Chapter 525
Lisette 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. Some of 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. I can’t find it anywhere p>
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 p>
She clenched her jaw, her voice trembling with anger. “But right now, everyone needs Calliope. With Horatio so sick and the company in trouble, no one dares to call her out. She’s like a bad omen. I swear, she only came back to rob us blind p>
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 p>
“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 game a 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, I know I didn’t get to know my real mom, and you’re the one I love the most. But that looket is all I have left of her. I could give up everything else to Calliope, but not that. It’s not even worth much. What would Callie want with it p>
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 so much, how can she be so greedy? She’s unbelievable p>
She cursed Calliope several times, her face red with fury.
“Come on, 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 I have to make a little sacrifice, that’s okay. Really, I’m fine p>
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 p>
And of course, Lisette knew that this small sacrifice would only make the family cherish her more, and despise Calliope all the deeper.