A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"Are you sure you know what you're talking about?" Verity glanced at Fleur, raising one perfectly arched eyebrow in disbelief.

Fleur bristled, her cheeks flushing a little, but she couldn't quite come up with a good comeback.

From his wheelchair, Gideon cut in, "Verity, that's enough. I know whether the kid's mine or not. I wouldn't be raising someone else's child without knowing it.”

As soon as he finished, Gideon's gaze drifted over to where Calliope and Silas sat together. They looked happy, the kind of couple that made other people jealous. Just seeing them together made something twist painfully inside him.

He couldn't help but wonder: what if he'd never gotten tangled up with Yvette? What if he'd married Calliope like everyone expected? Would his life have looked completely different? Would he be happier and luckier than he was now?

Thinking about everything that had happened lately just made Gideon feel even more frustrated. He used to be the golden boy, the favorite nephew, the heir apparent to the Baker Group. Now, thanks to one woman, he'd lost everything.

Not only had he lost the woman he loved, but the woman he was stuck with now, the one he used to be crazy about, he could barely stand to be around her. If not for Yvette, none of this would've happened. His life wouldn't be in such shambles.

Getting back into the Baker Group was almost impossible now. His old job had been handed off while he was recovering. He'd tried talking to his uncle, but all he got was, "Let's see how your legs heal up first."

As the weeks dragged on, Gideon worried he'd never be allowed back at all. He was terrified he'd lose even his job in one of the regional offices.

If he couldn't get back into the Baker Group, who else would take him? No one wanted to risk crossing Silas just to give him a chance.

"Gideon, you can't be so sure," Verity shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You can't get around much these days, and some people, well, they don't mind flirting with their own uncle-in-law, so who knows what else they're up to behind your back?"

She gave a little shrug, pretending to be innocent. "I know it sounds harsh, but I really am just looking out for you here!"

Verity was notorious in the family for her sharp tongue and fearless attitude. She just loved stirring the pot, especially when it came to.noveldrama

Fleur's side of the family. If thine

were miserable, she was happy,

simple as that.

Gideon didn't have it in him to argue with Verity Instead, he shot a death glare at Yvette. After all, this was her fault. If she hadn't gotten involved with his uncle, Verity wouldn't have had any ammonition to start this whole drama.

Fleur, for her part, was furious too. She wanted wette to take care of the baby, sure, but she couldn't help resenting her daughter-in-law for dragging their family's reputation through the mud. Everyone in the extended family knew what Yvette had done. With Christmas coming up, she was dreading the holiday visits, every cousin and aunt would be gossiping behind her back. She hadn't played bridge with the other society ladies in months. Her husband barely spoke to her these days, and the rumors outside were

relentless.

If only Calliope had been their daughter-in-law, Fleur thought bitterly, none of this would've happened.

"Verity, what did I ever do to you?" Yvette protested, her voice tinged with frustration. She didn't think she'd ever wronged Verity. Sure, she didn't like her much, but she'd always been polite enough.

Verity let out a dramatic sigh. "What did you do? I'm just telling the truth. And don't act innocent. You hurt Callie, you hurt me. I love Callie, and I won't just sit back and watch you embarrass the family."

She rolled her eyes at Yvette. "If you didn't want people talking about you, maybe you shouldn't have done something so shameful in the first place. Don't like it? Don't do it."

Fleur finally snapped. "Verity, that's enough! Christmas is coming soon. Do you really want to start a fight in the family home?"

Verity just shrugged, finally going quiet, for now.

Through it all, Calliope sat back, calm and unruffled, as if none of the chaos could touch her.