A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"How about a little sibling love, huh? Is it really so outrageous to give up the private room for your brothers?"

Valerian shot Calliope a look, clearly annoyed.

"It's absolutely outrageous." Calliope didn't even hesitate. She breezed past him right into the room, pulled out a chair, and dropped herself down.

She sat right next to Lisette, turned her head, and, while spinning Lisette's chair a little with one hand, asked with wide-eyed curiosity, "Do you have any shame at all? Seriously, you want to snatch everything-our parents' attention, our brothers', and now even the private room I reserved?"

"I've met shameless people before, but you're in a league of your own! Lisette, sometimes I actually admire you. How did you even manage to get a skin as thick as a brick wall? Is it something you practice?"

Lisette's face went red, clearly uncomfortable.

There was just something about Calliope. She sounded casual, almost teasing, but somehow the air around her grew heavy and tense. Lisette felt the pressure, and she couldn't help but squirm in her seat.

"I didn't steal your reservation!" Lisette blurted out, desperate.

"Then why are you refusing to leave my room?" Calliope shot back.

"If you really booked this place, show us the proof. You weren't even here when we arrived, and the room was empty. We just came in. What's the big deal?"

Lisette was practically sputtering with frustration by now. She looked around, hoping Valerian and the others would come to her rescue.

"Calliope, do you always have to go for the jugular?" Valerian snapped, clearly losing his patience. "It's just a private room, for crying out loud, not the Holy Grail."

"If you don't care so much, why did you steal my reservation?" Calliope shot him a withering look.

Valerian's face darkened. In the end, he just motioned for Lisette and the others to get up and leave.

Calliope and her group settled in, cool as cucumbers, and called the waiter over to order.

Meanwhile, as Valerian's group

trudged off to another private room, they could hear Calliope and her so-called "brothers" laughing and chatting behind them. The cheerful noise grated on their nerves. noveldrama

Calliope was supposed to be eating with them. But instead, she'd just thrown down the gauntlet and was now having a grand old time with these other guys. Things used to be fine when Lisette wasn't around, but the second she showed up. Calliope's attitude turned frosty again, and nobody could figure out why.

That thought left a bitter taste in all their mouths.

Once they sat down in their new room, nobody really felt like eating anymore. Only Lisette half-heartedly looked at the menu; the rest just exchanged glances, appetite gone.

What was so great about those other guys, anyway? Why did Calliope get along so well with them? If she could be so easygoing with them, why not with her own family?

Everyone sat there, quietly stewing.

A few minutes later, Ulysses stood up, phone in hand. "I've got to make a call," he muttered, not waiting for a reply before heading out.

He found himself outside Calliope's private room. The door was slightly ajar, and he couldn't help but peer inside.

Calliope was surrounded by Silas

and the rest. Not only was Silas treating her like gold, but everyonez there seemed to genuinely care

In

on her

about her. And, from the look face, she cared right back. They were swapping stories, laughing about old times, the air thick with nostalgia and good vibes.

Ulysses felt a pang of envy, and maybe something a little like jealousy. He realized he didn't really have any memories like that with Calliope at all.