Watching her mother, Eleanor, get humiliated to the point her face went pale, Calliope felt like something had clenched her heart in a death grip.

Without thinking, she stepped forward, grabbed her mother's icy arm, and protectively pulled her to stand behind her. Lifting her chin, her gaze locked onto Lucien-he looked calm, but she knew he was the one pulling all the strings.

"Lucien," she said, voice sharp as a blade, "does it feel good? Throwing away your fiancée who gave you seven years of her life, dragging her family's dignity through the mud, all just to play out your epic love story with Miss Miller? Real classy move."

Lucien felt a strange jolt under that cold stare-something uneasy stirred in him.

The Calliope standing in front of him was nothing like the sweet, dependent girl he used to know.

"Calliope! Hate me if you must, curse me all you want. But don't take it out on Angie. This... all of this was my choice. I messed up. If you need to blame someone, it should be me."

When she heard that, Calliope actually laughed-it was cold, sharp, and completely void of warmth. "Wow. You really think you're that important, huh? Honestly, I just feel gross. Gross that I was ever blind enough to think you were someone I could trust with my life. Let me be crystal clear-Lucien, even if none of this drama went down today, I wouldn't have gone through with that wedding anyway."

"What?" Lucien completely froze. The grief and guilt he'd carefully rehearsed were instantly wiped from his face, replaced by shock.

He had imagined her crying, yelling, maybe even losing it. But this? This calm, indifferent coldness? This wasn't part of the script.

An absurd, intrusive thought hit him like a truck.

Did Calliope... come back in time, too?

No way. That's ridiculous. And yet-if not, how else could she seem like a totally different person?

Lucien stared at her, searching her face, desperate for any sign that could explain this unrecognizable version of her.

Right then, Angelina, who had been hiding behind Lucien the entire time, finally stepped forward, like she'd barely mustered the courage.

Her eyes welled up with tears in an instant, her voice choked as she said, "Calliope... I'm so sorry. It's all my fault, I know. I get that you probably don't want to hear a word from me right now, but I really value the bond we had like sisters. I never wanted to hurt you... really."

She reached out a hand, trying to grab Calliope's, her posture pitiful and full of guilt.

But Calliope didn't even bat an eye-completely acting like Angelina didn't exist.

That kind of cold shoulder hurt more than any insult. Angelina's hand froze awkwardly mid-air as her face flushed and paled over and over.

"Calliope!" Jonathan finally snapped, his temper flaring again the moment he saw his beloved Angelina being ignored. "How could you be so rude?! She's apologizing to you out of kindness-you call this a proper attitude? Is this what I've taught you?!"

"That's enough, Jonathan!"

Eleanor moved immediately, stepping in front of her daughter protectively. Her back straightened, gaze sharp as a blade, locking directly onto her husband.

"My daughter doesn't need your discipline-especially not for the sake of someone who isn't even family. I've heard enough of your crap today. She doesn't belong here. Not in my home. Not around my daughter. Not while I'm still breathing."

Eleanor turned her eyes on Angelina, whose face had gone ghostly pale. Though her fingers trembled, they pointed firmly toward the door. "Angelina, our home's too small to accommodate someone like you. Out of respect for your mother's memory, I'm giving you a shred of dignity-leave. Now."

With that, she didn't even glance at Jonathan, whose face had gone completely dark. Instead, she called out in a commanding tone to the maids standing in the living room corner: "Dorothy! Lisa! Go pack Miss Miller's things. Show her the door!"

"Eleanor, don't you dare!" Jonathan yelled, trying to stop her.

Eleanor stared straight back, full of defiance. "I've been your wife for twenty-three years. Raised your child, kept this home, never once let you down or disrespected the Godfrey name. And what do I get today? This? You humiliate me and hurt our daughter. If we no longer matter to you, then I don't owe you any more loyalty or face."

When she finished, she never looked at Jonathan again. Her eyes stayed fixed on the staff, her voice snapping like a whip. "Dorothy, go now. And I dare anyone here to get in my way."

Dorothy bowed slightly. "Yes, Madam."

She led a few maids around Lucien and headed straight upstairs.

Lucien pointed at Eleanor, fuming. "You-you're being completely unreasonable!"

But in front of Eleanor, who was obviously pissed, his anger still lost a few notches.

He didn't dare push things too far with her.

Not long after, the maids came back down with an armful of fancy boxes and bags, dumping them right at Angelina's feet.

Eleanor pointed at the pile and snapped, "Take your stuff and get out!"

Angelina's eyes instantly welled with tears, and they started falling uncontrollably.

She looked like the typical pitiful heroine in a soap opera, as if the Godfreys were the villains bullying her for no reason.

Lucien immediately pulled her behind him.

"Mrs. Carmody, this is really unnecessary. If you don't like her, fine-I'll take her and go."

He paused, glancing at Calliope. "I owe you an apology for today. But I'm not changing my decision."

Then he tightened his hold on Angelina's hand. "If I've chosen someone, I won't let go."

He turned around, pulling Angelina along without looking back.

"This got out of hand..." Jonathan sighed, looking conflicted, and hurried after them.

"Lucien, Angelina, wait!"

Angelina stopped and turned around to Jonathan, her eyes still glistening. "Mr. Godfrey, I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble."

Jonathan's heart ached a little seeing her like that. "Don't say that. This isn't your fault."

He leaned in closer and spoke softly, "Angelina, don't forget our deal. Be at the company on Monday. The Technical Director position is still waiting for you."

Angelina nodded gently. "Okay, Mr. Godfrey. I won't forget. Thank you."

Just as Lucien and Angelina stepped out of the Godfrey mansion, another clatter came from behind them.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Those bags and boxes got tossed out again.

A few of the fancy boxes even popped open, and their contents spilled all over the place.

Angelina turned to look at the jewelry and accessories she'd cherished over the past six months, now strewn across the ground like they were trash. Her expression twisted with hurt and embarrassment.

Lucien gave the mess a quick glance, pulled her into his arms, and said in a low voice, "Forget it. Whatever you need from now on, I'll get it for you. We don't need any of that junk."

In the living room.

Eleanor held Calliope in her arms, tears streaming down her face in silence.

"Callie, it's all my fault. I should've known better. I brought all this pain upon you... I'm sorry, sweetheart..."

Calliope gently patted her mother's back, motion calm yet comforting.

Compared to Lucien's betrayal, what really crushed her mother's heart this time... was probably Angelina's.

After all, she had truly cared for Angelina over these past months.

"Mom, don't blame yourself. This isn't on you. Some people are just born heartless. No matter how well you treat them, it's never enough."

Just then, Jonathan walked in with a grim face.

He didn't so much as glance at the mother-daughter pair and snorted before heading straight into the study.

"Mom, did you notice something off about Dad today?" Calliope suddenly asked.

"He's probably just trying not to offend Lucien," Eleanor replied, trying to excuse him, though her words lacked conviction.

Calliope let out a dry laugh.

Her father came from modest roots-everything they had today, they owed to her mother's family.

Even after all those years in business, his small-minded ways never changed.

But Calliope always felt like there was more to him than met the eye.

"Mom," she said quietly, "even if Dad wanted to stay on Lucien's good side, would he really turn a blind eye to his own daughter and take some outsider's side?"

Eleanor stared at her daughter, stunned.

Calliope took her mother's slightly cold hand, her voice low and serious. "Just... keep an eye on him, okay? Especially when it comes to money. House expenses, company finances-look into them more. No matter what, make sure you have a little saved up for yourself. Just in case."

Eleanor wasn't naïve.

Calliope's words weren't subtle anymore.

Thinking back to her husband's odd behavior lately, combined with how he usually acted...

Eleanor suddenly felt short of breath, like her chest was tightening.

"Callie, I hear you," she said hoarsely.

Back in her room, Calliope locked the door.

The will her grandfather had left her stated that she owned part of Stellar Group's shares.

But it came with strings attached-until she turned twenty-five, if unmarried, her parents would manage it jointly; if married, she'd get direct control over forty percent.

In her past life, she'd married Lucien tomorrow-and with that, gained control over the company.

But now? The wedding was off. Lucien-obviously no longer qualified.

So, if she wanted to keep her inheritance safe from Jonathan and Lucien, she had to find a solid marriage candidate. Fast.

With that in mind, she pulled out her phone and opened her chat with Olivia Fletcher.

[Hey Liv, you there?]

As soon as she sent the message, Olivia called.

"Callie!" Olivia's voice was practically boiling with gossip energy. "Someone in the group chat said Lucien showed up at your place to call off the wedding and now he wants to marry that chick Angelina who's staying with you?? Is that true?!"

"Yeah," Calliope sighed and rubbed her temples. "It's true."

"No freaking way!" Olivia exploded, "Did he lose his damn mind? He dumped you - smart, gorgeous, the real deal - for that manipulative little angel act? Seriously, is he blind?"

"I told you right from the beginning, didn't I? That guy may look all put together, but he's just smooth on the surface-totally shady underneath. You didn't believe me!"

Olivia was clearly furious, rattling off curses like a machine gun.

Calliope listened, eyes growing misty.

Yeah... if she'd just listened to Olivia back then-just once-would things have turned out so differently?

Well, thank god fate gave her a second shot. This time, she wasn't going to waste it.