Portia Sutton stood beside Calliope, her arms crossed as she eyed Ulysses with suspicion.


    "Wait a second," she whispered. "Is Ulysses actually trying to defend you?"


    She snorted. "That''s rich. Wasn''t he the one who used to hate your guts the most?"


    "Seriously, every time your name came up, he''d lose his mind. He couldn''t stand you-always making a scene about you and Lisette. And now he''s suddenly on your team?"


    Calliope just shook her head, just as baffled as Portia. She had no idea why Ulysses had flipped the script so suddenly.


    But honestly? It didn''t really matter.


    She didn''t care if Ulysses was fighting for her or not. She could clear her name on her own if she had to. If he wanted to help, fine if not, she''d be just as well off.


    Calliope''s gaze drifted to Ulysses, who looked like he was about to explode.


    He was outnumbered by the whole Jewell family, his words getting tangled up the more he tried to exin, and his face was red with frustration.


    Down in the crowd, people were whispering, convinced Calliope had somehow bewitched Ulysses-maybe promised him something in return. Some thought he was just being used as her pawn.


    After the chaos started to calm, Calliope gave Portia a nod. "Guess it''s my turn.”


    "Go get ''em." Portia shed her a thumbs-up.


    Calliope nodded back and walked up toward the stage.


    As soon as she appeared, a wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.


    "Isn''t that Calliope? Oh my god, that''s her!"


    "She actually showed up?!"


    "What''s she doing hereing to confess or something?"


    "She must''ve heard the Jewell family was holding a press conference. Maybe


    she''s here to pay everyone back now that her secrets are out?"


    "Well, this just got interesting! Didn''t think she''d have the nerve to show her face."


    "Calliope, what are you nning now?"


    All eyes locked on her, some with curiosity, most with barely disguised glee.


    "She must''ve been dumped by Ss Myers, right? He''s nowhere to be seen with all this going on."


    "Wouldn''t be surprised-Mr. Myers would never fall for a con artist."


    "She''s not part of the Jewell family anymore. She''s gonna have to cough up all that money. She''s finished."


    People pointed and whispered, the air thick with schadenfreude.


    Portia overheard the chatter, her face flushing with anger.


    "Why don''t you all just shut up for two seconds?"


    She red at them. "You really think Callie''s done for? As if! She''s no scammer-


    if anyone''s a fraud, it''s the Jewell family!"


    "Callie''s never done anything cruel in<fnab28> Official source is find?novel</fnab28>


    her life. She''s poured her heart into


    charity and


    people bothered


    look they see she''s the kindest


    soul here!"  s


    "It''s the Jewell family who''ll do anything for a buck-shameless, the whole lot of them!"


    Portia''s words were mostly lost in the crowd, but a couple people nearby caught them-one of them a well-known reporter.


    "Excuse me, what did you just say?"


    "Yeah, do you know something?"


    Portia realized who she was talking


    to and seized the moment. "I''m


    Calliope''s best friend


    real story. I can tell you everything."  s


    "Calliope only found out about her real identity recently. She was


    d


    adopted by old man Kermit.


    when she was a kid she hadno idea she wasn''t really a Jewell.  s


    "And Kermit''s death-what, are you saying she''s responsible?" one reporter pressed.


    "Of course not!" Portia said firmly, her eyes zing. "If anything, Kermit lived a few extra years because of Calliope!"