A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"My assistant's embezzlement has nothing to do with me!" Lisette was absolutely fuming. "She did it, so she's responsible. Isn't that just common sense?"

"But she's always been handling things for you, hasn't she?" Calliope shot Lisette a look. "Since she's always been working for you, how do you explain that this money wasn't for you, but for herself?"

"Of course, if you can prove that all this cash really went to her, then sure, let her pay it back."

Calliope's tone was matter-of-fact, as if she were explaining how to make a peanut butter sandwich.

"Oh, come on, Calliope! You're being downright impossible!" Lisette was nearly shaking with anger. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? You load me up with all this work, make me handle everything, and then, on top of that, you want me to pay up? You're trying to push me out of the Jewell family, aren't you?"

"You promised Dad and the others you'd never kick us out, so instead you just make my life hell until I leave on my own, right?"

Lisette glared at her with a look of pure resentment.

Calliope just crossed her arms, calm as ever.

what I'm doing. You used to love playing these little

you're already losing it? If you can't

up forever? Horatio

sure she could win them back. After all, they used to be closer to her. She'd spent more time with them. Their loyalty

if they'll always have my back. Honestly, they've never really been on my side, so this is already a step up for

back to you, if they take your side again, well, that's fine too. The truth is, I don't care about their approval anymore. If I left, I'd be perfectly fine. But you?

let out a small, amused

then, Horatio and Valerian walked

maybe the first time, that Calliope didn't really need them. Silas was

her own life, and a couple of other brothers

Their expressions changed.

to think they were her only real brothers, that their bond with her was special. But hearing

they were related

relationship with her just wasn't