Hearing Jett mention Blythe''s name again and again made Calliope''s skin crawl.


    This was her biological father, and yet not only had he never tried to find her, he''d adopted another girl and treated her like a princess.


    Was he worried that if his real daughter showed up, she''d take everything away from his precious adopted one? Was this just a repeat of the Monty Jewell saga?


    Calliope sneaked nces at Jett, one after another. For years, she''d hoped to be with her birth parents, but now that her father was standing right in front of her, she could feel hisplete indifference. She didn''t even have the courage to tell him the truth: that she was his daughter.


    Did they care at all? Honestly, it felt like they didn''t. They already had a daughter they adored. To them, an extra daughter would just be a burden.


    Everyone knew how much Jett and Mrs. White spoiled their daughter, how they''dvished everyfort and privilege on her since she was little. Of course, all that affection had gone to their adopted daughter. Meanwhile, they''d never even tried to find the one child who was theirs by blood.


    With all Jett''s power and resources, Calliope knew he could have tracked her down easily. But he never had. That could only mean he''d never once looked for her.


    Calliope''s stare was ice-cold as she held Jett''s gaze, long enough that he began to fidget in difort, a nameless guilt creeping in.


    "I don''t know what happened between you and Blythe," he muttered awkwardly, "but Blythe''s a good kid-she''d never do anything out of line. And you, Ms. Jewell, are very impressive as well. I imagine this is all some big misunderstanding."


    "If you''d like, I could arrange for you and Blythe to sit down and talk things out?"


    That only made Calliope feel worse.


    So he really would defend Blythe no matter what.


    Just like Lisette''s parents didn''t matter who was right or wrong, their always protected Lisette.


    "No need." He tone was ice-cold. "Mr. White, you''re not a


    hundred-dor bill-no one expects everyone to like you. Your daughter adores you, so why does it matter f don? I can''t stand the sight of you, is that a problem?"


    "This has nothing to do with Blythe-or anyone else, for that matter. I simply can''t stand you."


    She didn''t give him the chance to respond. She turned on her heel, opened her bedroom door, and disappeared inside before he could say another word.


    Jett stood there at aplete loss.


    Her words had left a heavy weight in


    his chest. He''d always believed it didn''t matter whether people liked him-he was well aware he couldn''t please everyone. But for some reason, Calliope''s dislike bothered him more than he wanted to admit Some part of him-selfish, maybe-had wanted her to like him. At the very least, he''d hoped she wouldn''t hate him. The realization left him unsettled.


    Still, her attitude was clear as day—she really didn''t like him.


    Jett felt a wave of frustration, but there was nothing he could do. You can''t force someone to like you. Sometimes there''s no logic to it-why you click with one person and not another. He and his wife had taken a liking to Calliope right away for reasons he couldn''t quite put his finger on. Maybe it was the way she reminded him of his wife.


    When Calliope returned to her room, she found Portia already awake.


    "Callie, back from breakfast?" Portia mumbled, stifling a yawn. “My head feels all fuzzy."