A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"Calliope, I'm begging you. He's your brother! Even if you left the Jewell family,

you can't deny the blood bond you share with Horatio! He's always cared for you deeply, no matter what. He's your brother, right?"

Lisette was on her knees, tears streaming down her face, delivering a performance worthy of an Oscar.

"I get it. You don't like me. You think I'm better than you and have taken everything from you... If it bothers you, I can leave the Jewell family, leave Capitalton! As long as you help Horatio, I'll go wherever you want me to! I'll even get all our classmates to witness it!"

Lisette's words were both heart-wrenching and infuriating.

Around them, classmates began putting down their forks and knives. They gathered around Calliope's table and launched into a chorus of accusations.

"Calliope, isn't this too heartless?"

"You can't treat your brother like this just because you're jealous of Lisette!" "How can you abandon your brother like that? Are you even human?"

"I don't get it. Why do you have such a vendetta against Lisette? She never did anything to you, right?"

"You're the one being unreasonable. If you fell short, why blame Lisette?"

"Yeah. You can't hate someone just because they're better or more hardworking!"noveldrama

"If you don't like her being more accomplished, then step up your game!"

"Is this all you've got, Calliope?"

"Are you trying to force Lisette out?"

"Wow, this is too much. I've never seen anything so outrageous!"

"As your classmates, we're just trying to give you some friendly advice."

"Calliope, you're really making it hard for anyone to respect you!"

Criticism aimed at Calliope filled the room.

Sitting beside her, Portia was fuming, ready to hurl her plate at someone, but Calliope held her back.

"Not yet. Let's eat first."

Ignoring the chaos around her, Calliope continued eating and offered Portia some of her food. "It is pretty good. Try it."

She then turned to the group at her table.

These dishes are tasty. Who picked this place? Good choice!"

ose one of you guys are eating?

The people sitting with Calliope weren't exactly her biggest fans or the gossiping type. So, as the accusations flew, they stayed silent, stuck in an awkward spot. Caught in the middle, they didn't know whether to speak up or stay quiet.

Portia leaned in closer to Calliope, whispering, "How can you eat at a time like this?"

She was nearly exploding with anger. The Jewell family was a bunch of fools in her eyes. Calliope had treated Horatio, but the idiots thought Lisette had helped him all along.

And if the Jewell family disliked Calliope so much, why were they asking for her help now?

"I can eat just fine. It's better to be full before dealing with things, right?"

Calliope smirked, "You should eat up too. There's a good show coming up."

"A good show?" Portia's eyes widened in intrigue. She trusted Calliope on this

one.

If Calliope said there was a show, then there was definitely a show worth watching.

Now, she was a bit excited, realizing Calliope had come prepared.