Chapter 65
Calliope listened to Zelda’s words, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “Do you really trust Lisette that much?”
“Yes, Lisette would never lie to me. She never has. Calliope, I know you better than anyone. You’re just jealous of the way we treat Lisette, and you’re taking it out on her. You need to have Silas take down that sign, apologize to Lisette, and admit to everyone that this was your fault! Or else, I’m done with you as my daughter!”
Zelda’s tone left no room for argument.
“As if you ever truly saw me as your daughter,” Calliope smiled lightly. “Go ahead, disown me. Last time I checked, being your daughter doesn’t come with a trust fund.”
With a decisive click, Calliope ended the call.
Sitting on her living room couch, Zelda stared at her phone in disbelief. Her chest heaved with indignation, feeling like she was about to explode from anger.
“This is outrageous! How can she be so ill-mannered! If we hadn’t done a DNA test, I might’ve doubted she’s my biological daughter.”
Zelda’s face was a stormy shade of red as she took a few deep breaths.
The housekeeper, who had been observing Zelda from a respectful distance, spoke gently, “Ma’am, maybe you should have a heart-to-heart with Callie. After all, mothers and daughters should try to get along.”
“I gave her the chance to get along, but did she take it?” Zelda retorted, her face still flushed with anger. “You’ve been with our family for over two decades, longer than Callie. You know what she’s like, don’t you? Lisette is so well-behaved; Callie couldn’t learn even a fraction of that. She’s just like the bad luck charm people talk about.”
The housekeeper frowned, her lips parting as if to speak, but the words didn’t come. Every time Zelda criticized Calliope and she tried to defend her, Zelda would erupt, unwilling to hear a single positive word about her. There were things she had longed to say.
Callie was just misunderstood. She wasn’t the problem; it was Lisette who kept setting her up, yet Mr. and Mrs. Jewell, along with their three sons, inexplicably trusted Lisette. Nobody ever believed Callie. She had wanted to find the right moment to talk to the family about it, but every time the subject arose, Zelda’s temper flared, because she had always believed Lisette to be a blessing.
But the housekeeper suspected Lisette was more of a curse. Since Lisette had come into the Jewell family, it was as if everyone had fallen under a spell… Callie, the real daughter, had suffered so much. It was unfortunate that she didn’t have the standing to change anything. Callie had even asked her not to intervene, fearing she might lose her job.
She truly felt for Callie. Despite everything, Callie was kind to everyone, even the staff, unlike Lisette, who wore a façade of sweetness while acting harshly behind the scenes. It was a pity that nobody in the Jewell family realized how wonderful Callie truly was.
The housekeeper sighed and returned to her chores, keeping her thoughts to herself.
Chapter 65
Lisette descended the stairs, her face a picture of distress. Tears brimming in her eyes, she looked at Zelda.
“Mom, did you talk to Callie? I don’t understand why she has it out for me. I only wanted to discuss some business with Mr. Myers, but Callie seems determined to embarrass me. And it’s not just my reputation at stake; it’s the reputation of our entire family.”