A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust novel Chapter 812

Just then, Portia wandered over and peeked into Calliope’s bucket. She practically did a double take, jaw dropping in shock.

“No way!”

“How did you collect so much already?”

“We only just started, didn’t we?”

Portia glanced at her own empty sand pail, then at Calliope’s overflowing one, packed with all sorts of treasures—shells, pebbles, even an old bottle cap or two.

She felt a complicated mix of envy and disbelief.

Hadn’t they only been on the beach for, what, fifteen minutes?

Sure, the beach was pretty empty and the tide had just gone out, so there was plenty to find, but how could Calliope be so quick? She looked like a pro, scooping up half the beach in record time.

“My brothers and Silas helped me,” Calliope admitted with a grin. “Whenever they found something they thought I’d like, they put it in my bucket!”

Honestly, she hadn’t found that much herself, but with their help, her bucket looked like she’d struck gold.

“Man, I’m so jealous,” Portia huffed, faking a pout. “Wish I had brothers like yours!”

“But if we’re going to have a contest, your brothers can’t help, got it? Otherwise, it’s totally unfair!”

“Deal,” Calliope laughed, tossing a glance over toward Uriah.

Silas had already wandered off to chat with Uriah; the two of them were deep in conversation about who-knows-what.

Calliope’s gaze drifted to Mavis.

“Yeah, we’ll eat like kings tonight!” Mavis beamed. They started making their way back when suddenly, Mavis gasped and stumbled forward.

Norton reacted instantly, catching her before she could fall.

“What happened?” he asked, eyebrows knitting together.

“I’m okay, really,” Mavis said, steadying herself on Norton. “I just stepped on something sharp, I think I might’ve cut my foot.”

She balanced on one leg and looked down. Blood was trickling from a small cut on her foot.

“It’s probably nothing, but let’s get you over to the rocks and check it out,” Norton said.

Mavis nodded, surprisingly calm despite it all.