"What about his first love?" Portia pressed, eyes on Calliope. "You and Ss have been getting along greattely. It''s not like he''s sneaking around with anyone else, right? That first love is probably just a rumor. Maybe she never even existed!"


    "Stop worrying,” Portia added. "He''s probably just away on business.”


    Portia looked up, her tone turning more practical. "Honestly, I think Ss is amazing to you. Didn''t he give you everything he owns? If he really was hung up on someone else, you could just kick him out and keep it all."


    She made it sound so simple but for Calliope, it was anything but.


    "It''s not just a rumor," Calliope said quietly. "He''s not away on business. He went to find her. What''s worse... she looks almost exactly like me. Maybe the only reason he treats me so well is because I remind him of her."


    Calliope looked at Portia, the sudden weight of the admission pressing down on her. "I think I might have to divorce him.”


    Portia stared at her. "Don''t be ridiculous! How do you know that''s why he left? Are you sure you''re not just imagining things?"


    "Callie, please don''t jump to conclusions. Whatever''s going on, talk to Ss about it. When he gets back, the two of you should sit down and have an honest conversation."


    "If you''re really bothered by his first love, just ask him about it directly. You two havee so far—it hasn''t been easy. And you can''t deny Ss is a good man. He''s aplished, he''s devoted to you, he''d do anything for you. It''s obvious he trusts youpletely."


    Portia was starting to feel anxious herself.


    She''d always thought Calliope and Ss had the perfect marriage. The rumor about Ss having a secret, unforgettable first love seemed so long ago. In fact, most people hadn''t expected them to work out together at first. But little by little, they''d proved everyone wrong.


    Calliope looked at Portia, wanting to say more-but finally held back.


    "Yeah. I''ll wait until hees home, then we''ll talk."


    She had never brought up the topic of his first love with Ss. But it seemed the time for honesty wasing.


    Calliope let the subject drop, and Portia didn''t bring it up again. The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon rxing and enjoying the cruise.


    Later, the auction officially kicked off.


    After changing into new outfits, Calliope and Portia joined the Suttons and Crispin and headed to the auction hall.


    By the time they arrived, the ce was already humming with excitement.


    The auction hadn''t started yet, but countless guests were gathered in the lounge, chatting over drinks and exchanging pleasantries.


    No sooner had Calliope entered than a small group of friends clustered around her,ughing and catching up After a moment, Nigel strolled over to chat as well.


    Lisette and Blythe were in


    attendance too. Lisette had already sent Ss a video of Calliope and Nigel talking together. Now, spotting conversation again, she


    them


    whipped out her phone and filmed several more short clips, bombarding Ss with updates There''s no way he won''t be jealous,


    is there? she thought. What man


    wouldn''t be?


    A sly, satisfied smile tugged at Lisette''s lips. She had no intention of making things easy for Calliope.


    Blythe, meanwhile, nced toward


    Jett and Mrs. White. Both of them had their rattention fixed on Calliope, and Blythe felt an increasing sense of unease. Why were they so invested in Calliope? Did they really like her that much? Earlier, they''d even pulled her aside to discuss what had happened between her and Calliope.