She nced at Calliope with a pout, "Callie, is that really what you''ve been saying about me out there?" Huh? She hadn''t said anything and yet here she was, slurred by Lisette without reason.


    "Callie, how could you say that about Lisette? Don''t you know how pure and kind she is?" Horatio looked at Calliope in disbelief.


    "Honestly, I didn''t," Calliope shrugged. "And it seems like you don''t really either."


    Horatio furrowed his brows and took a deep breath.


    Then he looked up at Quentin, saying, "Quentin Sutton, I''ve heard of you. There''s been a


    misunderstanding, and I apologize."


    After that, he turned to Calliope with a hint of resignation and said, "Callie, I''m your big brother. Listen to me and apologize to Lisette!"


    "I didn''t hit her or yell at her. I just told the truth, and now I have to apologize?"


    "Let it go... She probably didn''t mean it," Lisette said in a voice as sweet as an angel, tugging on the edge of Horatio''s shirt.


    Horatio looked at Lisette with sympathy and then at Calliope with disappointment in his eyes. "Callie, when will you ever be as considerate as Lisette?"


    "That''s probably gonna be a challenge," Calliope pouted, failing to see Lisette''s so-called being considerate.


    "Never mind," Horatio sighed. "You grew up spoiled by Grandpa, so you''re a bit headstrong."


    Quentin was already frowning, looking a bit annoyed. Just as he was about to step forward, Calliope stopped him.


    With a subtle but firm grip on his arm, she signaled him to hold back. She was just as skilled as Quentin, if not more, so her silent strength was enough to convey her message to him.


    Quentin cast a cold nce at Horatio, making him uneasy. Despite being a big brother himself, Horatio felt Quentin''s presence was overwhelming.


    "My big brother, right? Since you''re iming that title, let me do you a favor and give you a heads-up." Calliope nced at Horatio''s legs. "You might want to get your legs checked out. It won''t be long before you''re back in a wheelchair."


    "What did you say?" Horatio''s brows knitted tightly in disbelief.


    "Callie, how could you curse our brother like that? He''s doing well, how can you say he''ll be back in a wheelchair!" Lisette eximed, visibly agitated.


    Valerian couldn''t hold back either. "Calliope, can you stop being so harsh? It was Lisette who helped Horatio get better, and now you''re just spouting nonsense!"


    "Oh, Lisette helped, did she?" Calliope nodded. "Well, if she''s got it covered, I guess I shouldn''t worry. Horatio, let your dear sister check you out quickly before you''re back in that wheelchair, all deted." With that, Calliope was done wasting words. She turned to Quentin and Norton, "Brothers, let''s go. I''ve got gifts to give you!"


    The three of them quickly got into the car waiting by the curb.


    Horatio watched Calliope''s retreating figure with a furrowed brow, feeling something unsettling growing inside him.


    Under normal circumstances, he wouldn''t pay much heed to Calliope''s words.


    Buttely... he had indeed noticed something odd about his legs, like they were slipping out of his control.