A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Chapter 22

Archie's two older brothers were born to his father's wife, while he himself was the son of the third mistress.

The Yoder matriarch- a fierce and ruthless woman- tolerated her husband's affairs but drew the line when it came to anyone threatening her sons' inheritance.

And so, after giving birth to Archie, his mother was frequently persecuted by her. The relentless torment eventually took its toll, causing her to suffer severe mental distress and instability.

Without his mother's protection, Archie's place within the Yoder family was precarious. His survival to this point had been nothing short of a miracle. From a young age, he learned to conceal his talents, playing the fool and projecting an image of incompetence to avoid Mrs. Yoder's wrath.

Calliope had been so infatuated with Gideon in the past that she never really noticed Archie's plight.

trouble she found herself in, Archie was always there smiling, ready to help. Yet she had never realized

she learned the full extent of Archie's hardships. After taking

spot. Mrs. Yoder was scheming to force him into marrying into the Jansen family, trying

seeing him as nothing more than a useless layabout, simply turned a blind

it now, Calliope's heart ached for Archie. If only she had

they first met. She was staying at her grandfather's place in the countryside, and Archie was

in the fields, fish in the creek,

As they grew older, their bond deepened, and Archie became like a protective

be wrong with me? I'm carefree and happy as can be!" Archie said with his usual

lazing about

at Archie with a more