Ss''s crowd was like a constetion in the sky, unreachable for most and the grandest circle in Capitalton.


    That darn Calliope!


    Lisette fumed silently.


    Meanwhile, Valerian and his crew had just pulled up to their family estate, and as they exited the car, they looked up to see fireworks painting the sky.


    At first, they assumed some bigwig was celebrating-someone of national importance, surely, to warrant such a disy.


    But as the show went on, it dawned on them that it was for Calliope''s birthday! It had Ss''s fingerprints all over it.


    Valerian''s face darkened with anger. "She nned this on purpose. She knows Lisette''s birthday is tomorrow, and she''s trying to upstage her with this shy spectacle."


    "She''s getting out of hand, thinking she''s something special just because she''s with Ss," Ulysses muttered, clenching his fists.


    Horatio furrowed his brows. "She''s definitely pushing it a bit."


    "Brothers, we can''t let Lisette be overshadowed tomorrow," Ulysses urged. "I''ll rally some friends from our circle. I''ll foot the bill for extravagant gifts."


    "Yeah, we might not be able to match the fireworks, but we can arrange a drone show," Valerian added. "I''ll handle that."


    With their heads together, the brothers resolved to make Lisette''s birthday bash even more luxurious and spectacr.


    They believed Calliope was doing this out of spite, trying topete with Lisette. She was just being immature.


    ...


    Of course, Calliope was oblivious to all the plotting.


    After the fireworks ended, the party wound down, and Ss escorted Calliope back home.


    She was surprised to see Fagan waiting for them with a stack of documents in his hands. He looked at Ss, "Mr. Myers, is it time?"


    "Yes, now," Ss nodded.


    "Is there something going on?" Calliope felt a strange flutter of anxiety. She had no clue what Ss was nning.


    But with Fagan''s serious demeanor, her confidence wavered.


    Was this a case of giving her a


    yelet


    sweet treat only to follow it with a p? Was he ending their


    agreement? Would he let her shine only to then divorce her?


    Her mind raced with all the wild scenarios, anxiety and panic creeping in.


    "Mrs. Myers, if you could please listen


    few need to discuss et draatters with you," Fagan,


    ased Calliope. "Don''t worry. It won''t take long."


    "What?" Calliope''s heart pounded harder.


    That was it. Ss was about to drop the bomb on her.


    Could she make a run for it? She didn''t want to leave now, she realized.


    "Uh, do we need to do this now? It''s


    AQUMS


    She stole a nce at Ss, who gave her a gentle smile. "It''ll only take a moment, and Fagan put much


    effort into this."


    Calliope''s heart sank.


    "Fine, I guess," she murmured, preparing herself for the worst as she looked at Fagan.