Calliope froze for a moment when she saw Ss. She hadn''t expected to see him here, and for a brief second, she felt a pang of guilt.


    "Is he harassing you?" Ss approached.


    "No, it''s nothing," Calliope replied instinctively.


    Ss nced at Gideon, who suddenly realized how ridiculous he looked holding a mop. He dropped it and steadied himself against the wall, moving toward Calliope.


    Just as Gideon was about to get close, Ss swiftly pulled Calliope into his arms. His eyes were icy as he stared at the apologetic Gideon.


    "It''s toote for regrets. She''s mine now," he dered with amanding presence.


    When Laird arrived, he saw Ss brimming with a fierce aura while Gideon was still trying to reach Calliope.


    Sensing that Ss might act, Calliope was holding onto him. "Ss, sorry, Gideon''s drunk!"


    Laird hurriedly supported Gideon, looking up and apologizing to Ss. "He''s just spouting nonsense. I''ll take him away now!"


    Laird looked visibly uneasy. "Gideon, let''s go. You''ve upset your uncle!"


    "I''m not going anywhere! Uncle Ss, why don''t you ask her who she really likes, you or me?"


    Turning his head, with flushed cheeks from the alcohol, Gideon sneered, "Calliope, I know you''re just using my uncle to get back at me. You''re still crazy about me, aren''t you?


    After all these years, no matter how I treated you, you kepting back. There''s no way you just stopped loving me. But Calliope, there''s a limit to how far you can push this. If you keep this up, I''ll really get mad! And if I get mad, I won''t want you anymore! Calliope, you should know when to stop! While I''m still patient,e back to me, and I''ll treat you right!"


    "Stop this nonsense, Gideon!" Laird forcefully pulled Gideon away.


    Calliope watched Gideon leave, feeling amused. It seemed Gideon finally felt threatened, perhaps because of the family shares. He used to be indifferent no matter how hard she tried, but now, in his drunken state, he wanted her back.


    As Calliope was lost in thought watching Gideon, she didn''t notice Ss gazing at her intently. His deep eyes held a trace of displeasure.


    Was she still thinking about him? Gideon wasn''t wrong; she had loved him for so many years. How could she just turn around and fall for him?


    Maybe she still had feelings for Gideon and just had been acting up.


    But he didn''t care. She was his now, and he wouldn''t let her go back.


    "Have you seen enough?" Ss''s cold voice, tinged with jealousy, came from above.


    Startled, Calliope hurriedly stepped away from Ss''s embrace. Whenever she looked at Ss, she


    couldn''t help but be cautious.


    Her wariness felt like a needle pricking Ss''s heart. She was still distant with him, even after they had been so intimately close.


    Just as Gideon said, maybe she was still hung up on him.


    "Are you here with friends?" Ss asked.


    "Yeah, with a few friends," Calliope nodded.


    "Aren''t you going to introduce me?"


    "Do you want to meet them?" Calliope hesitated, but seeing Ss''s eager expression, she reluctantly led him to their booth.


    Portia and the others were having a st, but looked up in surprise when they saw Ss standing next to Calliope.