Ulysses watched Calliope, her movements so sharp and decisive it made him uneasy.


    Was it actually possible she had nothing to do with the Jewell family?


    No, that couldn''t be!


    She was his real sister. How could she possibly be... gone?


    He remembered the day Calliope first came to live with the Jewells, how sweet she''d been as a kid. Ulysses had been the youngest before that, and he''d been thrilled at the idea of having a baby sister. No longer the baby himself, it had felt exciting, almost like a promotion.


    But now Calliope was saying she had nothing to do with them. That their real sister was dead.


    How was he supposed to believe that?


    Ulysses just couldn''t ept it. He didn''t think Calliope was telling the truth. She had to be messing with them. Maybe she was just disappointed in the family, trying to cut ties.


    Still, the way she''d handed over a lock of her hair, so matter-of-fact, made him hesitate.


    "I''m not lying," Calliope said coolly. "You can check for yourself. And once you find out, do me a favor, and let your family know and stop bothering me. I really have nothing to do with the Jewells."


    The elevator doors slid shut between them.


    Ulysses just stood there, still stunned.


    At some point, Zelda and Lisette had walked over. They saw the look on his face and hurried up, concern all over them.


    "Ulysses, what''s wrong? Why are you just standing here like a statue?" Lisette asked, eyeing him suspiciously.


    She didn''t know what Calliope had said this time, but it was obvious Ulysses wasn''t himself anymore.


    "What did Callie say to you?" Lisette pressed. "Is she still refusing to help the Jewell family?"


    Ulysses turned to look at her. "Didn''t you say you were leaving? So why are you still here?"


    "Ulysses, what''s gotten into you? Did Calliope brainwash you or something?" Zelda shot back, her voice rising.


    She threw an arm around Lisette protectively. "What''s your problem? If you''re upset with Calliope, don''t take it out on Lisette. She hasn''t done anything to you.


    Ulysses stared at his mother, not even bothering to answer. He''d seen this side of Zelda his whole life: even if she knew Calliope wasn''t her、 biological daughter, even if she learned her own child was dead, she''d never really feel sorry. Her whole world revolved around herself and Lisette, no one else mattered.


    Suddenly, he felt a pang of empathy for Calliope. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.


    He gave Zelda and Lisette a cold nce, then walked away without another word.


    For the first time, he understood how Callie must have felt all these years-never believed, never really epted.


    Now, it was like karma. No one believed him, either.


    "Uly, what''s going on with you?" Zelda called after him, suspicion in her voice.


    She knew her son. He''d never treated her so coldly before. But now, he was practically a stranger.


    "It''s nothing," Ulysses replied tly, not slowing down.


    "I just... I just feel sorry for Callie. You never cared about your own daughter. None


    of us ever really cared about Callie."


    Whether or not Callie was really their sister, she''d never gotten a shred of real family love from any of them.


    Thinking about it, Ulysses just felt worse He wished he could go back in time and smack some sense into


    Younger self for being so cruel to her.  ''