"I''m not here to ask for your forgiveness. And I''m not saying I need your help with anything!"


    "I just wanted to let you know, whatever you decide to do, I''m behind you. I just wanted you to know, I''m your brother. And from now on, if you ever need anything -anything at all-youe to me. No hesitation, no questions asked."


    Ulysses was dead serious, his tone earnest. He looked right at Calliope, waiting for her to respond.


    He didn''t expect her to forgive him, and that was fine. He just needed her to know he was her brother, and that meant something. That meant he should do a lot more.


    Calliope studied Ulysses for a moment, her eyes searching his face.


    "Are you being for real? No secret agenda? No tricks? Why the sudden change of heart?"


    Honestly, this wasn''t like Ulysses at all.


    He let out a breath. "Because I finally realized our whole family owes you an apology. I might not be able to change everyone else''s mind, but I can start with my own. I''ll do my best to make them see you differently."


    "And I should say sorry. Really sorry. I know I hurt you a lot, and that''s on me."


    Ulysses looked down, his voice low. "Callie, I''m sorry. I really am."


    He looked genuinely remorseful.


    Calliope nced at him, an odd, almost amused look on her face.


    "Callie, I know you''re closer to your other brothers, and that''s fine. But I''m your real brother. I ought to treat you better. So, anything they''d do for you, I''ll do, too. Whatever it is."


    Ulysses''s eyes were steady, his tone more sincere than Calliope had ever heard.


    Calliope just shook her head, almost smiling. "I don''t know what brought on this epiphany. Whether it''s real or just an act, I don''t really care. But you''ve got it all wrong."


    "What?" Ulysses blinked, confused.


    "I''m not your real sister." She looked him dead in the eye, not bothering to sugarcoat it anymore.


    "Do you know why I sold my shares? Because I finally realized I have nothing to do with the Jewell family at all."


    Ulysses just stared at her, like he''d


    been turned to stone. He stammered Yo...


    you''re nevering back? You''re done with the Jewell family forever?"  s


    "I mean it literally," Calliope said, voice steady. "I have no blood


    rtion to the Jewell family. I''m t


    your sister


    your reabsister


    died. Along time ago


    belongs to s


    Ulysses''s brow furrowed. "I know we messed up, Callie. We made you feel like you didn''t belong "


    Calliope closed her eyes for a second. God, he still didn''t get it.


    "It''s not about feelings, Ulysses. I mean it literally. I''m not rted to you. Not by blood. You can look it up. Run a DNA test if you want. I''m not a dewell Your poor sister died as a baby."  s


    Ulysses looked at her, like the ground was shifting beneath him.


    "Are you joking?"


    "Not even a little," Calliope replied. "Go ahead, test it. Do a DNA test."


    "So you guys clinging to me all this time? You were just clinging to a stranger. I was never one of you."


    She finished, calm and almost cold, and turned to go.


    Ulysses looked like he was about to fall apart. Then, suddenly, he darted in front


    of her, blocking her path.


    "I don''t believe it. Give me a hair. I''ll test it myself!”


    "Fine."


    Without hesitation, Calliope yanked a hair from her head and handed it to him.