Calliope''s words left everyone in the room utterly shocked. Monty and Zelda were just as astonished, while Horatio and the others wore expressions of disbelief.


    "Callie, you can''t just say things like that!" Horatio eximed. "This isn''t a rtionship you can just walk away from!"


    "Calliope, do you have to make a scene at Lisette''s birthday party? Can''t you stand to see her happy?" Zelda snapped, ring at Calliope.


    She hadn''t even thought of kicking Calliope out of the house, but there Calliope was, announcing to sever ties with them first.


    It was madness!


    "Do you think you''ll have it easy without the Jewell family? You''re such a nobody. You won''t find things better anywhere else!" Zelda spat angrily.


    "I don''t need you worrying about how I''ll be, Zelda," Calliope said calmly, looking her straight in the eye. "You''ve never been satisfied with me, have you? You''re always saying Lisette is enough for you. So, me cutting ties with the Jewell family should make you happy, right?"


    Calliope turned away and pulled out a document. "Here''s the agreement I drafted. I don''t want a penny from the Jewell family, and I expect you won''te after me for money, either."


    She handed the agreement to Zelda. "The terms are clear. As for the years you raised me, I doubt you spent much on me. You took quite a bit from me, so let''s call it even, shall we?"


    "Calliope!" Zelda shouted, infuriated. "You just want to make us aughingstock, don''t you?"


    "Isn''t what you''ve done already a joke?" Calliope replied, her voice steady. "I''ve never seen parents who don''t love their biological daughter, treating her like a curse while cherishing an adopted daughter to the bone."


    She chuckled softly. "You''re


    disappointed in me? Well, I''m utterly disappointed in you. I''ve done a lot for the Jewell family, but you don''t know or refuse to acknowledge it. Let''s see how the Jewell family does without me!"


    Zelda''s chest heaved with anger. "You are a curse! You''ve brought us nothing but trouble! Lisette might be adopted, but I raised her as my own. There''s no need to be so cruel to her!


    Calliope, don''t act like a victim. We


    don''t love you because you''ve never amounted to anything! You''re rebellious, irresponsible, andck any ambition. You hang around with all sorts of unsavory men and work as a waitress at a diner! Who could love a daughter like that?


    Calliope looked at Zelda, her expression calm. "No ambition? Did you ever care about anything in my life? Do you think I wanted to be there? Your precious adopted daughter has been scheming against me the whole time!"


    "You''re raising a snake in your own nest!" Calliopeughed bitterly.


    "Scheming against you? Lisette would never do that. Even if she did, the fact that she could seed just proves how ipetent you are!" Zelda sneered.


    "Fine, you want to cut ties? Even if we didn''t spend much on you, I gave you your life, right? How do you n to repay that debt?"


    Calliope''s heart ached at her words.


    Look at that, her own mother, demanding payment for giving birth to her.


    She fought back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes and curled her lips into a sardonic smile. "Name your price, and I''ll pay it! After all, you didn''t raise me, just loaned me your womb. How much do you think your womb is worth?"