A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"Really? And you think you can protect him for the rest of his life?"

Calliope had already found Archie, and the two of them came down the steps together, side by side. Portia and Mavis followed behind, and everyone shot Gavin a look of pure disappointment as they saw him.

Honestly, Gavin was being a real piece of work. He played favorites, and didn't even try to hide it. He didn't care about Archie's well-being, he only wanted to use him. They were both his sons, but Gavin treated them as differently as night and day.

Everyone's heart ached for Archie. Archie had never done anything wrong, but it was pretty obvious Gavin just plain didn't like him. He doted on Chester, even though Chester couldn't hold a candle to Archie.

"You old fool. You must be blind if you can't see who's good and who isn't," Calliope said, planting herself right in front of Gavin. "Archie is a thousand times the man Chester will ever be. Your company wouldn't be anywhere near where it is today without him, and now you want to just toss him aside?"

"Dream on. Archie may not have his mom to watch his back anymore, but he's got us. We're his friends, and we're not going to let you push him around."

She stared Gavin down, not backing off an inch.

You might not be good at much, but

beat you at." Archie's voice was icy as

narrowed his eyes. "So what's your plan now? Ignore my rules and just walk out

at Archie, face twisted with

right," Archie replied, his

having it at my place," Calliope announced. "And if you

got a spare room."

my friend. Archie's like a little brother to me. You

If my wife says Archie's family,

of them, his glare sharp enough to cut

you're an adult. Are you really going to stoop to their level? This is my son. I'll handle him however I see fit. You may be friends, but it's not your place to

practically shaking with