A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Calliope started up her car, and somehow all three of them squeezed into her

sedan. She didn't bother protesting. If Lisette hadn't been there, Calliope probably would've left them to fend for themselves, but with Lisette in tow, she almost enjoyed making her uncomfortable.

They headed off toward the office.

During the drive, Horatio peppered Calliope with questions. She answered what she could, keeping her eyes on the road. Most of his concerns circled back to his legs. She was honest: she couldn't promise a miracle, but things definitely wouldn't get any worse under her care.

That was enough to put Horatio at ease. His biggest fear was things going downhill. If that wasn't on the table, he could live with it.

Valerian sat in the back, watching Calliope focus on the traffic ahead. After a moment, he spoke up, almost sheepishly. "Callie, you saved my life once, and I never really made it up to you. If there's ever anything I do that bothers you, just tell me. If there's something you want, I'll do my best to get it for you. Honestly, I've been kind of a jerk these past few years. I guess I've never really paid you the attention you deserve..."

It was like a lightbulb had suddenly gone off for Valerian. Maybe it was what Lisette pulled yesterday that finally woke him up, but he realized he owed Calliope a lot of apologies, and he had a lot of changing to do.

Calliope shot him a sideways glance and snorted. "Having a sudden epiphany, are we? All those times I asked you to change, you never even tried. Even when you found out the truth, you still took Lisette's side, didn't you? Not worried about hurting her feelings anymore?"

couldn't forget his own behavior-how he'd always managed to hurt Callie, all while shielding Lisette. He'd always favored Lisette. But lately...he was starting to see

Lisette was wrong, and I won't cover for her anymore. If she comes back to

probably come running to you, crying

by the book, that's all anyone can ask," Valerian

Calliope checked the rearview

an eyebrow at

to the rules. Whether

She might

Callie," Monty put in from the passenger seat, his tone serious. "If anyone at the office has something to say about it,

Monty's expression hardened. He'd

at work since Calliope and Franco had stepped in. He trusted her-he knew she was the one who could turn the company

she was just here to make trouble for Callie,