Chapter 168

Dorothy's eyes brimmed with cloudy tears as they streamed down her cheeks, her voice cracked and trembling. "Ma'am... Mr. Godfrey, he..." Her words were torn apart by sobs, but still pieced together a truth Calliope already half-guessed - a truth cruel enough to gut her all over again. Jonathan had been sneaking around with Rosemary for a long time. And Angelina? She was their illegitimate daughter. When Eleanor found out, her entire world caved in. She spiraled fast, barely eating or drinking for days. Still, she kept it from everyone - especially Calliope. She was terrified the truth would shatter her daughter too. Eleanor even tried to fix it quietly. She thought, naively, that if Jonathan agreed to send Rosemary and Angelina abroad, she'd pretend none of it ever happened, letting him keep his place in Calliope's heart. But Jonathan said no. Worse, he said, "Since you know, why not just let Angelina take her rightful place in the family?" That was the final blow. Eleanor snapped. Sh