Ulysses shot Valerian a look that was almost amused.


    "Lisette isn''t even our real sister, and you know it. Do you actually see her as family?"


    He let out a snort. "Come on, what kind of real brother would sleep with his own sister? Valerian, man, that''s just gross. Get a grip, will you?"


    Valerian''s jaw dropped. "What?!”


    Ulysses went on, "Oh, and in case you didn''t notice, she tried flirting with me too. Lisette''s been pulling every trick in the book just to stay in the Jewell family."


    He stood up so quickly his chair scraped against the hardwood. "You can mess with Callie all you want, but this? I''m not gonna let it slide.


    Horatio, you want to back us up, great. If not, well, that''s your call. Just remember this-being able to walk again? That was Callie. Nobody else. If it weren''t for her, your whole life would still be pitch ck."


    Valerian was furious. "Ulysses, what the hell are you talking about? Are you just making stuff up for Calliope''s sake? What did Lisette ever do to you? Did Callie put some kind of spell on you or something?"


    His voice was rising. "What did she promise you, huh? Money? Are you betraying us for a fat paycheck?"


    He lunged at Ulysses, swinging a fist. Ulysses dodged, eyes ice-cold, and punched back. Suddenly, the room erupted into chaos. The two brothers were throwing punches, locked in a furious brawl.


    Zelda shrieked. "Stop it! Please, both of you, just stop!"


    She hustled over, trying to pull them apart. But Valerian wouldn''t back down, and Ulysses was just as stubborn.


    Lisette tried to wedge herself


    between them, only to get shoved aside by Ulysses iling arm. That just made valerian angrier. Their scuffle got even more heated, trading blows and shouts.


    It wasn''t until Horatio stepped in, raising his voice, that the fight finally broke up.


    Ulysses shot Valerian onest re and stormed out, mming the door behind him.


    Valerian pressed a hand to his bruised cheek, fuming. "What the hell did Calliope give him? He''s lost his damn mind. Absolutely nuts."


    Horatio nced at Valerian, then at Lisette, hesitating.<fn6024> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FindN()vel</fn6024>


    "Valerian, I think this whole press conference thing is a bit much. Maybe we should try to settle it in private first. At least figure out if Grandpa really wanted to give her the inheritance. Maybe we should dy the conference. Talk things through before it blows up."


    Valerian looked up, incredulous. "Really, Horatio? You''re taking her side too? She fixed your legs, but she took ourpany shares too. You don''t owe her anything."


    "And Grandpa''s estate? That was always ours. She just took it behind our backs,


    hid who she was. She''s obviously been scheming from the start."


    "She''s bad news, end of story. Don''t


    let her mess with your head. Uly already fallen fort. Don''t tell


    ell me you''re next. Wake up, Horatio She''s not who you think she is."


    Horatio shook his head. "I''m staying out of it. It''s not my business."


    With that, he walked out, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.


    Valerian turned to Monty and Zelda, his voice desperate. "Dad, Mom, what about you? Tell me you don''t actually think Uly''s right. That woman''s poisoned his mind!"


    Zelda snapped, "Valerian, we''re going ahead with the press conference. Everything in this family belongs to us, and we''re getting it back. End of story."