"But honestly, I think Ulysses isn''t so bad. Didn''t he at least try to defend Calliope?"


    "Yeah, I guess he''s the only one who seems halfway decent. At least he admitted he messed up and looks like he''s actually reflecting on it!"


    "Right, unlike the rest of them, who won''t even acknowledge they did anything wrong!"


    "That family''s got a heart as cold as a block of ice, I swear. It''s scary."


    "Thank goodness it''s Calliope and not their real daughter from before!"


    "Can you imagine if their actual daughter had survived? If she wasn''t as tough as Calliope, just think of how badly she would''ve been bullied!"


    "It''s heartbreaking."


    "My heart goes out to that little baby girl who passed away right after she was born."


    "Maybe it was a blessing in disguise. If she''d stayed, she''d probably just have been treated like a scapegoat for the whole family."


    Reporters and fans alike were buzzing with gossip and heated whispers.


    Now that it was all over, Calliope looked over at Monty and the others. "Anything left to say? If you''ve got something, spit it out now. Otherwise, we''re done here- for good."


    Her cool gaze swept right through Monty''s group like she was looking at strangers, not a flicker of emotion on her face.


    Monty and his crew were speechless, shame written all over them.


    Even if they wanted to speak up, nobody would have cared what they had to say anymore.<fn5426> Read full story at fι?dnοvel</fn5426>


    "Nothing? Nost words?" Calliope said tly. "Then let''s make this clear: don''t ever try to leech off my name again. If you do, I''ll call the cops."


    With that, she turned to Ss and the others. "Honey, guys, let''s go."


    "Callie, I''m sorry! I know I was wrong!" Monty suddenly realized the gravity of the situation and rushed forward, trying to drop to his knees in apology.


    Calliope stopped him cold, kicking a chair in front of him to block the pathetic gesture.


    "Callie, after all those years in our house, don''t you have any feelings left at all?”


    "All those years, we always treated you like our own daughter... loved you like family..."


    "Sure, now we know there''s no blood rtion, but isn''t it a bit harsh to cut us off? mean even if you raise a pet you end up with some feelings right? And we''re all human here."  s


    "Callie, I''m still your father!"


    Monty''s words made the whole room freeze in shock.


    Nobody had ever seen someone this shameless before.


    Just moments ago, he was calling her a fraud, iming she had nothing to do with the Jewell family. Now, he was trying to apologize on his knees, acting like they shared some deep bond? What a joke.  s


    No feelings a second ago, and now suddenly he''s overwhelmed with sentiment?


    "Your emotions suree and go fast," Calliope replied coolly. "Never seen a father ''love'' his daughter quite like you did."


    "What, you enjoyed making my life hell? Picking on ''weak little Callie'' made you feel good?"


    "Mr. Jewell, there''s shameless, and then there''s... whatever you are. I''ve seen brick walls with more dignity."


    She brushed past Monty without a backward nce.


    Ss and the others shot Monty a frosty look.


    Quentin spoke up, "Don''t you dare bother Callie again. If you do, I promise I won''t let it slide."


    With that, he turned and walked off.


    Portia hurried after him.


    Down below, the crowd was snapping photos, recording videos-some were even livestreaming, cursing out the Jewells as they went.


    Monty slumped in his chair, no longer caring about appearances.


    Valerian looked pale as a ghost; he knew the Jewell family was done for.


    Ulysses just


    to holdt smirked. "Told you not


    You


    uldn


    to hold this press conference brought this on yourselves have happened to a nicer bunch."  s