Chapter 861
Zelda had been in a pretty good mood, honestly.
The Jewell family wasn’t headed for bankruptcy anymore, so she could go back to living her life of luxury. She was out shopping with Lisette, and even though running into Calliope annoyed her a little, it didn’t dampen her spirits too much.
After all, Calliope hadn’t actually done anything to mess with them-yet. So Zelda was determined to enjoy herself.
But then Portia, with that razor-sharp tongue of hers, managed to piss Zelda off in just a few snappy sentences.
That damn witch.
Zelda shot Lisette a glance, then turned to Portia and snapped, “Lisette doesn’t sponge off her parents, okay? She’s plenty caring, and even if she did, it’s none of your business. Maybe you should worry about your own life. Are your folks really happy to have you mooching off them forever p>
Portia just grinned, smug as ever. “Of course they are. I’m their biological daughter-they’ll always love me. Unlike your precious Lisette here. You sure she’ll still be so ‘caring’ when you’re old? Or will she just run off to her real parents p>
She shrugged, then added, “Honestly, Zelda, Lisette’s not exactly a saint. Don’t be surprised if she turns on you someday p>
Zelda glared daggers at her.
Then she turned to Lisette and said, “Ignore them, honey. People like them only hang out with their own kind—troublemakers, the lot of them p>
“Bad luck,” she muttered under her breath.
Calliope just smirked. “No, bad luck is being stuck around you two p>
“Come on, Portia. Let’s get out of here the air is getting toxic p>
She linked arms with Portia, but as they walked off, she shot Zelda a look over her shoulder. “Hey, Zelda, don’t be stingy! You spoil your daughter, right? Better spend big, or people will talk p>
Zelda scoffed, “Don’t worry, I’ll spend plenty. Just not a dime on you p>
Calliope gave her a mysterious little grin.
Zelda frowned. Why did that look make her uneasy?
Portia grumbled a few choice words under her breath as they walked away.
Calliope laughed, “Let her spend! Every dollar she drops here ends up in my pocket anyway-half these boutiques are under my name p>
Portia’s eyes lit up. “Wait, so the more they spend, the richer you get p>
“Exactly.” Calliope grinned. “So the more she spoils Lisette, the better p>
“Sounds great. We should encourage them to buy out the whole place.” “Idiots,” Portia muttered, rolling her eyes.
She really couldn’t stand the way Lisette acted-so self-righteous. And honestly, it baffled her how the
Jewel amily fawned over Lisette sQ much. “
Sure, right now it made
sense-Lisette was the one they’d raised, not Callie. But even back when they thought Callie was the own flesh and blood, they still treated her like dirt and worshipped Lisette.
And Lisette was the worst-always scheming, always making trouble.
Calliope just shrugged, “Don’t let it get to you. I’m not upset-why should you be p>
Portia nodded. “Yeah, not worth it. They’re not worth the energy p>
“Exactly,” Calliope agreed.
“Oh, by the way,” Portia said suddenly, “about that charity gala I mentioned― Callie, did you get an invite too p>
“I’m going with my brothers. We should totally go together! I heard the auction on the yacht is going to be wild this year. Some really rare stuff up for grabs, and all the international big shots are going to be there. No way I’m missing this party p>
Calliope smiled. “Yeah, I’ll be there. I got invites-more than one, actually p>
After all, she hadn’t just received an invitation as Silas’s wife—she got several in her own name, too.