A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Of course, they showered her with kindness and everything money could buy, desperate to prove she wasn't just the adopted kid. They bent over backwards, trying to give her the world. They never wanted her to feel like an outsider, so whatever she asked for, they'd make it happen.

But after nearly twenty years of living as the cherished daughter of the Jewell family, what did she remember? Not the luxury, not the love—just that she was adopted. Even now, she didn't really feel like she was part of the family.

Or maybe, she just didn't want to.

Or maybe, nothing they ever did was good enough for her.

Or maybe, they just felt they still hadn't done enough.

Horatio and Valerian both looked tense, their faces darkening.

Monty looked even worse, like he'd just bitten into a lemon bar that was all lemon, no sugar.

Calliope, though, seemed to wake everyone up with her words. Whenever something didn't go her way, Lisette'd play the "adopted daughter" card. Did she really think she could guilt-trip them like that?

“I—I didn't mean it that way!" Lisette blurted out, scrambling to explain. "I know you all treat me so well. It's my fault, not yours!"

"Oh, please," Calliope shot back, rolling her eyes. "You spend every day acting like you're some poor orphan. Who's treated you badly here? You've always been raised like you were their own, but you never once acted like you were."

for them, are you

right in the eye and

Lisette stared back, stunned.

so sharp? Since when did she know how to

I'll always do my part," Lisette stammered, on the verge of tears. "Callie, you've got it all

Lisette," Calliope replied coolly. "Are you gonna ery now?

conversation. Oh dear,

out of line?"

look, her face full of mock panic. "I shouldn't have picked on

once, she didn't know how to handle

the conversation, though even

and the others crowding around Calliope, Zelda's expression

you ganging up on

Zelda announced, "Dinner's ready. Whatever this

quickly, tears trembling

brought up the whole

thing."