A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

Valerian and Horatio were more bewildered than Lisette. The two brothers stared at their phones, utterly gobsmacked by the videos, photos, and messages from the big shots circulating online.

They had always pegged Calliope as a no-good slacker, a total loser. This turn of events was so monumental it was hard for them to wrap their heads around it, let alone accept it.

Wasn't Lisette supposed to be more impressive than her? Wasn't Calliope supposed to be useless?

Even though Calliope was their sister, she had always seemed to underperform, never getting anything right-or so they thought.

And now they were being told that ever since high school, she'd been wooed by the Innovex Scientific Academy, that the nation's top weapons experts sought her advice, and she was tight with national leaders-allegedly even called upon to heal them.

What on earth was going on? Could this be true?

If it was, just how extraordinary was Calliope? How powerful could she be?

"No way, this can't be real," Valerian muttered, his hands trembling as he glanced at Horatio, seeking some confirmation that what he was seeing was actually legit. Horatio, seated in his wheelchair, had long since lost feeling in his legs. Yet, at this moment, he felt as if his legs were about to give out.

Fragments of past conversations with Calliope flickered through his mind-she had indeed claimed to be the Miracle Doctor.

Could it be real?

After all, those compromising photos included some of the top experts from Capitalton's best hospital.

There was a photo of her, the so-called expert, in surgical scrubs, scalpel in hand, intently focused on an operation. She could perform surgery!

Was she really the Miracle Doctor?

So, their own sister, the one they had resented and dismissed, was actually the Miracle Doctor?

Horatio started to laugh, a bitter, ironic laugh. Had the world gone mad?

Valerian could see it-Horatio was on the brink of a breakdown.

But it was Lisette who was more shattered than anyone else. Her hands shook, her face ashen. She had never been so undone. She wished she could take back those photos she had circulated. She had unwittingly set a trap for herself.

Who would have thought these old folks were actually such big deals?

Would spreading rumors really provoke their wrath? Was she in over her head?

What on earth should she do now?

Lisette swallowed hard, her mind racing.

"Lisette, do you admit it? Did you spread these Tumors?" Calliope asked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Are you sweating bullets yet? Didn't see it coming, huh? Those old-timers, turns out

they're a big deal!"

“I didn't!” Lisette frantically shook her head. "I didn't spread any rumors. It's not mynoveldrama

fault if people misunderstood. How is that on me?"

"Is that so? Not your problem?" Calliope nodded and smirked ever so slightly.

"Hope you stick to that story when the cops come knocking."

Lisette was drenched in cold sweat. She glanced around nervously.

Calliope had to be bluffing. The

ta

police wouldn't actually come, would they? It's just some rumors, not federal offense. Besides, her main target was Calliope. She hadn't gone after anyone else.

"Calliope, we're sorry. We misunderstood you!"

"Someone spread lies, and we got it wrong. It wasn't intentional!"

"Calliope, you've been holding out on us. We totally misjudged you!"

"You should've told us sooner. Who knew our school's beauty queen was not only stunning but also so incredibly talented!"