"Yeah, it''s not right to throw them away. Just give them back to Calliope," Valerian nodded.


    "But it''s just a photo, not proof of anything!" Lisette frowned, trying to defend Calliope. "Don''t get the wrong idea about her. She might not be as bad as you think.''


    "She''s exactly that kind of person," Zelda said, her face darkened with anger. "You all should keep your distance from her. Don''t get dragged into her mess! Everyone knows she''s no longer associated with us." Thinking about Calliope was enough to give Zelda a headache. Her flesh and blood was a walking disaster, always getting into shameless trouble. It was no wonder she''d got involved with both Gideon and Ss; she had a history! A niece and uncle tangled up in a mess, unbelievable!


    Zelda was so furious that her head was spinning. "I''m going back to my room."


    Horatio and the others also frowned, wondering how Calliope could behave so disgracefully.


    Calliope waspletely unaware that she was being gossiped about again. By the time she found out, it was two dayster.


    Horatio and his two brothers tracked her down. She was at a diner discussing business, having just seen her assistant off, when she spotted them outside, unloading a bunch of stuff from their car. Calliope nced at it, recognizing the gifts she had once given them.


    "Didn''t I tell you to toss those?" Calliope said coldly, ncing at them. "Why bring them back?" "Calliope, you think we''d want your stuff?" Ulysses snapped. "We wouldn''t touch your dirty things!"


    "You wanted us to throw them away so you could have an excuse to ask for more? Forget it. We''re returning them!"


    "I''m warning you," Ulysses continued angrily, "don''t ever mention us as your brothers. We don''t need a sister who''s an embarrassment!"


    Calliope looked at them, bewildered. "What are you talking about?"


    What had she done to embarrass them? She had no idea what was going on.


    ???.1


    "Calliope, we know everything," Ulysses said, his brow furrowed. "From middle school onwards, call those disgusting things you did-it''s revolting!"


    "Calliope," Valerian interjected, "no matter how broke you are, selling yourself is not the answer. Do you think that''s something to be proud of?


    "We don''t want anything you bought with that filthy money. It''s disgusting!"


    Realization dawned on Calliope, and she nearlyughed at the absurdity. "So, you think I traded my body for money and bought you gifts?"


    "Isn''t that it?" Ulysses sneered. "How else would you, a waitress, earn that much?"


    Calliope looked at Ulysses sharply. "Did I ever say I was a waitress?"


    "If you''re not a waitress, then what? You''re here all the time, smelling like this ce. Are you going to im you own it?"


    "It is a decent-sized diner," Ulyssesughed. "The rent here isn''t cheap. Can you even afford it?"


    Calliope had no interest in exining. "Think whatever you want. Whether I''m a waitress or the owner, I don''t owe you anything."


    "Callie," Horatio said, his eyebrows knitted together, looking at her like she was something repulsive, "we''ve been siblings for years. But let me warn you, making money indecently will only bring you shame. As Ss''s Wife


    it will be a nasty scene if he finds out about your past.


    Calliope could only shake her head at the absurdity.