Blythe swallowed hard, fear choking off any further protest. She dreaded letting her parents down, but she truly couldn''t stand Calliope—not only because of Ss, but now because of her own family. Her parents kept taking Calliope''s side.


    They had always supported her, never questioning her version of events, but with Calliope, everything changed. Now they were scolding her for Calliope''s sake, and it stung.


    "I''m sorry..." Blythe swallowed her pride and finally apologized to Jett and Mrs. White. She knew there was no point arguing with them—they clearly thought the world of Calliope, and nothing would convince them otherwise.


    "Mom, Dad, I''m sorry. I acted on impulse. I realize I was wrong," Blythe said, eyes dropping to the floor. "It won''t happen again. From now on, I''ll just watch quietly."


    Jett and Mrs. White both nodded in approval. “Acknowledging your mistakes is the first step to making them right."


    Meanwhile, Calliope kept bidding, one item after another. As the auction neared its end, no one dared to challenge her; every time she raised her paddle, the room fell silent.


    The crowd buzzed with spection.


    "Who is she, anyway?"


    "Just how rich is she? She''s practically buying out half the auction. Has she lost her mind?"


    "I swear, it''s like she wants every single item!"


    "Does she actually have the funds to pay for all this?"


    "I''m honestly starting to panic. What if she goes after the lot I want? There''s no way


    I can beat her."


    "She''s incredible... This is real buying power."


    “I heard some big shots wereing tonight, but I didn''t expect one to be a young woman-and that beautiful, too. Honestly, there''s something so effortlessly elegant about her, everything she does just exudes ss."


    "She''s the real deal, that''s for sure."


    "Amazing!"


    All eyes were on Calliope—some filled with curiosity, others with open admiration for her fearlessness and style.


    But on the other side of the room, Lisette was seething. She''d never dreamed Calliope could have such deep pockets, snapping up so many treasures like it was nothing.


    Monty and the others watched, growing more unsettled by the minute.


    "She''s unbelievable," Monty murmured, the regret clear in his voice. "Any one of those antiques would fetch a fortune, and she''s iming them all. I always figured she was nothing but bad luck by now it turns out she was the real blessing... If only we''d taken her in instead-would we be sitting at the top by now?"


    “Dad, are you serious right now?" Valerian shot him a look. "Even if you''d wanted to adopt her back then, do you really think she''d have agreed? Or that she''d have treated you any differently?"


    Monty blinked, chastened. "When you put it that way..."


    “Don''t say things like that. Lisette''s done plenty for our family, hasn''t she?” Valerian muttered.


    "You''re right...” Monty nodded, forcing himself to be quiet. "Better not let Lisette hear me say anything else. We can''t afford to upset her, not with thepany relying on her right now."


    Monty fell silent. Horatio, meanwhile, watched Calliope with a thoughtful, almost wistful expression.


    He, too, couldn''t believe how


    formidable she was. Just one of the


    items she''d bought tonight was far beyond his means. Remembering their past, he felt a sting


    shame-how they''d of


    been so


    cold to her, convinced she was just after their money. In reality, all she''d


    ever wanted was a family. All those suspicions just seemedughable now.


    Horatio couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret for how things might have been.