Oliver’s jaw clenched. He was determined to ruin Calliope’s reputation. Blythe smiled slyly. "Oh, I have a plan," she whispered conspiratorially.

Oliver’s eyes lit up. "Excellent! Let's do it your way. She needs to be humiliated, to beg for mercy!"

Blythe nodded resolutely. "Agreed."

Calliope and her friends left the small town after a single day. They checked into a hotel in their new location, and Silas ensured someone watched for Oliver’s group, though thankfully, they remained unseen. However, while checking in, they unexpectedly encountered the Jewell family.

Calliope was surprised to see Monty Jewell and his entire family, vacationing amidst their considerable family drama. Lisette, feigning cheer, greeted Calliope. "Callie! Traveling, huh? That explains your absence from the family holiday."

The other Jewells glared disapprovingly. Calliope’s absence and sale of her company shares clearly rankled them. In reality, their vacation was a thinly veiled attempt to confront Calliope about urgent business, having been unable to reach her after she blocked all their communications. The fact that Calliope's group booked the penthouse suite while they were relegated to standard rooms only added insult to injury.

Calliope barely acknowledged Lisette. "Yes, I'm traveling. So are you. Is vacationing exclusive to you?"

Lisette forced a smile. "It's just… you're a Jewell, yet you abandon your family? What's that about?" She glanced at Quentin and the others. "Family isn't about money. You can't put a price on it."

Calliope laughed, cold and sharp. "Perhaps because they pay me well. Jealous?"

Lisette's face tightened. "It's the holidays. Most people spend it with family, not chasing bigger paychecks."

Calliope raised an eyebrow. "And you? Why not rejoin your birth parents if family is so important?"

Lisette paled. "I'm an orphan. My parents died years ago."

"Really?" Calliope teased. "Funny, I heard you were still sending them money. A neat trick for someone supposedly deceased."

Lisette flushed. How did Calliope know? She’d only recently found her biological parents; there was no way Calliope could have known about the money.

Calliope, bored, shrugged and turned away. The encounter proved more trouble than it was worth. Silas and the others, equally uninterested, collected their bags and headed for the penthouse, leaving the awkward reunion behind.