A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

In the crowd, Portia's eyes were red with anger; she was wiping away tears, seething with frustration. Mavis clenched her fists tightly beside her.

They both knew all too well the kind of place Calliope had been in for years. They understood deeply how much Zelda's words must have hurt her.

Calliope had once been a child who yearned for her parents' love. She had tried hard, really hard, to please them, to win some affection. But they were so biased, never caring about how she felt.

Standing nearby, Archie looked like he was about to intervene physically, but Uriah placed a calming hand on his shoulder, holding him back.

The murmurs and whispers among the crowd grew louder. Sure, everyone thought Lisette might be more accomplished than Calliope but doubted the Jewell family would abandon their biological daughter.

Blood tie was always there, after all, and an adopted child couldn't compare.

"It's sad for Calliope. Don't you think so? If the Jewell family treated her well, she wouldn't be so determined to leave, right?"

"Not necessarily. Calliope might just be acting out!"

"Even so, she's their real daughter. Would they disown her?"

Lisette. Calliope seems pretty alone in all this. It's

herself? Would the Jewell family dislike her so

maybe Lisette is

"Hard to say."

divided, some siding with Lisette,

whole story, so they bet on whether Calliope would seriously sever ties with the Jewell family and what would

would be

seemed confident enough to thrive without them, and besides,

course, some claimed Silas

.n

Calliope, that he was only with her out of gratitude, and that eventually, he'd tire of her. They believed Calliope was

AQUMS

not asking for much. Just give me a million, and we'll call it even!" Zelda

not make a scene.

to leave

let her. It's not like the sky is falling without her." Ulysses scoffed, "She will suffer, not us! Calliope, if you're so eager to leave the Jewell family, don't