He shot Valerian a quick smile. "Why do you ask? Did Lisette say something to you?"


    Valerian didn''t answer. But it was obvious-that''s exactly what Lisette had told him.


    So Lisette had only told Valerian? No one else? That pretty much confirmed what Ulysses had been saying: there was definitely something going on between those two.<fn4f88> Follow current nov?ls on F?ndNovel</fn4f88>


    Horatio nced at Valerian a couple of times, his feelings mixed. But, as usual, Horatio lookedpletely unbothered.


    After a bit of griping about Calliope together, Valerian left.


    ...


    Upstairs, Calliope took a break in her room. By the evening, everyone was getting ready, changing into something nicer for the auction that night.


    When Calliope and the others headed downstairs, they ran into the Jewell family again.


    Horatio and Ulysses were acting different towards her now. They''d sobered up, and it was clear they realized Calliope probably wasn''t a real part of the Jewell family.


    But Monty and the rest were still in the dark. They kept trying to persuade Calliope, not giving up.


    Horatio and Ulysses couldn''t stop them; they just watched, frowning, as the others pressed on. For the first time, they seemed to realize how much Calliope had put up with over the years. It made them feel sorry for her, and honestly, a little disgusted with how the Jewells were acting. Sometimes, it really does take an outsider to see things clearly.


    They also started to notice how Lisette was always stirring the pot, looking for ways to create drama.


    "Is it really so hard for you to help us out?" Zelda tried to sound pitiful, hoping to guilt Calliope into helping, maybe even squeeze an apology out of her.


    But after a little while, the act dropped.


    "You can''t even help your own family? You ungrateful brat!" Zelda snapped.


    "Mom!" Horatio''s face darkened. "Don''t talk to Callie like that!"


    "Whether Callie helps or not is her choice," Ulysses added. "What have you ever given her that she owes you anything? You didn''t even raise hery her you were never areal mother to


    her You can''t me Callie for that.”  s


    "Oh, so what? Even if I didn''t raise her, I still gave her life!" Zelda hissed, her voice cold. "If she really wants to cut ties with us, she should in


    dead and give that life back.


    drop


    hat


    Would settle things once and for all."


    s


    Calliope shot Zelda a look. She honestly hadn''t thought Zelda could be this cruel. She couldn''t even


    Gif


    imagine how the real Calliope, if she were still alive would feel heaking. those words. Probably shattered.  s


    The thought made Calliope''s heart ache for the real Calliope, who''d passed away. Maybe, in a strange way, it was a blessing she wasn''t here for all this. At least she wouldn''t have to endure their venom.


    And thank God she wasn''t really a Jewell. She didn''t owe Zelda anything, not even her life.


    Calliope didn''t bother responding to Zelda''s outburst. Ss and the others ignored her, too.


    The Jewell family ranted on like clowns in a bad circus act.


    Horatio and Ulysses both looked deeply troubled. After all, what if Calliope wasn''t even their biological sister? If she had been, maybe she''d already "given her life back," as Zelda so nastily put it.


    "Mom, don''t ever say that again. That was way out of line," Horatio said, staring her down. "You can''t talk to Callie like that."


    "She''s my daughter. I''ll say whatever I want!" Zelda shot back. "Unless she''s dead, I''ll keep saying it!"