A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"So, what's it gonna be? Can you pay it back within a week? Or do you think jail time is the better deal?"

Calliope had no intention of letting Lisette off the hook. She looked at her, lips curled in a cold, mocking smile.

Lisette's face turned ashen. One glance at Calliope told her all she needed to know. She had rock-solid evidence. There was no excuse Lisette could offer. She was completely at Calliope's mercy now.

"I'll pay it back... But a week? That's way too short. Can't you give me more time?" Lisette tried to negotiate.

She was in a deep hole. There was no way she could scrape together that kind of cash so quickly. This wasn't pocket change; it was a serious sum. How was she supposed to pull that off in just seven days?

"Oh, so you didn't think about that when you were skimming off the top, huh? You're always going on about how much you care about the company, about helping it grow. This your idea of helping?" Calliope's voice was sharp. "Because if everyone did what you did, there wouldn't be a company left."

Lisette could feel her cheeks burning. Monty was standing right there, and she'd always told him everything she did was for the good of the family business. Now Calliope had dug up the truth and thrown it right in her face.

"I get it. I'll figure something out!" she snapped, glancing at Monty. She wanted to explain, but what could she possibly say?

her, maybe too generous. They'd spoiled her, and now her needs had outgrown what they were willing to give. That's why she'd started helping herself to company funds.

Calliope would one day

done, you can leave," Calliope said dismissively, then added, "Oh, and if you still want

her, not a chance. Whatever tasks were coming, they'd be the kind that made

this on purpose, just

the Jewell family had changed. None of them seemed

left the office,

in the hallway, their faces unreadable. Clearly, they'd caught

a mess of emotions. She stared at them, speechless, no

and Valerian just nodded at her, then walked into

stumbled back to

at Horatio and Valerian as they