Lisette''s face flushed with humiliation. She could feel that Jett and his wife disliked her. After a moment of hesitation, she excused herself from Blythe and went to y at another table.


    Blythe, however, remained, looking at Jett with a wounded expression.


    "Dad, how could you lose to her?"


    Jett gently smoothed her hair and said softly, "Blythe, she is genuinely skilled. Not just better than you, but better than me as well. I gave it my all, but I still lost to her."


    "When you''re outmatched, you have to ept defeat.”


    “We don''t use our power to bully people. A loss is a loss. You can work hard to improve, but you shouldn''t hold a grudge against your opponent. I taught you that when you were little—what happens at the card table is a matter of mutual consent."


    "In my opinion, this Calliope is quite impressive. You have no need to make an enemy of her."


    "That friend of yours, Lisette, on the other hand... I don''t think she''s a good influence. You should be careful around her," Jett warned.


    But his words fell on deaf ears. Blythe only grew more sullen and angry. Her father had always doted on her, never lecturing her like this. But now, all he did was lecture her, and all while praising Calliope.


    In his eyes, Calliope was the good one, even though she had been the one to humiliate Blythe. He saw Calliope as impressive, yet he questioned the friend she had chosen.


    Although Blythe didn''t truly consider Lisette a friend-merely a tool—the criticism still stung.


    "Alright, you''re grown now. I won''t interfere with your friendships, but consider it a word of caution,” Jett said, patting her shoulder. "Go on and have fun if you''d like."


    Blythe nodded, a storm of frustration brewing inside her.


    "Blythe, your father is right," Mrs. White added gently, noticing the defiance on her daughter''s face. "His words might be hard to hear, but he''s only looking out for you."


    "I know," Blythe said tly. "I''ll listen."


    Mrs. White nodded. "Good."


    “Mom, Dad, I''m going to go now," Blythe announced. “I''m meeting some friends to go singter."


    "Alright, have fun," Mrs. White said with a smile.


    As soon as Blythe was gone, Jett shook his head slightly. "That girl... she''s really grown up. She doesn''t listen to us the way she used to."


    "She''s older now, she''s bound to have her own ideas."


    "She''s been a good girl for so long, never really rebelled. Let her be," Mrs. White said with a warm smile. "I''m sure Blythe knows what she''s doing. She won''t do anything too reckless."


    "I''m not worried about her. I''m worried about that Lisette girl. It''s clear she''s trouble. She was even trying to stir things up between us I''m afraid Blythe will be manipted by her."


    "Blythe is not that naive."


    "And even if something happens, she has us, her parents, to back her up. Don''t worry so much," Mrs. White said with a reassuringugh. "My dear, the children are grown You dont need to worry about them so much anymore."


    "You''re right, as always. I was overthinking t," Jett said, smiling as he wrapped an arm around his wife His thoughts drifted back to


    Calliope. "But that Msewe//ln@


    truly remarkable She reminded me of you, back when you and I first yed against each other."


    "You were just as brilliant back then."


    "You could say we met as rivals, couldn''t you?"