A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust novel Chapter 505

He could feel it—Calliope seemed to hang out with those so-called “brothers” of hers way more than with them. Even Lance, who wasn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, knew about those guys. Yet he had no idea they were her actual brothers.

Calliope would mention them to Lance, sometimes even bring them along to meet him, but would she ever let her real brothers meet Lance? Absolutely not.

They didn’t even know she’d spent time abroad until someone else brought it up. Strangely enough, those “brothers” of hers seemed to know everything—where she’d traveled, who she’d seen, what she liked for breakfast.

It stung, but none of them dared say anything. They just watched as Calliope left with Lance.

Once they were gone, Valerian frowned and turned to Horatio. “Do you know much about those so-called brothers of Callie’s? Are they really as great as she says?”

Horatio shook his head, his brow creasing. “No idea. But it sure seems like she’s closer to them. She hangs out with them all the time.”

He felt a knot in his chest. Lately, it had started to feel like their little sister was drifting away—choosing others over family. So what did that make them? Just some background characters in her life?

The longer he thought about it, the more Horatio realized they needed to do something. They’d been taking Callie for granted, and now it felt like she was slipping through their fingers.

Sure, she still helped out at the family business, still showed up when they needed her—but it was all transactional now. If they couldn’t give her what she wanted, she wouldn’t lift a finger.

In a way, she didn’t see them as brothers anymore—just business partners.

That hurt more than either of them wanted to admit. Their relationship with Callie had grown colder, more distant.

Horatio sighed, the weight of regret heavy in his chest. “Valerian, we need to be better to Callie. We can’t let those other guys mean more to her than we do.”

Valerian nodded, his jaw set. For the first time, he really considered if they’d treated Calliope unfairly. They had to fix this. After all, they were her family. They always would be—or at least, they hoped so.

What on earth? Her mother-in-law had landed herself in the ER—after a wild night? And from what the doc hinted, it sounded like she’d been with more than one man.

“Your mother-in-law’s not exactly young anymore,” the doctor added delicately. “She should probably take it easy.”

Yvette pressed her lips together. “And what about my husband? How’s Gideon doing?”

“Oh, him? Just some cuts and a broken leg. Nothing life-threatening.” The doctor gave her a quick summary, but even he seemed unclear on the details.

Yvette frowned, suspicion growing, and headed to Gideon’s hospital room.

She found him awake, both legs in heavy casts, his face bruised and swollen. Gone was the dashing man from her memories—now he just looked like he’d lost a fight with a linebacker.