Chapter 178

In the crowd, Portia’s eyes were red with anger; she was wiping away tears, seething with frustration.

Mavis clenched her fists tightly beside her.

They both knew all too well the kind of place Calliope had been in for years. They understood deeply how much Zelda’s words must have hurt her.

Calliope had once been a child who yearned for her parents’ love. She had tried hard, really hard, to please them, to win some affection. But they were so biased, never caring about how she felt.

Standing nearby, Archie looked like he was about to intervene physically, but Uriah placed a calming hand on his shoulder, holding him back.

The murmurs and whispers among the crowd grew louder. Sure, everyone thought Lisette might be more accomplished than Calliope, but doubted the Jewell family would abandon their biological daughter.

Blood tie was always there, after all, and an adopted child couldn’t compare.

“It’s sad for Calliope. Don’t you think so? If the Jewell family treated her well, she wouldn’t be so determined to leave, right?”

“Not necessarily. Calliope might just be acting out!”

“Even so, she’s their real daughter. Would they disown her?”

“I feel the Jewell family favors Lisette. Calliope seems pretty alone in all this. It’s pitiful!”

“But maybe Calliope brought it on herself? Would the Jewell family dislike her so much if she were obedient and sensible?”

“Or maybe Lisette is just manipulative?”

“Hard to say.”

The crowd was divided, some siding with Lisette, others with Calliope.

But no one knew the whole story, so they bet on whether Calliope would seriously sever ties with the Jewell family and what would become of her afterward.

Some believed Calliope’s life would be rough without the Jewell family’s support.

Others argued that Calliope seemed confident enough to thrive without them, and besides, she had Silas, her husband, by her side.

Of course, some claimed Silas didn’t really love Calliope, that he was only with her out of gratitude, and that eventually, he’d tire of her. They believed Calliope was no match for Silas without the Jewell family.

“I’m not asking for much. Just give me a million, and we’ll call it even!” Zelda squinted.

“Honey, don’t be like this!” Monty frowned, “Come on, let’s not make a scene. Callie, you too, let’s not joke about this!”

“If she wants to leave the Jewell family, let her. It’s not like the sky is falling without her,” Ulysses scoffed, “She will suffer, not us! Calliope, if you’re so eager to leave the Jewell family, don’t come crawling back later!”

Calliope smirked at Ulysses, “Begging you? That won’t happen. And when have I ever depended on you? What have you ever done for me? Why would I need you?”

She found it amusing. She had always been independent. She never used a penny of the Jewell family’s money. Her grandfather had left her plenty. They never gave her anything, and they didn’t even know.

“I’ve always handled my own meals. Sure, I lived in the Jewell family house, but I stayed in the storage room. In a house that big, I had the worst room.

Should I thank you for giving me a roof over my head? Isn’t that just what any parent is supposed to do?” Her voice was cold.

Ulysses furrowed his brows, annoyed. “Just don’t come to us for help later. It’s your choice to leave! And can you even come up with a million?”

“A mere million? Why wouldn’t she be able to?” A calm, deep voice cut through the room, drawing everyone’s gaze toward the doorway.