None of them noticed it, except Ulysses. No wonder he''d been acting so weirdtely. Clearly, he''d been hung up on this for a while.

Lisette forced a shaky smile. "Ulysses, I''m actually closer to you guys than to my biological parents. I barely even know them. They''re the ones who reached out to me. I wanted to tell you, I really did, but I was scared you''d judge me... I''ve been racking my brain for how to say it."

"I''m sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn''t have kept it from you! Ulysses, is this why you''ve been so distant? Is this why you''re mad at me?"

Lisette looked absolutely crushed with guilt.

"I''m sorry, really. It''s all on me. I messed up. If it bothers you that much, I''ll leave the Jewell family right now. I''ll pack my bags, and I''ll go. I promise I won''t make a scene."

She straightened her shoulders, bracing herself, and headed for the door, half- expecting Ulysses to stop her.

But he didn''t.

She made it all the way to the front door, pulled it open, and still nothing. Ulysses didn''t say a word.

Lisette walked out, her face pale with humiliation and anger.

He really didn''t try to stop her. He didn''t even nce her way.

She lingered outside the door for a while, hoping he''de after her. But Ulysses never appeared.

Damned Calliope.

Ever since Calliope bbed, Ulysses had been looking at her differently.

Damned Calliope!

Lisette cursed her under her breath as she finally gave up and slunk back to her room, her thoughts a tangled mess.

...

Meanwhile, Ulysses sat inside, frowning. He''d been right about Lisette all along. She wasn''t the innocent she pretended to be.

Their whole family had been wrapped around her little finger from day one.

The more he thought about it, the worse he felt. Lisette had been ying them for fools for far too long. Because of her, their rtionship with Callie had fallen apart.

Looking back, he realized just how many times Lisette had stirred the pot, alwaysing between them and Callie.

But what was he supposed to do

now? If he tried to talk to Valerian, it wouldn''t help. Valerian was already

involved with Lisette and wouldn''t

believe a word Ulysses said.

If he tried Horatio, maybe he''d listen. But was Horatio really seeing things any

more clearly?

And their parents? They''d never

believe Callie. To them, Lisette could do no wrong. No matter what she did, everyone just blindly sided with her it was like the whole family had been put under some weird spell.

The realization left Ulysses feeling twisted up inside.

All these years, Calliope had been trying to repair the damage, trying to bring them back, but they''d all been too far gone. In the end, she''d just given up on them.

met

Ulysses pressed his lips together, troubled. He realized he''d never really talked to Calliope, never listened, only ever scolded her. He didn''t expect her to forgive him but maybe he could make it up to her, at least a little.

He took a hot shower, trying to clear his head.

Afterwards, he waited outside the hotel, shivering in the chilly air. He knew

Calliope and the others would be back soon from wherever they''d been hanging

out.

When she returned, maybe, just maybe, he''d get a chance to talk to her alone.

He didn''t know if she''d want to listen. But he had to try. He owed her that much.