A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"No need," Calliope shrugged. "It's not like I'm heading to a dangerous place. This is Capitalton, after all. I'm just meeting a few friends to discuss some things."

"Alright then," Damien replied, knowing well that if he tried to have someone follow her, she'd catch on immediately. And that would lead to a whole different set of problems.

"Just keep me posted if anything comes up."

"Sure thing." Calliope slipped on her jacket, grabbed her purse, and headed out the door.

As her car pulled up to the Myers Manor gates, she was greeted by the sight of Gideon, a rather unique spectacle to behold.

His car was parked by the curb, and there he was, kneeling in the middle of the road, looking like a drowned rat that had spent the night under a relentless downpour. Although, judging by his not-entirely-soaked state, he probably snuck into his car at some point. No one could survive being out in that cold, heavy rain all night and still look as alive as he did.

Because the road was blocked, Calliope rolled down her window.

The security guard hurried over. "Ma'am, I've tried getting him to leave, but he refuses. He said he'd rather die than leave without seeing you..."

"Should I get someone to haul him off, or maybe call the police?" The guard looked like he was dealing with a migraine.

"Yeah, go ahead and call the cops," Calliope instructed.

"Yes, ma'am!"

As the guard went to make the call, Gideon seemed to finally realize Calliope was there. He started shuffling toward her on his knees.

"Callie, I know I messed up!" he pleaded. "Please, don't do this to me."

"I'm begging you, just one word. If you don't want me to get married, I won't, even

if it means defying the whole world!"

"Callie, please, just say something!"

"I know I was wrong! When we got married, it was Yvette's doing. She deliberately sabotaged us because she was after my money!"

"I know I shouldn't have left then. No matter what, I should have stayed by your side!"

Gideon was kneeling there, far from the confident young man he used to be. He looked utterly defeated, with a scraggly beard and an overall disheveled appearance.

Calliope gazed at him, then leaned out of her car window. "Buddy, could you

move? If you don't, I might just run you over."

"I'm not leaving! I'd rather die here!"

"Callie, seeing me like this, doesn't it make you feel anything? I'm sure you can't stand to see me suffer like this!"

Gideon continued to shout, trying desperately to sway her.

Calliope revved the engine suddenly and drove the car straight toward Gideon.

As the car approached, a look of sheer panic crossed Gideon's face. He flinched so hard he wet himself and when he realized he couldn't

move out of the way in time, his heart nearly leapt out of his throat.

The car stopped with just an inch to spare, and the rush of air from the sudden stop sent a shiver down his spine. His legs were shaking uncontrollably, and he had t@catch his breath.

Calliope tilted her head, looking at him coolly. "You've got one minute to get out of

my way, or I'm driving right over you."

"Why do you have to go this far?" Gideon trembled from head to toe. "Callie, all I did was love you!"

"Are you moving or not?" Calliope asked, revving the engine once more.

Gideon scrambled to his feet and stumbled out of the way as fast as he could, barely managing to maintain his balance.noveldrama