Chapter 166

Calliope glanced up at Zelda, a smirk playing on her lips. “I’m just wearing my own dress, Zelda. If she feels overshadowed, that’s not my problem. Why are you so worked up? If she’s better than me, a dress won’t change that, right?” Her smile widened with a hint of mischief in her eyes. “So, by that logic, Lisette isn’t all that impressive, right?”

“You!” Zelda snapped, frustration in her voice. “Lisette is better than you in every way. Even if she doesn’t dress as well, she’s still superior!”

“Oh really?” Calliope’s smile turned icy. “Then why are you worried? Afraid she might not measure up? What will you do if you find out she’s not as great as you think?”

Zelda’s face darkened. “Calliope, you can’t compare to Lisette. You’re nothing but trouble, a jinx. From the moment you were born, you nearly killed me, and you’ve been a thorn in the Jewell family’s side ever since. How could you ever compare to Lisette? She’s a blessing to us. She’s talented and beautiful. Every time your brothers were in a pinch, she saved them! All you do is cause trouble. How could you ever measure up to her?”

“Is that so? It was always her saving my brothers? She’s so talented?” Calliope regarded Zelda with a cold, detached gaze. It was her mother throwing these barbs, so it still stung.

She’d always been good to them, but Lisette had taken credit for her efforts. Zelda didn’t believe in her at all. Just because she’d had a difficult birth, she was branded as the family’s curse. It was laughable. What kind of mother would do that? Was it her fault she was born?

“Yes, Lisette outshines you in every way,” Zelda insisted, her voice unyielding.

“If that’s true, why keep me around? Just make Lisette your only daughter.” Calliope’s voice was calm as she crossed her arms, her eyes holding no trace of emotion. She stared at Zelda with a detached calm.

Zelda felt a flicker of unease under that steady gaze but pressed on. “Yes, with Lisette, that’s all we need!”

Calliope’s eyes darkened slightly. That was the last chance she’d give her. If Zelda didn’t want it, so be it.

“Callie!”

Portia and the others caught up with her then, frowning at Zelda.

Zelda cast a disdainful look at Calliope. “No matter how well you dress, you’ll never match Lisette. Her talents, her everything, are beyond you.” With that, she turned and left.

Calliope shrugged. “Let her try.”

Portia shot a vexed glance at Zelda’s retreating figure. “She’s so blind, can’t see who’s good and who’s bad!”

Mavis said nothing but stepped forward, giving Calliope’s shoulder a gentle pat. “Don’t let it get to you.”

Archie glared after Zelda, his expression full of sympathy for Calliope.

Uriah, after a quick glance, asked, “Need me to do anything? If necessary, I can make sure this party doesn’t happen.”

Calliope looked at Uriah in surprise. She suddenly realized Uriah might be there not just for Mavis, but possibly for Silas. Silas couldn’t make it earlier because of other commitments, so maybe he’d sent Uriah in his place. Those two were thick as thieves, so it was entirely possible. After all, she didn’t know Uriah well enough for him to wreck someone else’s birthday party on her behalf.

When thinking of Silas, Calliope’s gaze softened. The disappointment and hurt from her family’s words didn’t seem as sharp anymore.