“That''s just because you were drunk,” Calliope said, smiling at her. “You had a lot to drinkst night, remember? Don''t tell me you forgot everything?"


    Portia groaned. "I honestly have no idea how I ended up drinking so much. But I''ll say this—your friends can all really hold their liquor!" She remembered knocking back ss after ss, getting tipsier by the minute, while everyone else seemed totally unfazed. It was as if she was the only one who''d gotten even a little drunk.


    To be fair, some people had told her to slow down. But when everyone else was drinking, she felt awkward refusing, so she just kept up. She had no idea their alcohol tolerance was off the charts-unlike hers.


    "You don''t think they''ll tease me about it, do you?" Portia mumbled, rubbing her aching head, feeling a little self-conscious.


    "Of course not.” Calliope pulled out a packet of hangover tablets and handed one over. "Seriously, don''t worry. They''re all easy to get along with-and they know you''re my sister. Nobody would dareugh at you."


    "Thanks." Portia popped the pill and stifled a yawn. "Oh, by the way, I remember you rushing out with the first-aid kit yesterday. What was that all about?”


    "Nigel was poisoned," Calliope said matter-of-factly. "I helped him."


    “Nigel?” Portia''s eyes went wide. "He got poisoned?"


    "Wait a second-he''s Ss''s archrival. Why would you help him?" Portia frowned, genuinely puzzled. "He''s your husband''s enemy. Shouldn''t you have just let him kick the bucket? That way, no one would be left to stir up trouble for Ss."


    "I''m a doctor. I can''t just stand by and watch someone die," Calliope replied. "That''s my responsibility."


    "And besides, sure, he''s Ss''s rival, but I''ve got nothing against him. Honestly, their feud isn''t exactly a matter of life and death, either."


    Portia nodded slowly. "That makes sense. But if Ss finds out, won''t he be mad? Men can be so petty-he''ll probably get jealous."


    Calliope''s voice was cool. "I already tried to call him, but he didn''t pick up. I sent a text, though. Whether he believes it or not is his problem."


    Portia stared at her, baffled. A little while ago, these two were practically glued together. But now Calliope''s mood seemed all off.


    Taking a sip of water, Portia asked, "Did Ss do something to upset you?"


    Calliope nced her way but didn''t immediately reply.


    Portia''s eyes lit up with curiosity. "He did, didn''t he? Seriously? Mr. Myers always spoils you—that makes all of us jealous! What could he possibly have done to set you off?"


    "It''s weird, though," she said, tilting her head, trying to piece it together. "Youre always so forgiving y forgiving with him.


    What could he have done this time


    Wmake you this angry?"


    She ran through every scenario she could think of—but nothing seemed likely to make Calliope this upset.


    Calliope spoke softly, "He doesn''t want to have a child with me."


    Portia blinked, thunderstruck. "Wait, you want to have a baby?!"


    "No, it''s not that. The point is, why wouldn''t he want a child with me? Does he got like kids? And hang on do you actually want one now?.


    1.n


    Aren''t we still young? I thought you wanted to just enjoy life for couple more years:


    "Maybe there''s some kind of misunderstanding?"


    "I mean, a guy like Mr. Myers... He doesn''t exactly seem like the doting dad type.


    He''s always been so aloof, untouchable almost..."


    Calliope looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "He''s still hung up on his first love—the one he could never have. Everybody knows it."


    That thought lingered heavily inside her. She''d spent half the night thinking about it. But no matter how she tried to reason it away, that dull


    ????


    ache in her heart just wouldn''t go away.