"Yvette, you little sneak! How could you keep your wedding a secret from me? I heard you''re marrying into the wealthy Baker family of Capitalton. What, are you scared I''d ask you for money, so you decided to keep me in the dark?"


    Trevor Langley burst in, grabbing a fistful of Yvette''s hair as he shouted.


    Yvette''s head jerked back, and she let out a shriek of pain. Tears sprang to her eyes. "Dad, that hurts! Dad... no, I wasn''t trying to hide it from you! I just hadn''t gotten around to telling you yet!"


    "Hadn''t gotten around to it? What nonsense! You just think I''m an embarrassment! You invited everyone else but left me out! What do you take me for?


    You are my damn child, remember that! Without me, you''d be nothing! I heard you gave your mom''s side some money, but nothing for me? What, is she your real parent and I''m not?"


    Yvette''s eyes were red with pain, and she cried out, "I''ll give you the money, just please let go! You''re going to rip my scalp off!"


    Calliope watched, feeling her own scalp tingle in sympathy. Yvette''s father was a real piece of work. But she found it amusing in a way. Neither Yvette nor her father were saints, so watching them fight wasn''t exactly a tragedy.


    Trevor finally released Yvette''s hair, pull over a chair and plopped into it, picking up a toothpick to idly clean his teeth.


    Fleur was speechless, her expression one of shock. What kind of family was Yvette from?


    "Trevor, what are you doing here causing trouble? This is Yvette''s big day, and you''re just making a mess!" Verena shouted.


    Trevor sneered at her. "Why shouldn''t I be involved in my daughter''s affairs? And don''t think I don''t know about you pocketing her money! We haven''t settled that score yet!"


    Eamon put a hand to his forehead, clearly taken aback by the family. He nced over at Calliope for help. Receiving his plea, Calliope rapped her knuckles on the table, drawing all eyes to her.


    "Let me say a few words."


    "And who are you? Where are your manners? You think you have a right to speak here?" Trevor snapped.


    "Me? I''m your future son-inw''s


    uncle''s wife, the matriarch of the Baker family, and the wife of the


    Baker Group''s CEO," Calliope introduced herself casually. "In other will be


    words, your future son-inther


    working under my husband''s


    leadership.


    Do I have the right to speak now? Even Fleur wouldn''t dare speak to me like that. Do you have a problem with me?"


    Her words were calm but carried an undeniable authority.


    Trevor and the others were


    momentarily stunned. They quickly did the mental math of what her position meant, and, realizing her connection to Ss, wisely decided not to cross her.  en


    "You all asked for an eight million dor wedding gift, and I don''t see a problem with that," Calliope continued.


    "Calliope!" Fleur objected immediately, shooting her a re, thinking she was stirring the pot.


    Gideon also frowned as he nced at Calliope, unsure of where she was going with this.


    "Right? You think our request isn''t too much, don''t you?" Verena eagerly chimed in. "That''s why you''re the matriarch, so understanding and generous!"


    "Well, it is indeed not much. For an


    opulent family like the Bakers, a wedding gift of ten million isn''t unreasonable," Calliope curled her lips into a smile. "But usually, in a high society match, whatever the groom''s family gives, the bride''s family matches with the same amount in a bridal gift."