A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

She'd done it on purpose, led them to target Calliope.

"Callie, come on. it's Christmas Eve. Let's not make this a whole thing," Ulysses said, trying to keep the peace. "Look, you get along with them, right? Why don't you just invite them over to the Jewell family's for Christmas dinner? The more, the merrier. Let's just have a nice, cheerful holiday meal together."

Calliope shot Ulysses a look. "Let me guess, the housekeeper's busy and you need me to do the dishes again?"

Ulysses faltered. "That's not what I meant. I swear, you won't have to do that stuff anymore."

"I don't buy it," Calliope said flatly.

Ulysses winced, awkward silence settling between them.

Valerian, still annoyed about that humiliating car incident, scoffed. "If she doesn't want to come, then let her stay home. We'll have a great Christmas dinner without

her. Why bother inviting her if she's just gonna kill the vibe?"

"Come on, Lisette, we still haven't picked up what you wanted for dinner."

With that, Valerian tugged Lisette away.

Calliope watched them go, a wry smile on her lips. She turned to Ulysses. "Why don't you go take care of your precious sister-in-law?"

"My what?" Ulysses blinked, confused.

She nodded toward Lisette. "Your sister-in-law. Don't tell me you've got a thing for her, too?"

"What are you talking about?"

Ulysses turned and saw Valerian holding Lisette's hand. They were walking side by side, laughing, close enough to look like a couple. The realization hit him like a thunderbolt. Was his little sister turning into his sister-in-law?

No way. There was no way Lisette and Valerian were an item. He just couldn't wrap his mind around it.

Panic rising, Ulysses hurried after them. "Valerian, can I ask you something?"

Valerian gave him a sideways glance. "What's up?"noveldrama

"You and Lisette... what's going on there?"

Valerian frowned. "What do you mean, what's going on?"

"Are you two... together?" Ulysses blurted out.

"Are you insane? Lisette's our little sister. Why would I be with her?" Valerian snapped. "Lisette, tell him."

Lisette looked at Ulysses, wide-eyed. "Yeah, Ulysses, what's gotten into you?" "Valerian and I are basically siblings. That would be weird..."

She paused, then added with a hint of mischief, "Did Callie put this idea in your head? She's probably just stirring the pot, you know?"

Ulysses searched their faces for any sign they were lying, but they looked perfectly innocent. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Maybe Calliope really was just trying to get back at them.

Horatio joined them, and the three of them started wandering the groce store but their attention kept drifting back to Calliope and her group.

They bought enough food to fill up multiple shopping carts. When they finally

made it to checkout, they stopped glancing over.

Still, seeing Calliope laughing and joking around with her brothers stung. Weren't they supposed to be her real family? Why was she so cozy with those other guys, planning to spend Christmas Eve with them instead? It felt like they'd been totally shut out.

Once Calliope and her brothers finished shopping, they dropped everything off at

home and then headed out for lunch at a local diner.

And, just their luck, as soon as they walked in, who should they bump into but Lisette and her crew, again.