A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Everyone's eyes were glued to Lisette.

Lisette frowned, caught off guard. She hadn't expected Calliope to figure it out so quickly. Calliope knew she was faking.

Still, she stubbornly tried to pin it on Calliope. "Well, if Callie didn't take it, who did? The necklace is actually missing!"

"Yeah, I saw it too! The necklace is gone!" chimed in Zelda, her brow knotted.

Zelda turned to Calliope, voice sharp. "Did you sneak off and take it when no one was looking? You're nothing but a thief! And you won't even admit it!"

"A thief, huh?" Calliope clapped her hands sarcastically. "Funny, you don't notice the thief in your own house, but you're quick to point fingers at me.”

She stood up abruptly, stalking toward Lisette with a fierce look in her eyes.

Lisette, suddenly nervous, took a few steps back, her gaze darting anxiously to Calliope. “Callie, what are you doing?"

"Forget it. It's just a necklace. I'll pretend I lost it."

"No way!" Calliope insisted. "A necklace doesn't just disappear. We have to find it!"

"So, why were you rummaging in your own jeans pocket

"Why

Calliope didn't back down. She grabbed Lisette's arm before anyone

of her pocket, and, clink, a necklace fell onto the hardwood floor. Everyone's attention shifted to the

is that your necklace? The one from your mom?" Monty's voice was thick

thought Lisette was a good kid-smart, hard-working, honest. This

she'd tried

"I-I don't

it really

trembling. "Was it

60 now!" Lisette stammered,

pocket? I must

t belongs to sw

of relief. "Oh my gosh, it was in my pocket the whole time. I thought I'd lost it!

to the others, still acting. "I thought it was in my dresser, but it wasn't.

laugh. She looked at Zelda. "Well, look at that. The necklace

paled. She hadn't expected Calliope to be innocent after

Sorry, Callie. I shouldn't have blamed you,"