Chapter 4

Calliope hadn't told her mom everything. In her previous life, after losing both parents, she uncovered something chilling while sorting through their belongings-her dad, Jonathan Godfrey, had started quietly moving a huge chunk of assets overseas six months before he passed. But how could she possibly explain that back then, buried beneath all the financial mess and missing funds, she'd traced the trail to an unexpected name: Rosemary Miller. Her mother's so-called best friend, the one she always spoke of with fondness, believing she'd died years ago from illness. The worst part? Before she could dig any deeper, Angelina perished in a fire, and Jonathan died not long after in a so-called accident. Calliope never did figure out where all that money really went. That's why now, before she pieced everything together, she had to throw up a red flag-make her mom start questioning things. With that in mind, she looped her arm through Eleanor's and headed back to the Godfrey estate. And the moment they stepped into the living room, what she saw made her stomach drop. There was her dad, lounging way too comfortably on the main sofa, slightly leaning toward the side, smiling-a genuine, relaxed kind of smile she hadn't seen in ages. But that smile wasn't for her or her mom. It was directed toward Lucien and Angelina, who were sitting right across from him. Angelina wore a soft-toned dress, face pale with puffy eyes like she'd just cried her heart out. She looked shaken and helpless, leaning gently against Lucien's arm for support. Lucien, meanwhile, had his arm resting behind her on the couch in a way that felt too protective for comfort. His gaze stayed locked on Jonathan, nodding along, as if every word held weight. Then Angelina spoke up, her voice trembling: "Mr. Godfrey, it's all my fault. I'm the useless one who ended up coming between Calliope and Lucien... I don't blame anyone but myself." Jonathan barely frowned, just a twitch at the brow. "Angelina, none of this is on you. You were only targeted because of work. As for Calliope-if she hadn't kept nagging Lucien with all those calls, he wouldn't have been so late, and you wouldn't have nearly gotten hurt. That whole broken engagement thing? She brought that on herself..." "What the hell are you saying?" Calliope felt her mom's hand squeeze hers tighter-fingernails nearly breaking the skin. At Eleanor's sharp voice, the three in the room whipped their heads around. Angelina instantly sat up straight like someone had slapped her. Her face lit up with guilt and panic as she stammered and stepped forward, voice thick with tears. "Mrs. Carmody, Calliope... you're home?" She took another hesitant step forward, teardrops clinging to her lashes. "I'm so sorry! It's my fault-I didn't mean to ruin your dress fitting, Calliope." When Calliope didn't answer, Angelina ramped it up, laying it on thick. "Yell at me! Slap me if you want! I shouldn't have called Lucien for help, I really didn't mean to cause so much trouble..." She let her voice crack perfectly on cue, shoulders trembling like she was carrying the whole world's guilt. And sure enough, Jonathan's face darkened in response. "Calliope, what is wrong with you? You know how swamped Lucien is right now! We're smack in the middle of a critical project, everyone's watching our every move-and you decide to play dress-up now of all times? What's more important, your little wedding fantasy or this family's legacy?" "If Lucien hadn't stopped by work and heard about the incident in time, Angelina could've been seriously hurt. But you? You're throwing a tantrum in a bridal shop? With that spoiled attitude of yours, do you really think you're fit to be anyone's wife? Honestly, Lucien ending the engagement was probably the smartest thing he did." Every word hit Calliope like a slap. She stared at her father in disbelief, stunned that he could say these things without a hint of shame. The man who once treated her like treasure was now trampling all over her dignity just to defend an outsider. "Jonathan!" Eleanor couldn't take it anymore. She yanked her daughter behind her, shielding her. "Do you even hear yourself right now? It was Lucien who betrayed her, ditched our daughter for another woman right before the wedding! And you're not comforting Calliope, but joining sides with someone else to blame her? What kind of father are you supposed to be?!" She stared at him, her voice shaking with disbelief and rage. "Are you out of your mind? What spell did that Angelina girl put on you? Enough to make you turn your back on your own daughter?" "Oh, I'm the crazy one now?" Jonathan suddenly stood up from the couch. His tall frame cast a heavy, tense shadow in the brightly lit room. He didn't even glance at his daughter. All his fury was now aimed straight at Eleanor, like a storm about to break. "Eleanor, think about it. Since you married into the Godfrey family, besides tending to flowers and hosting those trivial afternoon teas, what real contribution have you made to this household?" "When Godfrey Group hit rough patches, who was the one holding it together? Me! I'm the one who carried that weight! And where were you? Other than telling me to ‘take care of myself' and ‘don't overwork,' did you actually lift a finger to help?" Eleanor stared at him, wide-eyed, as if seeing a stranger for the first time. Everything she thought was a part of their bond-those small caring words, the quiet efforts-now sounded worthless dripping from his mouth. All her hard work keeping the household and social circles running, dismissed like it meant absolutely nothing. "How could you say that?" Her voice trembled, her tears threatening to fall, but she gritted her teeth, clinging to composure. "I gave birth to your child, raised her, ran this home, maintained-" "That's enough!" Jonathan snapped, his tone filled with harsh annoyance. "Raised a child? Yeah, and look how she turned out! Selfish, thoughtless, no sense of propriety-couldn't even keep her fiancé! That's your masterpiece after twenty years?" His eyes flicked toward Calliope, who stood frozen, fists clenched, face pale. "Look at Angelina!" He pointed sharply at the woman beside him, who looked all worried and meek. "She's a girl too, but she knows how to behave, how to read the room! And you? All you ever did was spoil our daughter until she's completely out of control. What else do you even do?" This wasn't just a fight anymore-it was a full-on character assassination. He tossed away two decades of a wife and mother's effort like it was trash. Eleanor swayed on her feet, about to collapse, but Calliope rushed over and gripped her firm. "Jonathan..." Eleanor's voice was lower than a murmur, hollow and lifeless. "I've been your wife for twenty-three years. Is that how little I mean to you?" Jonathan may have flinched seeing the emptiness in her eyes, but Angelina's quiet, needy expression only fueled his indignation. He scoffed and looked away. "You know exactly what you are. I've had it with your indecisiveness. What the Godfrey family needs is a woman who can take charge, not someone obsessed with tea parties and flower beds. I only put up with it because of Calliope. But now that Lucien's made the smarter choice, let me make one thing clear-" He paused, eyes sweeping over everyone in the room before locking onto Eleanor, his voice cold and cutting like a final verdict. "From now on, stay out of this family's decisions. And especially don't meddle in young people's relationships-it's none of your business. Just enjoy your status, your money, and stop embarrassing me and the Godfrey name."