Chapter 399

When Gideon heard those words, he shot a sour glance at Calliope across the table. It was as if every syllable was aimed directly at him.

He couldn’t help but reminisce about the past, back when Calliope would always be around him. Now, she didn’t even bother to acknowledge his presence, leaving him with no chance to speak with her. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Gideon found himself missing the old Calliope, yearning for the good old days. Initially, he thought Yvette was great, but now it seemed all her goodness was just a facade. She’d changed, and it was obvious she was just buttering him up to secure their engagement.

Recently, he’d met a girl who bore a slight resemblance to Calliope, but even with her, he couldn’t find that same spark. He used to find Calliope’s attention annoying, but now, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recreate that feeling.

He glanced over at Calliope and, in some wild, irrational moments, he thought about whisking her away—just take her somewhere where she would be his and his alone, whether she liked it or not.

“Callie, are you aiming that little jab at someone in particular?” Verity teased, nudging Calliope with the air of someone who loved stirring the pot.

“Oh, I’m not pointing fingers,” Calliope replied with a casual smile. “Just sharing a thought. What I don’t want, I usually just toss away.”

She continued, “Don’t take it to heart, dear niece-in-law. It’s just that what some people discard, others might find to be a treasure. People are different, right?”

Calliope’s words were like a shot of cold espresso to Yvette, making her visibly tense. If there was any doubt about her target before, that last comment erased it.

Verity was beside herself, thoroughly enjoying the drama.

Yvette, on the other hand, kept her frustration bottled up. Being the newest member of the family, she had no allies at the table and could only stew in silence.

“Let’s just eat, shall we? Less talking, more chewing!” Fleur interjected, casting a glance at Yvette. “No one’s gonna think you’re mute if you keep quiet. But now you’re eating for two, so dig in!”

As she spoke, Fleur’s face lit up with a mischievous grin as she turned to Eamon. “Dad, I’ve got some big news! We’re having a real double celebration here. Bet you all didn’t know, but Yvette’s got a little one on the way. That’s the first of the next generation! It’s our family’s first grandchild!”

“Mom…” Yvette blushed, “I thought we were keeping that under wraps for now.”

“This is a celebration! No need to keep it secret,” Fleur said, waving her hand dismissively. “You’re getting married tomorrow, and now there’s a baby on the way. It’s a time for joy, no need to hide it!”

Fleur then shot a look at Calliope. “Callie, now that Yvette’s expecting, you should look out for her.”

Calliope shrugged, “I’m not sure about that. What if something goes wrong and I get blamed?”

Fleur frowned, “Callie, that’s not a very nice thing to say. Are you jealous because Yvette’s having a baby before you?”

“What’s there to be jealous of? She’s only just pregnant; it’s not like the baby’s here yet. Besides, who knows about the quality of this pregnancy? Have you even taken her to the doctor, Fleur? Pregnancy means setting up health checks, you know. Has my new niece-in-law been checked out? Knowing you’re pregnant and not getting things in order is a bit odd, isn’t it?”

Calliope’s words fell like a hammer, each one loaded with implications and hidden meanings.