Calliope swept up item after item, her confident bids making waves throughout the auction and in the blink of an eye, she became the woman everyone was watching. By the time the gavel fell for thest time, admiration for her was nearly unanimous.


    With the auction over, Calliope went straight to settle her sizable bill.


    There were some in the crowd who''d smugly assumed she was just showing off- that she''d flinch when the time came to actually pay up. To their astonishment, she handled the transaction with effortlessposure, not so much as a hesitation.


    When she made her return, people flocked to her side. Some tried to cozy up, others fished for her contact information, a few were too curious about her background to hide their intrigue.


    Naturally, there were those who already knew exactly who she was.


    "Mr. Myers must''ve bankrolled her," someone sneered.


    "Come on, she''s Ss''s wife. No wonder she can afford all this stuff."


    "If Ss is giving her free rein to spend, that''s just proof they''re on solid ground as a couple, isn''t it?"


    "Right? The fact that Mr. Myers trusts her with that kind of money says a lot."


    "Whether it''s her own fortune or her husband''s, she''s a force to be reckoned with either way."


    "No denying that. She''s impressive."


    The whispers swirled as Jett approached Calliope. He offered her a ss of wine. "Ms. Jewell, I''d like to apologize on Blythe''s behalf for her behavior during the auction. She went too far."


    Calliope didn''t take the wine. She met his gaze, voice cool and measured. "If she''s the one at fault, why isn''t she here to apologize herself? Or does she not believe she did anything wrong, so you''re stepping in for her, Mr. White?"


    She gave a faint, dismissive wave. "Rest assured, even if I can''t forgive her, I''m not going to take it out on her. There''s really no point in apologizing. What exactly does it aplish?"


    Jett frowned, “Ms. Jewell, I realize you''re upset, but Blythe acted on impulse. I suspect there''s some kind of misunderstanding between you two. When a daughter


    out.


    line, a father''s supposed to intervene. If you have a grievance, take it up with me. And if her bidding tactics cost you anything, I''m willing topensate you for the loss."


    A shadow crossed Calliope''s face, a mix of emotions warring in her eyes. "You''re


    pretty indulgent with your daughter, aren''t you, Mr. White? Must love her a lot."


    Jett sounded almost proud when he replied, "Well, naturally. She''s my daughter. If a father doesn''t dote on or love his own child, then who will?"


    "Is that so?" Calliope''s lips curled in a faint, ironic smile.


    Well then, what about your biological daughter? Is it fine if no one loves her?


    Something in Calliope''s demeanor suggested she was even less pleased than before; Jett couldn''t fathom why. He''d offered to make things right, hadn''t he?


    "Ms. Jewell, you strike me as a reasonable woman. If my daughter has wronged you, can''t we clear the air and move on?"


    "That''ll depend on your daughter backing off first," Calliope said coolly. "Sorry?" Jett looked at her, clearly lost.


    "Hasn''t she been trying to pursue my husband? Calliope replied, almost offhand. "Were you really not aware of that Wasn''t there some talk about a marriage arrangement between your family and Ss''s?"


    Jett''s brow furrowed. "That''s absolutely not true."


    "Oh? That''s odd, because that''s exactly what Blythe and Oliver have been telling people." Calliope''s tone was nonchnt as she shrugged, “Honestly, I haven''t done a thing to her, Meanwhile, she''s gone out of her way to target me all to try and steal Ss. Is your daughter really so desperate that she''d rather y the mistress than find a man of her own?"