A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"No way. We have to get it back!" Zelda was fuming, practically stomping her foot. "She's getting worse every day, seriously. I never agreed with her taking your stuff. Your father and the others are just too spineless! That's exactly why that harpy can walk all over them!"

And with that, Zelda grabbed Lisette's arm and marched her toward the door.

Lisette's lips curled up in a satisfied little smirk. She quickly wiped it away before anyone else could see.

As they stepped out into the living room, Lisette made sure her eyes were red, like she'd been holding back tears. She glanced at Monty and the others.

"Mom, just let it go, okay? It's really not a big deal. I mean it, I'm fine!"

"Really, I don't need it back. Compared to the family business and Horatio, what I'm giving up is nothing."

Everyone heard Lisette's quivering voice, and the whole room looked at her suspiciously.

Calliope, too, was watching her with a puzzled look. What's all this about sacrifice? Calliope thought.

Zelda whirled on Calliope. "Calliope, you've been taking a ton of Lisette's things, haven't you? What are you, a burglar? Don't you feel any shame?"

Monty interjected, "What's the big deal, Zelda? I told Callie she could take those things. Most of that stuff was Callie's to begin with! She's just taking back what was hers, and if she doesn't want it, she'll give it back. Just like when Lisette used to ask for Callie's things. No harm done, right?"

Horatio gave Lisette a sidelong glance. "Lisette, are you upset about this?"

Valerian stayed quiet, just looking thoughtful.

Lisette shook her head. "No, it's fine! If Callie wants something, she can have it. I know everything I have was really Callie's to begin with."noveldrama

She forced a small, gracious smile. "If she wants it back, of course I'll give it to her. That's only fair."

Monty frowned at Zelda. "See? Lisette's being understanding. She's not even mad. Why are you making such a fuss?"

Zelda laughed bitterly, eyes never leaving Calliope. "Maybe you should ask her what exactly she took!"

Monty glanced at Horatio, confused. Neither of them seemed to get what Zelda meant.

Calliope paused, then caught on. Lisette was about to put on her usual act, spinning some sob story to guilt-trip everyone. She was a

master at it, always playing the ne

victim, always fishing for sympathy. Calliope had fallen for it plenty of times before.

Zelda couldn't take it anymore. "She took Lisette's mother's keepsakes! Some

things you just don't take. Doesn't she know that?"

"Oh, come on," Zelda spat, glaring

yet

daggers at Calliope. "You didn't take

those just because you wanted

them. Admit it, you're just picking on Lisette!"

"Her mother's keepsakes?” Calliope arched a brow, glancing at Lisette. “So,

you're saying keepsakes like that aren't up for grabs, huh?"

She turned to Lisette, eyebrow raised.

Lisette suddenly felt a sinking feeling.

Zelda's voice was cold. "Those were her mother's things. How could you just take them?"

Calliope shrugged. "Right, those are her mom's, so I shouldn't touch them. But what about my

grandfather's keepsakes? Lisettenet

took those. Was that okay? Or is her mom more important than my grandpa?"