"They say they need to interrogate her, so we can''t take her home just yet."


    Valerian''s emotions were all over the ce. The whole situation with Calliope and Lisette had left him feeling a bit frazzled.


    "What are we going to do now?" Horatio asked, frowning.


    "I don''t know, but Lisette hasn''t done anything too serious. I doubt she''ll end up in jail. We should just head home for now."


    Valerian was about to call for a taxi when his phone buzzed. After picking up, his face turned a shade more serious.


    He nced at Horatio. "Let''s go home. Dad''s waiting for us there."


    "Alright," Horatio nodded.


    The two brothers hailed a cab and headed back home.


    When they arrived, they found Monty and Zelda sitting on the couch in the living room. The tension in the room was almost palpable; neither of them had spoken a word, but their silence spoke volumes.


    After what felt like an eternity, Monty finally broke the silence, "This is all your fault!"


    "What do you mean it''s my fault?" Zelda retorted, looking incredulous. "I didn''t do anything wrong. That so-called psychic said Calliope was a curse on our family. I was just trying to protect us all by keeping my distance!"


    "If she was really a curse, would she be so sessful? Ourpany is on the brink of copse. And now with this new scandal, we''re finished!" Monty rubbed his temples, looking like he was on the verge of a breakdown.


    The gossip from Calliope''s speech at the ss reunion had spread like wildfire. People online were not only sharing it but alsombasting the Jewell family for their treatment of her.


    Manypanies were now


    reconsidering their partnerships with them. It seemed the entire world had found out that the Jewells had favored their adopted daughter over their own flesh and blood. The optics were terrible.


    ?


    Even within thepany,


    employees were buzzing about the situation, discussing Lisette and Calliope in hushed tones. Some even mentioned how dedicated Calliope was at work, wondering how things had gone so wrong. The consensus was that Lisette had set Galliope up.


    Monty was on the verge of losing it. Angry calls from board members were blowing up his phone, demanding answers. He barely managed to cate them,


    promising to discuss the matter with his family and speak with Calliope.


    "Dad, Mom!" Horatio and Valerian entered, looking from Monty to Zelda.


    "Dad, what''s going on?" Valerian asked urgently.


    "Where''s Lisette?" Monty demanded, his gaze fixed on his sons. "Why didn''t you bring her back?"


    "What happened to Lisette?" Zelda''s worry was evident at the mere mention of her name.


    "She was taken in by the police for allegedly spreading rumors about a government official," Valerian exined. "It should be fine."


    "What?" Zelda panicked. "The police took her? This must be Calliope''s doing, ndering her on purpose, right?"


    Horatio shot Zelda a disapproving look.


    Monty, on the other hand, was fed up. "Just keep quiet, will you? Lisette''s not


    going to die. Right now, the survival of ourpany is what matters most!"


    Heunched into an exnation of thepany''s dire situation, his frustration evident as he grappled with the overwhelming pressure.