A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Lisette paced around her bedroom, her mind racing with thoughts she kept carefully hidden behind a calm, pleasant face. Out loud, she even found herself saying nice things about Calliope to Zelda, trying to keep the peace.

But the more Lisette talked up Calliope, the more Zelda's opinion soured. The way she saw it, Calliope had done nothing but make Lisette's life harder, and yet here was Lisette, still defending her. Zelda's heart ached. Lisette was just too good, too forgiving.

It didn't take long before Lisette started noticing something strange: her room felt emptier than before. Several of her favorite things were missing. Some of them were keepsakes she'd won in childhood tiffs with Calliope, others were genuinely valuable.

"Mom, do you remember that butterfly-shaped necklace?" Lisette asked, unable to keep the concern from her voice. “It's gone. I can't find it anywhere."

Zelda's expression darkened immediately. "Isn't it obvious? That was Calliope. She's been taking things from your room, more than just that necklace."

She clenched her jaw, her voice trembling with anger. "But right now, everyone needs Calliope. With Horatio so sick and the company in trouble, no one dares to call her out. She's like a bad omen. I swear, she only came back to rob us blind."

But for the sake of the family business, Zelda had to hold her tongue. Monty had already told her to stay quiet; all she could do was stew in silence.

my mom's

guard. She hadn't seen what Calliope had

Mom's old locket is missing too,” Lisette said, rummaging through

had played this game a

with unshed tears. "Mom, I know I didn't get to know my real mom, and you're the one I love the most. But that looket is all I have left of her. I could give up everything else to Calliope, but not that. It's not

broke as she dabbed at

wrapped around Lisette's finger. She'd raised her like her own flesh and blood and

saw Lisette's tears, Zelda's anger erupted. "That Calliope! How could she?

times, her

we'll go get it back!" Zelda

Lisette hesitated. “Mom,