A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

When Lisette and the others got back, dinner was just about ready.

Calliope was hanging out by the door, munching on a handful of pistachios, looking like she was watching her favorite soap opera unfold.

Lisette trailed behind Horatio and the rest, her face lit up with a grateful smile, but there was a dramatic glimmer in her eyes, too.

"Dad, Horatio, Valerian, seriously, thank you guys so much! I really thought I was never getting out of there!"

She kept on, her voice growing more emotional. "If it wasn't for you, I'd probably still be stuck. You guys are amazing! I owe you everything."

She looked down, her tone suddenly softer and a little guilty. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen... I honestly thought Callie was up to no good. I mean, why are all those big shots sticking up for her anyway?"

"Dad, Horatio, Valerian, I'm sorry. This is all my fault, isn't it? Did I just drag the whole family into a mess again?"

She had that perfect, wounded puppy look—the kind that made most people's hearts ache for her. But Calliope saw straight through it.

So, after all that time being grounded, Lisette was still spinning her tales, Calliope realized. Still hinting that she'd been wronged, and that maybe just maybe- those important folks were all wrapped up in some scandal with her.

rolled her eyes and cracked another pistachio. "Yeah, you did stir up quite a bit of trouble for everyone,"

gonna say all those people were only defending me 'cause I've got something going on with them,

by the door, and when she did, she nearly jumped out of her

are

back and forth, looking panicked, as if hoping someone would

asking for an apology

can't be serious. Not in front of

shrugged. "I don't think so. But if you're not happy about it, I could just send you

out her phone, waving it around like she was about to make a call that would

paler. "No, please, Callie, don't!

had a rough time wherever

Callie," Horatio said, stepping in. "Lisette just got home. She doesn't

even apologized! Isn't that a problem?" Calliope shot

Callie, alright?" Horatio said, his tone firm but gentle.

She