NovelBookLisette paced around her bedroom, her mind racing with thoughts she kept carefully hidden behind a calm,
pleasant face. Out loud, she even found herself saying nice things about Calliope to Zelda, trying to keep the
peace.
But the more Lisette talked up Calliope, the more Zelda's opinion soured. The way she saw it, Calliope had done
nothing but make Lisette's life harder, and yet here was Lisette, still defending her. Zelda's heart ached. Lisette
was just too good, too forgiving.
It didn't take long before Lisette started noticing something strange: her room felt emptier than before. Several
of her favorite things were missing. Sof them were keepsakes she'd won in childhood tiffs with Calliope,
others were genuinely valuable.
"Mom, do you remember that butterfly-shaped necklace?" Lisette asked, unable to keep the concern from her
voice. “It's gone. | can't find it anywhere."
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Zelda's expression darkened immediately. "Isn't it obvious? That was Calliope. She's been taking things from
your room, more than just that necklace."
She clenched her jaw, her voice trembling with anger. "But right now, everyone needs Calliope. With Horaso
sick and the company in trouble, no one dares to call her out. She's like a bad omen. | swear, she only came
back to rob us blind."
But for the sake of the family business, Zelda had to hold her tongue. Monty had already told her to stay quiet;
all she could do was stew in silence.
"Seriously?" Lisette frowned, worried. "What about my mom's keepsakes? Did she take those too?"
"Your mother's things?" Zelda hesitated, caught off guard. She hadn't seen what Calliope had actually taken, only
that she left Lisette's room with a suspicious number of boxes.
“Yeah, Mom's old locket is missing too,” Lisette said, rummaging through her drawers. In truth, she'd hidden it
earlier-just in case.
If Calliope thought she could get away with stealing from her, she had another thing coming. Lisette had played
this ga thousand times; she knew exactly how to make the Jewell family fret over her and resent Calliope
even more.
She turned to Zelda, eyes shining with unshed tears. "Mom, | know | didn't get to know my real mom, and you're
the one I love the most. But that looket is all | have left of her. | could give up everything else to Calliope, but not
that. It's not even worth much. What would Callie want with it?"
Her voice broke as she dabbed at her eyes, the picture of heartbreak.
Zelda was already wrapped around Lisette's finger. She'd raised her like her own flesh and blood and couldn't
stand to see her hurt.
The moment she saw Lisette's tears, Zelda's anger erupted. "That Calliope! How could she? She's already gotten
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmso much, how can she be so greedy? She's unbelievable!"
She cursed Calliope several times, her face red with fury.
"Con, we'll go get it back!" Zelda said, grabbing Lisette's hand.
But Lisette hesitated. “Mom, what if
she gets mad and refuses to help with the company? Or stops helping Horatio? My mom's locket is important,
but nothing's more important than you and Horatio. You're all working so hard to keep
the family together. If | have to make a little sacrifice, that's okay. Really, I'm fine."
She wiped her tears and gave Zelda a brave little smile. "If Callie wants my stuff,
let her have it. I've probably taken enough from her over the years. Maybe she just wants to even the score."
And of course, Lisette knew that this small sacrifice would only make the family cherish her more, and despise
Calliope all the deeper.
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