Calliope stared at the woman in disbelief. She had anticipated that she might have some criticisms but hadn''t expected such oundish fabrications.


    She nced over at Ss for a moment.


    She wasn''t quite sure who this woman was, but she seemed to be someone of importance, probably a well-connected youngdy, especially since she was working closely with Ss. Anyone in his inner circle had to have some pull.


    Ss strode over to them, his long legs carrying an air of authority. He stopped beside the woman, his presencemanding.


    Fagan was already sweating bullets for her.


    Ss looked down at her, his voice calm but firm, "Kelda, did she bully you? How did she do that?" Kelda''s eyes lit up with feigned innocence. "Ss, she tried to spill coffee on me. It was hot, and she wanted to burn me!"


    "Did you get burned?" Ss asked, his voice low and even.


    "No, because I dodged quickly. But if I hadn''t, I would have been!"


    Kelda puffed up indignantly, "It''s unfair! Since she''s your wife, and I like you, Ss, I''d be nice to her. I even brought her fruit and coffee, but she treated me like this! Ss, you know my father would be furious if I got hurt. You said you''d take care of me, didn''t you?"


    "No burns, huh? That''s a shame." Ss remarked with a chilly detachment.


    "What?" Kelda blinked, stunned, staring at Ss with confusion and disbelief.


    Did he just say it was a shame, not that it was good?


    Facing Ss''s gaze, Kelda felt a chill run down her spine. She frowned "Ss, wasn''t hurt, but this woman ruined your sofa. You''ve always liked that sofa, and it''s expensive. She can''t afford to rece it!"


    "Can''t afford it?" Ss nced over at Calliope.


    Calliope remainedposed, knowing Ss wasn''t a fool who couldn''t tell right from wrong.


    "I''ve invested everything in her. How could she not afford it? Besides, my things are her things. If she dirties or tears it, she''s only doing it to her stuff is there a problem with that?"


    Ss''s words were casual, but his gaze was enough to shiver anyone.


    As Kelda met Ss''s eyes, her heart leaped into her throat. She pursed her lips, looking from the unruffled Calliope to Ss, then finally to Fagan standing nearby.


    Fagan wasn''t about to make a peep, but he was frantically gesturing to Kelda. He was trying to signal her


    to apologize to Calliope and admit her mistake quickly.


    Otherwise, even as the darling daughter of the Yoder family, she''d find herself in deep trouble.


    Kelda wasn''t entirely clueless. Seeing Ss and Fagan''s reactions, she quickly realized what was happening.


    She didn''t know if Ss had feelings for Calliope, but it was clear he was protecting her. Her Ss seemed to have chosen Calliope over her.