Chapter 239

“Where’s Baber?”

Calliope yanked Lisette’s hair, her expression dark as she made the question.

“You crazy cow, let go of me!”

Lisette winced as pain shot across her scalp, her eyes welling with tears.

Calliope wasn’t playing around—her grip was ruthless, and the force of her slap had already left Lisette’s cheek swelling.

Lisette looked desperately toward Valerian and the others, crying out for help. “Horatio, Valerian, Ulysses! Help!”

“Calliope, that’s enough! You lost track of the kid yourself! Why the hell are you taking it out on Lisette?”

Valerian was furious; he stepped forward, raising his hand to strike Calliope.

But before he could land the slap, Calliope caught his wrist. Her fingers closed around his arm with deceptive ease, but no matter how much strength Valerian put into it, he couldn’t yank free. His face turned red from the strain, disbelief flashing in his eyes.

Calliope smirked and gave him a light shove. Valerian stumbled back several steps before catching his balance, staring at her as if she’d just grown another head.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Callie?” Ulysses’s expression mirrored Valerian’s shock. “Let Lisette go, or we’re gonna have a serious problem.”

Even Horatio, seated in his wheelchair, looked thoroughly disgruntled. “Callie, this has nothing to do with Lisette. She’s been with us the whole time. She just stepped away for the restroom. How the hell could she have taken Baber? Understand, you’re just scared Mr. Thorne is gonna blame you. It’s indeed your negligence. You were too busy showing off earlier, doing God-knows-what. The man you’ve helped earlier might not get better because of your intervention, that’s one thing, and now you’ve lost Baber. This is on you, Callie. Own up to it.”

Though Horatio’s tone was gentler, his accusation against Calliope was palpable. “Mr. Thorne, you’re someone sensible. Lisette isn’t related to what happened.”

Upton had been silent the whole time; he curled his lips into an amused smirk. “They’re both your sisters, aren’t they? So, you want me to punish Callie and let Lisette off the hook?”

“This was Callie’s mistake to begin with. However you handle her, we won’t interfere!” Horatio said firmly. Lisette, still trapped by Calliope’s grip, turned her face toward Upton. “Mr. Thorne, please! Tell her to let me go! I was the one who told you Baber was missing! I’ve been helping look for him! It was Calliope who lost your son!”

She gazed at Upton anxiously. Upton loved Baber–everyone knew it. And Baber was the son of the woman he had cherished most. There was no way he’d let this slide. Calliope was done for!

“Where is my son?” Upton’s voice was quiet but sharp as a blade.

Lisette struggled against Calliope’s grip, desperation creeping into her tone. “Calliope, did you hear that? Mr. Thorne wants to know where Baber is! Stop yanking my hair and go find him!”

“You really think Mr. Thorne is stupid enough to believe I took Baber?”

“I’m talking to you,” Upton said, his gaze locked onto Lisette. “Where did you take my son? I’ll give you one more chance. Return Baber to me, or you’re dead.”