All the guests at the banquet couldn''t help but feel that Calliope was taking a critical risk.


    Everyone was holding their breath for her, especially since Yara had mentioned she''d ensure Calliope''s safety, but she couldn''t promise she wouldn''t get hurt.


    "That''s terrifying! Those alligators look vicious!"


    "Yeah. I''ve read the news about alligators attacking and even eating people. Their death roll is no joke!"


    "She''s standing on the edge now. If something goes wrong, she can still get out in time. But if she goes further down those steps, she''s just asking for trouble!"


    "Don''t go down there! I''m scared just watching!"


    "Seriously, my palms are sweating!"


    Someone was streaming the whole thing live, and viewers were tuning in by the hundreds.


    The hashtag #Calliope DaresTheGatorPit was already trending.


    Uriah was standing nearby, also on edge, contemting whether he should ask Ss to say something to Calliope. But Ss seemed surprisingly unfazed by his wife''s predicament.


    When Uriah asked, Ss only told him to wait and see.


    "Callie better not be in danger." Uriah nced at Yara and added, "Not only should she be safe, but she shouldn''t get so much as a scratch! Hey, Yara, are you listening? If anything happens to her, you''ll have to answer to me."


    "You fancy her?" Yara asked, lighting a cigarette as a mischievous smile yed on her lips.


    "Who said I fancy her?" Uriah rolled his eyes. "She''s Mavis''s best friend. Mavis will never forgive me if anything happens to her!"


    "Oh, you care about Mavis, huh?"


    "She''s like my own. I found her when she was just a kid!"


    Uriah huffed, signaling with his hand.


    He had taken Mavis under his wing when she was three, raising her like a daughter despite their small age difference. He yed both mom and dad, teaching her everything he knew.


    Though she feared him, he was powerless against her. After all these years, how could he not be attached?


    "Yeah, everyone in Capitalton knows about you and Mavis." Yara raised


    an eyebrow. "But are you that afraid of her? I''ve heard some amusing stories about you twotely.


    en


    O.UMS


    "If you know I don''t want to hear it, then zip it." Uriah''s voice was icy, his


    handsome face tinged with coldness.


    Yara shrugged, grinning. "Your stories are entertaining. Don''t worry, I won''t spill the beans. I quite like Mavis too. It''s no wonder you have a crush on her."


    "I don''t have a crush on her." Uriah frowned.


    "No crush?" Yara nodded. "Then why''d you raise her and teach her everything you know?"


    "Shut up."


    Yara shrugged again, taking a drag from her cigarette as she turned her gaze back to Calliope.


    In the alligator pit, Calliope had reached thest few steps. She didn''t go further down. Instead, she stood there, watching the gator''s floating with their eyes just above the water.


    The evening lights weren''t very bright, and the water was a dark, inky ck.


    People would miss the alligators'' eyes if they didn''t look closely. Once they did, they would find them ringly apparent.


    The surface of the water was dotted with the gators'' glowing eyes and their rough, scaly skin.