A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"These styles are just awful. Let's try somewhere else,” Valerian said, picking up

on the awkward atmosphere and quickly steering Lisette away.

Horatio and Ulysses trailed behind, neither saying much. Ulysses kept glancing

back at Calliope, unable to help himself. He knew it now—she had those amazing

new brothers in her life. There was no way she'd ever look at them, her original

brothers, the same way again. Of course she didn't need them anymore.

A strange, heavy sort of sadness settled in Ulysses' chest. Horatio looked just as

conflicted.

Up ahead, Valerian and Lisette walked in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.

Neither had realized just how well Calliope had been doing since she left the

Jewell family, or that she'd found brothers who could easily replace them.

Lisette especially couldn't believe it. She had tried so hard to win Calliope over, to

be the sister she never had, but apparently, Calliope didn't even need her.

If Lisette had brothers like that—tall, charming, successful—she probably wouldn't

bother with her original family either. These guys weren't nearly as handsome or

accomplished as the new ones.

Eventually, the four of them reached a little rest area in the mall, a cozy spot with

and a vending machine humming

more than a

sorry, guys," Lisette said, her voice earnest. "This was supposed

out. I didn't mean for it to turn out

to talk. The silence dragged on until

his throat.

of this is your fault. Seriously.

if I hadn't dragged you

we wouldn't have

replied quietly,

"And if we hadn't

everyone would still be in

mood. So it's on

let out a long,

sorry. I

And it's not like I'm

how

those rich,

wonder she

back to the

Lisette continued, her

wants. Maybe she thinks the Jewell family just

why bother?"

just thinking out loud, but her words

others to believe Calliope was shallow,

them for

Horatio and the others

notice her angle.

in their own