A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"Cookies, fruit, soda, you name it. But Calliope never touches any of it!"

"No way, seriously?"

"For real! She just gives it all away. I was lucky enough to get something from her once, an insanely expensive chocolate cake!"

"Yeah, me too! She gave me a caramel latte once, and Horatio was the one who bought it for her!"

"Calliope's so generous! That's what a true heiress looks like. Foster kids just can't compare, you know?"noveldrama

"Exactly. Foster kids can't really fit in at this level. It's all just an act!”

"Honestly, I hope Calliope stays our boss forever."

The room buzzed with gossip.

"And that Lisette's been draining company funds! She should just leave already!"

"The Jewell family is ridiculous, keeping a foster daughter around like she's something special. She's not as pretty as Calliope, not as talented. She can't compare at all!"

"Lisette's so ungrateful, too. The first time Calliope came to the company, Lisette actually set her up! If it weren't for Lisette, Calliope would've never left in the first place!"

"Wow, you don't see foster daughters this nasty every day. Why don't the Jewells just kick her out?"

"For real! Three sons and a daughter, and they still keep a foster girl around? What for?"

Lisette sat quietly in the stall, listening to every word.

She couldn't take it anymore. Suddenly, she shoved the door open and stepped out. She knew if she didn't, they'd just keep talking, probably even worse.

As soon as she appeared, everyone went silent. No one had expected Lisette herself to be in the ladies' room.

They all looked terrified, nudging each other to get out as quickly as possible.

Thankfully, Lisette didn't make things difficult. There were too many of them, and she wasn't about to pick a fight. If she did, their gossip would drown her for sure.

She didn't really care what any of them thought, anyway. They were just employees. If she had the power, she could fire every single one of them.

The ones she needed to win over were Monty and the others. Only if they backed her would she have enough authority to get rid of the ones who hated her.

"It's the Chairwoman!"

Suddenly, a chorus of voices sounded at the door.

Lisette turned and saw Calliope walking in, her heels clicking confidently on the tile.

Calliope barely glanced at her, clearly not planning to say anything.

Lisette caught her own reflection in the mirror, then looked at Calliope again.

She had to admit, Calliope really was more beautiful than her, and she dressed so differently now, too. She looked... powerful.

"Calliope, are you doing this on purpose?"

Calliope blinked, puzzled. "Doing what on purpose?"

"You're deliberately making things hard for me, aren't you? You go out of your way to be perfect, to win over those damn employees just to make me look bad. Isn't that right?"

"I'm telling you, Horatio and the others are going to see through you sooner or later. You're just making people hate you! You think you're special just because you've got a little authority now? I can win everyone's love, but you never will!"

"Even Zelda loves me more now.

You'll never win your mother back!

No matter how hard you try, youet

own mom will always hate you! Face it, Calliope, you're just pathetic!"