Chapter 3

Lucien's words were like a dagger, stabbing Calliope right in her most vulnerable spot. Even though she'd already experienced the sting of betrayal once and come back determined to cut all ties, hearing him-actually hearing him-rush to dump her for another woman still knocked the breath out of her. That sharp, bone-deep pain came rushing back just like before. "Why?" The word slipped out before she even realized it, voice shaking, tinged with a desperation she hated herself for. But what was she even hoping for? That maybe he'd feel guilty? That maybe he'd at least try to let her down gently? Lucien was silent on the other end for a beat before he finally said, "Calliope, I think you deserve the truth now. I never loved you... not that way. It's always been Angelina. Only her." "I used to think maybe love would grow between us, like we could learn to make it work. But then just now... Angelina nearly got hurt. In that moment, I knew. I can't lose her. I can't have anything around her that could hurt her or shake her peace. I have to eliminate every threat. Calliope, I'm sorry, but I can't lie to you-or myself-anymore. I love her. And no matter what happens, I'm not letting her go." Eliminate. That's the word he used. So this is what she was now? A problem to be cleared out? That one word made her blood run cold. Her whole body froze. But colder still was the terrifying thought that burst into her mind-fast and clear as lightning: In her previous life, even when Lucien hated her enough to kill her, he never admitted loving Angelina. He always wore that mask of kindness, never let her see through it... until it was too late. But now, this Lucien-he wasn't hiding a thing. He sounded relieved. Like he'd just dodged death itself. Suddenly, everything clicked. What if... what if he had been reborn too? What if that's why he was in such a hurry to call it off and run back to Angelina? Because he got another shot, and this time, he wasn't going to waste it. The thought exploded in Calliope's head, shaking her to her core. All the pain, the betrayal, the helplessness she felt in that past life came flooding back, boiling inside her like lava. If Lucien really had come back too... did that mean he thought he could just hurt her all over again? That, for Angelina, he could treat her like nothing for a second time? Her chest was so tight with rage and heartache, she could barely breathe. She opened her mouth, ready to throw his words back at him- But before she could say a thing, the fury that Eleanor had held in finally snapped. "Lucien!" Eleanor grabbed the phone from her daughter in a flash. Her usual elegant voice was sharp and thunderous now, practically shaking with rage. "Say that again, I dare you!" Eleanor's chest heaved, her carefully maintained face flushed with anger. "You've been in love with that Angelina this whole time? Then what the hell was all this with Calliope for? What about everything you promised when your family came to propose? Was all that just a game to you?" Her voice trembled with emotion, each word forced out with barely-contained rage. "Lucien! What has the Godfrey family ever done to wrong you? What part of my daughter isn't good enough for you? How could you treat her like some kind of fool?! If your heart belonged to someone else, why didn't you just say so earlier? Why wait until the night before the wedding to humiliate her like this, to crush her like that? What do her seven years of feelings mean to you? What about our family's dignity?!" Calliope stood frozen, watching her mother break down. Her heart felt like it had been slammed into by something heavy and sharp. In her memory, Eleanor was always the picture of grace and composure. No matter how unpleasant a situation, her mother never raised her voice-let alone lose control like this. Lucien's cruel confession hadn't just broken her mother's heart; it had crossed a line that Eleanor, as a mother, could never forgive. A blow to her daughter's pride hurt Eleanor more than any insult to herself. On the phone, Lucien hadn't expected Eleanor to be there, much less to lash out like this. He fumbled for words, clearly caught off guard. After a pause, he finally managed to say, "Mrs. Carmody, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I let Calliope down. I let your whole family down. I'll make it up to you-whatever you've lost, I'll compensate twice over..." "Compensate? And what exactly are you going to give her to make up for wasting her youth and playing with her feelings?" Eleanor was shaking, every nerve on edge, about to explode all over again. "Mom," Calliope suddenly stepped in, voice strangely calm. She gently held her mother's trembling hand, giving her a reassuring look before taking the phone. "Lucien, I heard your apology. I'm agreeing to call off the engagement." Her calmness made the silence on the other end even heavier. Without giving him room to speak again, she continued, her tone unwavering, "From now on, you go your way, I'll go mine. We're done here. And please, keep your new love, Angelina, far away from me." Without hesitation, she ended the call. Eleanor looked at her daughter's serene face and felt her heart ache all over again. She pulled Calliope into a tight hug, her voice choked, "Sweetheart, it's okay to cry. You don't have to hold it all in when you're with me..." Calliope sank into her mother's arms, her eyes stinging, but she forced the tears back down. Now wasn't the time to cry. If Lucien had relived events like she had, then things might already be heading down a dangerous path. She needed her mother to see through some people, to protect what belonged to the Godfreys. She slowly pushed away from her mother, her eyes clear and steady, maturity in her gaze that didn't match her age. "I'm not wasting tears on someone like him, Mom. He's not worth it." She squeezed Eleanor's hand firmly. "Right now, we've got more important things to handle." Eleanor looked back, puzzled. Lowering her voice, Calliope leaned close and spoke seriously, "Mom, don't you think it's a bit too convenient that Angelina's been living with us this past half year?" Eleanor blinked. "What do you mean? That poor girl's had a rough life... Her mom was my good friend for years-" "You can never really know someone's heart, especially when money's in the equation," Calliope interrupted, her gaze sharpening. "Money?" Eleanor frowned, still confused. Calliope inhaled deeply, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mom, find someone reliable, a professional auditor maybe, and go through Dad's recent financial dealings, especially anything unusual-big transfers, foreign accounts..." She paused before adding, "I heard there might be some trouble with Dad's company's funds..."