A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

Monty was feeling a bit uneasy. If he kept staying here, he wasn't sure how much longer they could take it. It was only the first day, and already the pressure was sky-high.

Everyone was walking on eggshells, terrified that one tiny slip-up would piss off Silas.

Horatio shook his head. "Who knows, really. Guess it's up to Callie. But those two, they seem pretty tight. Mr. Myers really seems to like her."

"Yeah, I think so too," Valerian said with a grin. "I mean, I think Callie still cares about us."

Just thinking about that car, he doubted Calliope could've pulled it off on her own. Most likely, Silas had helped her out. Which probably meant Silas was on board with her getting closer to them.

"How do you figure?" Monty looked at Valerian skeptically. Even though Valerian sounded so sure, Monty honestly didn't feel it. He didn't get the sense that Calliope cared all that much about them.

Sure, lately she'd been answering their questions and managing the company, but you could tell she was keeping her distance. She used to be so warm and enthusiastic with them. Now she was just... different.

He doubted things could ever go back to how they were. Callie didn't try to cheer them up or joke around with them anymore.

"You guys might not notice it, but I do!"

"Notice what?" Horatio and Monty both eyed Valerian, confused.

"Callie got me a present. A Christmas present. And I bet she got you guys something too! She used to always get us gifts, remember? And they were always super nice."

"Well, this time's no different. She's really showing off what she can do now!" Valerian was clearly in a great mood, thinking about the gift he was about to get.

It was something he'd wanted for ages. Lisette could never afford it, but Calliope knew. And she'd decided to give it to him. She was trying to win her brothers back, he was sure of it.

Just thinking about it made him happy.

"What do you mean, 'showing off'?" Horatio was still lost.

"Callie's getting me a car," Valerian said, almost giddy. "Not just any car, either. The one I've been talking forever, the limited-edition one, the one nobody can buy!"

"Wait, that car?" Monty's eyes went wide.

He knew his son had been obsessed with that model, but there was no

way their family could afford it. The Jewells were far from rich. They were, at best, comfortablynoveldrama

middle-class. A global limited edition car was way out of their league.

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"Callie's giving you that?" Monty was shocked, and more than a little jealous. "Why would she get you a car? What did you do to get on her good side like that?"

She hadn't offered him, her own father, anything nearly as extravagant. He was clearly a little put out.

"I didn't do anything!" Valerian beamed. “And actually, she doesn't know I know yet. She hasn't told me directly. I just overheard her talking about it."

"So it's a secret. You guys gotta pretend you don't know, alright? She wants it to be a surprise! I'm sure she's just waiting for the car to arrive before she says anything."

"Really?" Horatio was still skeptical.

"Really. Horatio, I bet she got you something too! Just wait. She's loaded now, she's got Silas in her corner, and she's honestly pretty amazing!"