A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"Don't worry about them. They know what they're doing," Calliope said.

She knew if she ran over to shield Silas now, it'd only make things worse. So, she decided to steer clear of the action.

Calista and Dahlia, hearing Calliope's words, also resisted the urge to join the commotion. Instead, the group found a corner and started playing cards and snacking on chips and dip.

Meanwhile, Silas had found himself at the center of a drinking contest. Quentin and his buddies had pulled out the good stuff-aged whiskey, imported craft beers, and bourbon that could knock out a horse. But Silas was unfazed. The man could drink anyone under the table, a skill honed after years of business dinners and networking at smoky bars.

Quentin and his brothers weren't lightweights either. They'd all had their fair share of late nights and wild parties, thanks to their jobs and social circles. So the four of them raised their glasses and dove into the challenge.

But this wasn't just about the booze. As they drank, Quentin and the others peppered Silas with questions, all about Calliope. They wanted to know if Silas really understood her, if he knew her favorite foods, her hidden talents, her quirks. They wanted to see if he paid attention.

Silas answered every question with zero hesitation. He'd been quietly watching Calliope for years, so there was nothing they could throw at him that he hadn't already figured out. Every answer was quick, spot-on, like he'd studied for this his whole life.

"Alright, pretty good," he said, "But what if, someday, Callie wants to go full-on career mode and you're expected to hold down the fort at home? No more fancy job for you. Could you handle being

to," Silas replied without missing a

"Having them isn't easy, raising them is even harder. If you can't help with the birth, would you be willing to take care of

nodded, adding,

raised by their parents, not dumped off on nannies or babysitters. So, Mr.

do anything," Silas answered, just

said, leaning forward, "But what if Callie

last name, not yours? Would you be

Silas replied, short

own

and that never meant much to him. He figured taking Callie's last

searching his face for any trace of