A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"I've been digging around, and you know what? Turns out she's some kind of 'Miracle Doctor.' Got a real knack for healing, apparently. But hey, you studied medicine too, you're no slouch yourself. Any ideas on how we could take her down a notch, maybe ruin her reputation for good?"

Oliver's jaw was clenched tight. He was hell-bent on making sure Calliope's name was dragged through the mud.

Blythe paused, a sly smile curling on her lips. She'd already given this some thought.

"Oh, that? I might have a little something up my sleeve," she replied, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

Oliver's eyes lit up. "Now that's what I'm talking about! Let's do it your way. She needs to be humiliated, so much that she'll beg us for mercy!"

Blythe just nodded, her face set with determination. "You got it."

...

Calliope and her friends only stayed in that little town for a day before moving on. They rolled into a new place, checked into a hotel, and Silas made sure someone kept an eye out for Oliver's crew, just in case. Thankfully, there was no sign of them.

But as fate would have it, while they were checking in at the front desk, they ran smack into the Jewell family.

Calliope blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected the Jewells, with all their family drama, to be on vacation right now. Monty Jewell and the whole clan were there, bags and all.

Lisette was the first to spot Calliope, putting on her usual fake cheer.

"Callie! Out traveling too, huh? So that's why you couldn't come home. You're out seeing the sights instead."

The rest of the Jewells gave Calliope a pointed look, their brows furrowed in disapproval. Clearly, they weren't thrilled that Calliope had skipped the family holiday to go gallivanting around with friends. And after she'd sold off her shares in the family company, too. They were still stewing about that one.

Truth was, they weren't just here for a vacation. They'd tried to reach Calliope about some urgent

business, but she'd blocked evernet

single one of them. So they'd

tracked her down, showing up in

person, uninvited.

And seeing her crew book the top-floor penthouse suite while the Jewells could

only afford standard rooms? That stung.

Calliope barely spared Lisette a glance.

mx

"Wow, you sure are interested in whereabouts," Calliope said coolly "Yeah, I'm traveling. But so are you, aren't you? Are you the only one allowed to go on vacation?

Lisette forced a smile. “That's not what I meant. It's just... you're a Jewell, but you

won't come home to your family? What's that supposed to mean?"

She shot a look at Quentin and the others. "You know, family isn't about money. You can't just put a price tag on it."

Calliope laughed, sharp and cold. "Well, maybe it's because they actually pay me well. Jealous much?"noveldrama

Lisette's face tightened. "I'm just saying, it's the holidays. Most people spend it with their families, not chasing after a bigger paycheck."

Calliope arched a brow. "And what about you? Why don't you go back to your birth parents, if family means so much?"

Lisette went pale. "I'm an orphan. My parents passed away years ago.'

"Really?" Calliope said, her tone teasing. "Funny, I heard you were still sending them money. That's a neat trick for someone who's supposedly six feet under."

Lisette's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. How did Calliope know that? She'd only recently found her biological parents. There was no way Calliope could've known about the money.

Calliope, thoroughly bored with the encounter, just shrugged and turned away. Running into the Jewells was more hassle than it was worth.

Silas and the others didn't bother engaging either. They grabbed their bags and headed straight for the penthouse, ready to leave the awkward reunion behind.