Chapter 43

Gideon strolled into the jewelry store, and as he spotted Calliope examining a pair of rings, his face darkened.

“Those rings aren’t cheap.”

He had assumed Calliope was just accompanying Portia, who was the darling of the Sutton family. It made sense for Portia to be shopping for jewelry here.

But Calliope? That was a different story. The Jewell family might be well off, but Calliope was never the favored child. Heck, she ranked even lower than the adopted daughter in their family. She didn’t even work for the Jewell family business. Where on earth was she getting the money to shop in this upscale place?

Both Calliope and Portia turned to look at him.

“Not cheap?” Calliope glanced at Gideon. “Mr. Baker, are you running low on funds? If you think this is expensive, you might be.”

She extended her hand, ignoring Gideon as she admired the ring on her finger, clearly pleased with her choice.

“This pair, please,” Calliope said, flashing a smile at the sales assistant. “And I’d like that bracelet too. It’s a gift for my husband.”

Gideon’s face fell instantly.

“You think Uncle Silas will want that bracelet? Even if you give it to him, he won’t care for it! And do you even have the money for this? Or are you using his money to buy things for him? Is there any point in that?”

Portia, meanwhile, was propped up on her elbow, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

Calliope chuckled softly. “Whether he likes it or not is his business. I choose to give it because I want to. Besides the bracelet, I’ll give him the ring and maybe even a house. Surely, he’ll like one of those!”

“Calliope, are you trying to rile me up?” Gideon said, smirking like he had her all figured out. “You think I’d get jealous? You can’t even afford these things. Uncle Silas doesn’t need them.”

Portia couldn’t help but laugh.

Calliope laughed too. “What makes you think I’d be upset over something I already tossed in the trash?”

The sales assistant stood frozen, unsure of what to do, as Calliope casually pulled out a card and handed it over for payment.

Gideon narrowed his eyes, skeptical she could actually afford it. To his shock, Calliope paid with her own card, and the transaction went through without a hitch.

“Ha, Uncle Silas gave you that card, didn’t he? Does he know how much you’re spending?” Gideon sneered. “When he finds out, do you think he won’t hold you accountable?”

“Whether he does or doesn’t is a family matter,” Calliope replied with a grin. “It’s none of your business, so don’t worry your pretty little head about it, my nephew.”

Gideon’s face flushed with fury.

Calliope gathered her purchases, ready to leave. As Portia walked beside her, she quipped, “Does anyone else smell that? It’s like the air is tinged with the scent of a scoundrel.”

Yvette stood by Gideon, biting her lip.

Gideon’s face was a mask of frustration. He shoved his items into Yvette’s hands. “Yvette, you head home. I need to have a word with her.”

Without waiting for her response, Gideon hurried after Calliope.

Yvette took a few steps, trying to call Gideon back, but he was too fast, and her voice went unheard.

She stood there, fuming, her mind in a whirl.

Her plan had been to wait until Gideon and Calliope were married, allowing Gideon to secure his share of the family assets, and then make her move.

But now things were tricky. Calliope wasn’t marrying Gideon, and without that marriage, Gideon wouldn’t get his share.

And Yvette felt the tension between her and Gideon tightening, sensing trouble on the horizon.