A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Calliope couldn't help but think back-she'd almost never fought back before.

Maybe it was because her brothers had let her down so many times. Maybe because, deep down, she still hoped they'd change. Most of the time, she just went along with whatever they threw at her, hoping one day her brothers would have some kind of epiphany and realize how wrong they'd been.

But after dying once, yeah, literally dying, she got it. They were never going to see the light. No sudden change of heart, no apologies.

And honestly? She didn't really need their love anyway. If they didn't care, fine. She'd love herself. And, hell, her "honorary" brothers, those guys who actually gave a damn, were enough.

As for Lisette, after years of coasting on the family's generosity? Oh, it was time to settle the score. Once or twice, you could call it an accident. But three, four times? Ten, twenty? Since the day Lisette walked through their front door, she'd been scheming against Calliope. She was manipulative even as a kid. Did she really think she could have it all?

The next day was the day Lisette was coming home.

Valerian and Horatio went together to pick her up. Ulysses was off shooting a movie, so he wasn't around.

Calliope had figured Monty hadn't gone either, until, after a whirlwind afternoon of meetings, she asked to talk with him about something and Monty's assistant let the news slip.

"Should I call Mr. Monty for you?" the assistant asked, sounding a little nervous. "He left this morning to pick up Ms. Lisette."

real power here. If she wanted Monty back, he'd better come

Calliope just shrugged. "Nah,

back to her office, only for Franco to show

doorframe,

care?" Calliope asked, arching

the company now, and they still don't bother sucking up to you What's so special about

she means a lot to them,"

his head. "You gotta be tougher with them. They

They ignore you way too

looking up from

tell she had her own plans,

into the evening. When she finally wrapped up, she packed her things and sent Silas a quick text before heading straight to

but she'd turned him down. She told him she'd probably be staying with the family for a few days,

...

arrived, the house