A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

In the dining room.

Zelda sat right next to Lisette, piling her plate high with all her favorite dishes- roast chicken, cheesy mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, you name it.

Monty shot Zelda a sharp look from across the table, then nudged her gently, trying to get her to pay a little attention to Calliope too.

But Zelda couldn't care less. She was all about Lisette.

"Lisette, eat up! Look at you, you're skin and bones!"

"Is there anything else you want? Now that you're home, just tell me whatever you're craving! I'll make it for you myself! Your mom's home-cooked, just for you!"

"I made all these dishes just for you. You like them, right?"

Lisette's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Yeah, thanks, Mom!"

Calliope stayed quiet, poking at her food. Honestly, she didn't care how Zelda treated her. It wasn't like she was a big fan of Zelda, anyway.

Monty leaned in, whispering, "Honey, maybe give Callie a little, too? She's your biological daughter, after all."

Zelda shot Calliope a look. "She's got two perfectly good hands. Why should I serve her? Looks like she's enjoying her meal just fine."

Calliope looked up with a half-smile. "Exactly! I'm loving it. And, hey, I've got working hands and feet. She must think Lisette's missing a limb or two, or maybe she's just preparing for when she does, all that special training and all."

Zelda glared at Calliope, fuming.noveldrama

Calliope just calmly went back to her food.

Horatio and Valerian, sitting further down the table, exchanged a glance, then both started dishing food onto Calliope's plate.

"Callie, have some more!"

"Tell us what you like, I'll get it for you!"

"Want some soup? I'll pour you a bowl."

"You like salmon, right? I'll pick out the bones for you."

It was rare to see Horatio and Valerian acting like doting big brothers for Calliope.

Lisette had been in a good mood, because Zelda hadn't changed at all toward

her. But seeing her brothers fuss over Calliope made her stomach twist.

She just didn't get it. Why were Horatio and Valerian suddenly treating Calliope like she was golden child? Weren't they always

this nice to her?

But Lisette didn't dare throw a fit. She just sent Calliope a series of death glares from across the table.

Calliope met her gaze, a playful challenge in her eyes, almost like she was teasing.

"What's up? Glaring at me so hard, your eyes might pop out. Not happy with me? Oh, is it because you think I'm stealing your brothers?"

"What's wrong, about to cry again?

Let me guess, next you'll say, 'I'm

just the adopted one, they shouldn't be treating me so well. Callie

deserves the attention, and don't

mind, I'm happy for her.' Am I right?"

Calliope hit the nail on the head. Lisette's face twisted; Calliope was playing her

game, step for step. Calliope was making it impossible for her.

If it weren't for Zelda always taking her side, Lisette wasn't sure she'd even have

a place in the Jewell family anymore.

Lisette was angry, but she kept it in. She kept sneaking glances at Calliope, wondering how she'd changed so much.

One thing was clear: Calliope was becoming a real problem. And that spelled trouble for Lisette, big time.

The more Calliope pushed back, the more Lisette felt her own spot in the Jewell family slipping away. She had a nagging suspicion Calliope was coming after her on purpose. Maybe it was time for a little one-on-one chat with Calliope, just the two of them, and figure out her real intentions. Or, how to make her leave the Jewell family.