A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"We're her real family! How could she possibly treat someone else like her big brother?"

Valerian echoed Lisette's words, sounding genuinely annoyed.

Lisette gave a small, smug grin. She knew Valerian was completely on her side

now.

As for Calliope, well, she wasn't getting any of their affection.

Ulysses felt conflicted. He'd missed Lisette, honestly, but seeing her now, he couldn't muster much enthusiasm. His thoughts kept drifting to Calliope, who'd left with those other brothers.

It felt like he didn't have a real sister anymore. She definitely didn't think of him as a brother.noveldrama

At dinner that evening, the whole Jewell family gathered around the table. The spread was classic: roast chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a big salad.

"Tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Should we invite Callie over for dinner?" Monty Jewell suddenly asked, forking a piece of turkey.

The table went quiet. Everyone glanced over at him, unsure. Calliope hadn't been home since she'd moved out. The only time she showed up was when Horatio needed her to do his acupuncture treatments.

“What's the point? Even if we invite her, do you really think she'll show up?" Zelda snapped, barely hiding her irritation. She honestly didn't want to see Calliope at all. Just the thought of her put Zelda in a bad mood.

"She probably won't come," Ulysses muttered, frowning. He couldn't stop thinking about how close Calliope seemed with those other 'brothers.'

Honestly, she didn't look like she needed any of them anymore. Especially that Julius guy, he could outshine Ulysses in every way.

For whatever reason, it seemed like Calliope had chosen them over her own family.

"We should at least invite her," Horatio said quietly. "It's the right thing to do. Whether she comes or not is her decision. Extending the invitation. That's on us."

Valerian nodded. "He's right."

"She's supposed to be at the office today anyway, right?" Monty added. "If we just call, it feels insincere. e Valerian, Ulysses, why don't you two stop by her office? Talk to her in person. If she turns you down, well, just let her know she's welcome anytime.

She's still your sister, and she's running the company now. There's no harm in being civil."

Valerian agreed; Ulysses just stayed silent, feeling more and more doubtful that Calliope would actually come.

He wanted to see her, to ask her straight up if she'd really given up on her brothers. Did she only care about those other guys now?

They'd all been so close as kids. What changed? The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

...

Meanwhile, Calliope was out to

dinner with Quentin and the others. Silas was tied up with work, but he'd already reserved a table and ordered their favorite dishes: burgers, fries, and a big plate of nachos.

The three of them dug in, chatting and laughing.

"Callie, what's really going on with you and the dewell family?" Quentin asked, looking at her seriously. "Are they still giving you a hard time? And what about Gideon Baker. Now that you're married to his uncle, has he been treating you okay?"

They'd kept in touch over the past few weeks, but Calliope hadn't told them much.

She didn't want them to worry.

Now, with the three of them together, she could see how concerned they were. They'd do anything to help her if she needed it.