A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Calliope and Silas grabbed dinner together at a cozy downtown diner. Over burgers and fries, their conversation inevitably turned to Yvette and whatever scheme she might be cooking up.

"So, from the way she's acting, it looks like she's dead set on having you, huh?" Calliope teased, a playful glint in her eyes as she took a sip of her milkshake. "You didn't leave any dirty secrets lying around for her to dig up, did you?"

Silas chuckled, shaking his head. “Me? Please. Even if she did have something on me, what's she gonna do? I'm not exactly the type to get pushed around. Trust me, if she tried to blackmail me, she'd be the one regretting it."

Calliope nodded, realizing Silas wasn't someone you could intimidate easily. If anyone tried to threaten him, he'd probably turn the tables in a heartbeat.

Still, Yvette seemed awfully sure of herself, strutting around like she had Silas eating out of her hand. That kind of confidence didn't just come from nowhere. Did she really have something up her sleeve?

Calliope couldn't quite figure it out, but honestly, she couldn't be bothered to overthink it. They had a plan: let Yvette make her move, see what cards she thought she was holding.

Gideon's wife, nothing special in looks or smarts. What made her

hadn't even considered flirting with him. She'd just asked for help, that was all. Only later did things get complicated, and she still wasn't sure how much Silas really cared

she could just toss him aside and end up with Silas. Maybe snagging Gideon away

amusing. Maybe she could learn a thing or two about self-assurance

finishing their meal, they headed out to the address

way, Calliope glanced at Silas. "You sure you're

ready," Silas replied with that cocky little grin of

it was true. Silas was always five steps ahead. Whatever

Calliope. A hotel was a bold choice. If you weren't trying to make something happen, you'd

her and

where did Yvette get