Gideon was ignoring his buddies, feeling utterly miserable.


    Tomorrow was his wedding day with Yvette, but he felt none of the joy expected of a groom. Sure, he was about to be a father, and he didn''t dislike the idea of having a kid. But his feelings for Yvette had long since faded.


    Lately, Yvette had been using the fact that she had once saved his life as leverage against him, making him resent her even more.


    He took swig after swig of his drink, as if trying to drown his sorrows in whiskey.


    His friends had been joking around, but seeing him like this, they exchanged puzzled nces, unsure of what was going on with him.


    One of them pped Gideon on the shoulder. "Hey, man, what''s up? You don''t look like you''re about to get married."


    "Don''t tell me you''re still hung up on Calliope," another chimed in. "I thought you couldn''t stand her always being around back in the day. Isn''t your wedding with her all about Eamon''s shares?"


    Gideon chuckled wryly, swirling the amber liquid in his ss. "No, I didn''t realize it back then, but I love her. I was such a fool. I didn''t know who I truly cared about."


    He sighed, his gaze dropping to the floor. He used to think Yvette was great, that she was special. Now he realized she wasn''t, and he had never really liked her- just a trick of the mind, a result of her maniptions.


    If he''d only understood his heart sooner, he wouldn''t be contemting running away on his wedding day.


    He recalled the image of Calliope running toward Ss. His heart pounded at the memory. Why wasn''t she running toward him? If she had been, he''d have felt like he had the world at his feet.


    "You know," one of the guys said, "I heard something interesting. A buddy of mine looked into Calliope and said she owns the Pearl Tiger Club."


    "Seriously?"


    "Yeah, and not just that. Apparently, she''s got a whole slew of businesses. She''s wealthier than the Jewell family, almost on par with Ss!"


    "No way. She''s so young, and the Jewell family doesn''t even like her. How could she have so much wealth?"


    "That''s what my buddy says!"


    "Maybe it''s all just rumors."


    "Don''t forget, she''s the Miracle Doctor! If you''ve been keeping up with her reputation, you''d know she''s a big deal!"


    "How so? Spill the details!"


    "I''ve heard a few stories. She hasn''t practiced much in recent years, but when she did, her patients were top-tier global bigwigs."


    "Yeah, I remember hearing she


    treated some big shot, and he gave her a private ind as thanks! And not just an ind-she''s been paid millions for her treatments!


    "Rich folks fear death the most. If she can cure them, they''d probably hand over half their fortune!"


    "True, being a miracle worker must be lucrative. People''s lives are in her hands!"


    As they marveled at Calliope''s aplishments, they couldn''t help


    ta nce at Gideon. The more they


    talked, the more theparison became apparent.  fo


    Yvette came from humble


    beginnings,cked skills, and wasn''t as striking as Calliope. But Calliope wasn''t just the Jewell family''s


    heiress-she was the Miracle


    Doctor. Her medical prowesvel.no


    was enough to catapult her into wealth beyond imagining?