A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"You've wasted way too much time because of them," Portia grumbled, her voice dripping with disdain. "You should've cut ties with them ages ago. The Jewell family is not worth it!"

Calliope and Portia headed home together.

Meanwhile, after spending some time at the pub, the Jewell family members also made their way back home.

"You're back! What are all these packages?" Noticing her sons and daughter had returned, Zelda looked up and asked, "We received several packages today, one for each of you."

"What?" Horatio was puzzled. "I didn't order anything."

"I haven't bought anything, either. Wait, could it be what Calliope mentioned?" Valerian wondered aloud, scratching his head.

"What's in them?" Ulysses furrowed his brow in confusion.

The three brothers exchanged curious glances before moving to their packages, eager to see what was inside.

Lisette and Zelda sat nearby, watching them with interest.

Lisette frowned slightly. "Is she trying to make amends by sending gifts? Does she want to come back to our family?"

"Even if she wants to return home, I won't let her!" Zelda snapped sharply. "Let her make a fool of herself out there! Lisette, you're all we need!"

"Who knows what she's plotting!" Valerian said coldly. "No matter what she sends, I won't agree to let her back!"

"Of course, she left on her own. Does she really think she can just waltz back in?" Ulysses tore into his package with little care.

When he saw what was inside, he was taken aback. His brow furrowed deeply as he turned to look at Horatio and Valerian.

"What is it?"

"It seems she's returned things I gave her as gifts!"

The items spilled out of the package, stirring an inexplicable unease in Ulysses.

Those were the small, thoughtless gifts he had given Calliope over the years for her birthdays-cheape trinkets, stuffed animals, and inexpensive jewelry.

When it came to Lisette, he'd always chosen the finest and most expensive gifts, but with Calliope, he never bothered. After all, he thought, she was only a simpleton, soit didn't matter what he gave her.

When looking at the meager offerings, he felt a twinge of embarrassment. But surely Calliope returning them wasn't about their lack of value, was it?

Horatio and Valerian were equally stunned. Calliope had sent back everything they had ever given her, from childhood gifts to those from just last year.

They had never given her anything of great worth; the valuable gifts were reserved for Lisette. If they

remembered her birthday, they'd get Calliope some minor stuff. And if they forgot, it wasn't a big deal.

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Lisette was the star, deserving of the finest dresses, the most exquisite jewelry, antiques, and artwork.

Giving such things to Calliope seemed a waste.

Now, confronted with this pile of cheap belongings, their feelings were complicated. These items lay scattered on the floor, as if mocking them.

"What is Calliope trying to say?" Valerian nearly shouted, his frustration boiling over. "Is she complaining our gifts weren't good enough?"

"She's lucky to get anything at all!" Ulysses scoffed. "If she wants something expensive, she needs to earn it!"

"There's a letter in here. Do you have one too?" Horatio noticed something and pulled out an envelope.