elevator. Once the doors slid shut and it was just the two of them, Ulysses finally spoke.


    "I''m sorry," he said quietly.


    Calliope blinked, a little surprised. Apologies weren''t exactly his style. Back when he used to make her life miserable, he''d never once uttered those words.


    But here he was, standing in front of her, soundingpletely sincere.


    She studied him for a second. "So that''s it? You tracked me down just to say those words? Or is there something you want from me?"


    "Callie, I know we all screwed up," Ulysses said, his voice heavy. "We all owe you an apology. I''m not here to win you back or ask for any favors. I just meeded to say I''m sorry know what Lisette did to you and all the crap she pulled. I can''t believe I let her use me like that. I''m done being her pawn. I''m done letting anyone hurt you."


    He shook his head, looking down at his shoes, guilt etched across his face. "I


    didn''t even realize how badly I''d treated you. Not until now."


    He started rambling, admitting he''d only just woken up to how wrong he''d been, not just him, but his whole family. Lisette had been ying them all for years especially Calliope. And none of them had noticed, as if the Jewell family was under some kind of spell


    He said he wanted to change things, but nothing he did seemed to make a difference. No one believed him anyway Especially after he found out about kisette and Valerian was convinced Lisette was seducing Valerian on purpose, just like she tried with everyone else. She kept promising to leave, but she never did. She was still clinging to the Jewell family, refusing to let go.


    Calliope listened to Ulysses'' confession, still not quite believing it. "So you finally figured it out. And now what? You apologize and hope I''ll go soft, and then what? Ask me for something? And if I say no, you''re all just going to gang up on me again?"


    She knew the Jewell family too well. Every once in a while, they''d have a crisis of conscience, but it neversted. By the next Sunday brunch, it was like nothing had ever happened.


    No matter how earnest Ulysses sounded now, she doubted it would stick. Maybe he''d even forget about this conversation by tomorrow. Maybe this apology wasn''t even real.


    "That''s not it!" Ulysses looked panicked. "Please, Callie, I know we hurt you. I know I did. But I swear, I know what I did wrong now!"