A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"Yeah. Calliope's not exactly the forgiving type, is she? Did she leave the Jewell family to guilt-trip Lisette into leaving too?"

"Poor Lisette, she didn't deserve that!"

"Calliope's got a personality problem. The whole Jewell family isn't fond of her. How's that Lisette's fault?"

"Wow, Portia, have you fallen under Calliope's spell too?"

People around Portia were quick to voice their thoughts, rallying behind Lisette. They glanced at Portia with a mix of disdain and disbelief.

"Can't you guys see? Lisette's putting on an act," Portia said, exasperated with her classmates.

"Class president, aren't you supposed to be fair? You really believe Lisette's not acting?" Portia asked, hoping for some backup.

a good time

Clap! Clap! Clap!

applause echoed through

in from the doorway, her entrance commanding everyone's attention. "Long

me?" she asked, scanning the room with an amused curiosity. "Weren't you just talking about me? Now that I'm here, why so quiet? Speak up. I can't hear what you have to

their entire year knew her. Despite all the gossip behind her back, confronting her face-to-face

this? You did what you did, and now we can't talk about

since high school. A boy she liked had a crush on Calliope,

get your ears checked. What I said was I'd prefer it if you said it to my

disarming. She pulled up a chair and sat before Eva, poised and composed. She was graceful, exuding an air of elegance that matched her wealthy

had changed, shaped by the pressures

something en