Chapter 24

Everyone knew that Eamon had promised Gideon a stake in the company if he married Calliope. But now that Calliope had backed out, those shares went up in smoke.

Of course, Verity was gleeful about the whole situation.

But Gideon’s mother, Fleur, wasn’t taking it so well. Her face soured the moment the news broke. She never really liked Calliope and certainly didn’t want her marrying Gideon, but the five percent stake in the company was a sweet deal she couldn’t ignore. Reluctantly, she had supported the marriage.

She never imagined that, just as the wedding bells were about to chime, the bride could simply change her mind.

Fleur was livid. At the wedding, she’d already confronted Eamon about it, but he just shrugged and said it was Gideon’s choice to walk away. Nothing to be done about it now.

Fleur fumed, spending the next few days at the family estate trying to sway Eamon. But it was no use. He insisted that since Calliope had married Silas in front of the world, it was out of his hands.

“If Gideon’s chosen another woman and given up on Calliope, then naturally, the shares are not his to have,” Eamon declared. “Instead, they’ll go to Calliope.”

Fleur was hopping mad. How could they give the shares to an outsider like Calliope? But Eamon stood firm, insisting that since Calliope had married Silas, she was no longer an outsider.

For days, Fleur was beside herself with anger, losing her appetite and unable to sleep. It felt like watching a Thanksgiving turkey fly away just before the feast. She had even resigned herself to accepting Calliope as a daughter–in–law. And now, that woman had the nerve to bolt!

Fleur didn’t dare confront Silas directly or make a fuss in front of him, but she had no such reservations when it came to Calliope.

“Calliope, what’s the meaning of this?” Fleur demanded, her voice dripping with irritation. “What, is my Gideon not good enough for you? Have you even taken a good look at yourself?”

Calliope glanced down at her dress, then back up at Fleur with a smirk. “I’m looking pretty good, actually. Certainly better than you, with all those wrinkles. You know, the more you frown, the more you look like a crumpled old prune.”

Fleur’s fury nearly made her head explode. Calliope had never dared to speak to her this way before, always sweet–talking her. Now, her tongue was sharp as a butcher’s knife.

“I’m Gideon’s mother, Calliope. You speak to me like that? Do you believe—Gideon will never pay attention to you again?”

“Believe me,” Calliope replied coolly, “I’d be more than happy if he kept his annoying buzzing to himself.” Calliope moved aside to sit between Dahlia and Calista Baker, who had made room for her.

“Did you just call him a fly?” Fleur’s fingernails dug into her palm. “Have you forgotten how you used to chase after Gideon, begging us to let you marry him?”

“Fleur, I’m sorry, but my head’s clearer now than it ever was,” Calliope said with a chuckle. “I guess I snapped out of it.”

“You…” Fleur seethed, her teeth grinding. “Calliope, what game are you playing? Do you think this is fair to Eamon, who cared for you? Or to Gideon?”