Chapter 8

“Sorry for what? Explain yourself. What did you do that makes you think you owe me an apology?” Calliope smirked. “Lisette, why do you always feel the need to say sorry? If you really mean it, then get on your knees and apologize! Is ‘sorry’ just a word to you? So, if I just killed you and said ‘sorry,’ would that fix everything?”

“Callie…” Lisette was taken aback by Calliope’s sudden outburst of anger. Her face turned a bit pale.

“Calliope, what on earth is going on with you? What did Lisette ever do to deserve this?” Zelda stepped protectively in front of Lisette. “Why don’t you start by explaining what happened at the wedding yesterday?”

“What happened? Didn’t you see it all? I married Silas. Is there a problem with that?”

“Are you out of your mind?” Zelda said, exasperated. “Do you really think you can handle someone like Silas? Do you think you’re good enough for him? And what about Gideon? Weren’t you head over heels for him? Why can’t you ever get anything right, not even keeping your man?”

Her three brothers remained silent, glancing at Calliope with raised eyebrows and a hint of disapproval.

“Calliope, tell us what exactly happened yesterday. We need to understand the situation before we can fix it. We owe Mr. Myers a proper thank you, after all,” Monty interjected. “And what about Gideon? Did you do something to upset him again? You better make it up to him, or who else are you going to marry?”

Calliope looked from Zelda to Monty, then back again. And suddenly, she chuckled openly at them. “Gideon ditching me on our wedding day to run after his old flame is my fault? Why am I not good enough for Silas? Am I really that worthless in your eyes? Do I have to beg them to marry me? Is my life over if I don’t have Gideon?”

Zelda frowned, clearly frustrated. “Calliope, why do you always have to be so difficult? You always let us down!”

“Callie, Mom and Dad are just looking out for you!” Lisette chimed in.

“No need.” Calliope’s gaze was cold. “If they really cared, they’d give me back what Grandpa left for me!” She extended her hand toward Lisette. “Where are the earrings, the bracelet, and the brooch Grandpa left me? Didn’t you say you just wanted to borrow them? Or did you plan on keeping them?”

Her voice sharpened as she took a step closer. “As an adopted daughter, don’t you have any sense of propriety? My things are not yours. They were left to me by my grandpa!”

Lisette’s face paled, then hardened. “…I’ll go get them for you!”

“Calliope, you still haven’t explained yourself. Why are you being so harsh on your sister?”

Without warning, Zelda swung her hand toward Calliope’s face. But Calliope was faster. She caught Zelda’s wrist midair, gripping it firmly before the slap could land. “You side with an adopted daughter over your own flesh and blood. You’re no saint yourself!”

Calliope abruptly released Zelda, causing her to fall back onto the couch.

“Calliope, are you trying to cause a rebellion here?” Zelda shrieked.

Calliope scoffed. “Are you the queen? Am I staging a coup?”

Then she turned to Lisette, eyes flashing with disdain. “Return everything you took from me!”

Before Lisette could respond, Calliope was already heading upstairs. “Never mind, I’ll get it myself. I don’t trust you not to ‘accidentally’ misplace everything.”