“What''s with that look?" Blythe was practically fuming.


    Calliope hadn''t expected anyone to mistake her identity, and she stood there, momentarily dumbfounded.


    "I''m sorry, you must have me confused with someone else. I''m not their daughter," she said crisply, cutting in before Jett or Mrs. White had a chance to respond.


    The man let out augh. “Come on, Ms. White, you''re too funny. You look so much like Mr. and Mrs. White—it''s impossible that you''re not their daughter!"


    Calliope fell silent, at a loss for words.


    See? Even aplete stranger could see the resemnce. Yet her own birth parents had failed to recognize her.


    She instinctively nced over at Jett and Mrs. White.


    Jett looked as though he was about to say something when Blythe suddenly swept in, looping her arm through his. “Dad, what''s going on?” she asked, feigning casualness.


    The man who had just addressed them looked utterly blindsided. He stared at Jett, then at Blythe, and finally at Calliope, puzzlement in on his face.


    "I—I really made a mistake?" He''d never heard Jett had two daughters, so obviously the woman on his arm must be the real daughter. Mortified, he rushed to apologize. "I''m so sorry, Ipletely misunderstood!"


    "I could have sworn-" He nced again between Calliope and Mrs. White, then to Blythe, clearly mystified by how the actual daughter looked nothing like her parents, while the woman he''d mistaken for their child was practically their mirror image.


    "It''s fine," Jett said smoothly, letting the matter drop. "There are plenty of people who look alike. Sometimes, that''s just how fate works out."


    Hearing Jett''s even tone, the man finally let out a shaky breath of relief. He''d truly been afraid he''d upset a powerful figure with his blunder.


    Meanwhile, Calliope led Portia off to the side, not wanting to waste another second in theirpany. They exchanged a few obligatory pleasantries with other guests until a waiter came by to announce the start of the auction.


    The crowd, buzzing with anticipation, drifted into the auction hall.


    This was a major event, drawing in some of the most influential people around.


    Among them were Lisette, Monty, and the Jewell brothers-Valerian and Horatio: Calliope hadn''t noticed them at first; it wasn''t until the


    auction was underway that licen


    realized they were there. The moment she entered and sat dow their gazes followed her, heads turning almost in unison.


    Tonight, Calliope wore a gown that was simple in design but crafted so elegantly that she outshone almost everyone else in the room. With Portia at her side and a lively entourage that included celebrities and heirs to international fortunes, it was obvious she was among her own kind here.


    Some of the people in her group were exactly the types Valerian had long hoped to connect with but never managed to approach. He watched in amazement as Calliope mingled with them so naturallyughing, chatting, clearly fitting in as if she''d known them for years.


    How on earth had she managed it?


    As Calliope and her friends found their seats, they continued their animated conversation, their easyughter making it clear how close they were. Every so often, guests would approach to greet them, further cementing their ce at the center of the social scene.


    Valerian watched, unable to hide his envy, and leaned toward Horatio.


    "That man with her-Mr.


    Larson he''s exactly the sort of contact we''ve been trying to make. How does she even know him? And


    if we try to approach, do you think she''ll go out of her way to block us?"