A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Valerian and the others had their gaze fixed on Horatio, who was sitting in his wheelchair.

"How could she be that talented? Everyone says she's a jinx. Horatio, are you sure your friend isn't pulling your leg?" Zelda reclined on the couch with skepticism. She couldn't accept that Calliope might be more talented than Lisette.

Lisette was the daughter she had invested so much in, and the thought of her efforts producing anything less than exceptional was simply intolerable.

Zelda's eyes were steely with resolve; no amount of persuasion could sway her opinion.

Horatio's hands shook slightly as he read through the email. He looked up at Monty, his voice barely above a whisper. "Dad, my friend wasn't lying to us. Callie really is that talented."

He handed his phone to Valerian and fell into a contemplative silence.

information they'd heard

furrowed, his initial shock quickly turning into resentment. "She could have told

filled with regret. "Perhaps it was our actions that led her to stay silent. We must have done

had been missing. Calliope wasn't in the picture. It

"Valerian, did we

mess up?" Horatio

his voice heavy with the weight of

favored Lisette because she seemed more vulnerable. We focused so much on her and neglected Callie. We were always

Ke

had been a child wanting to be part of