Chapter 10
Calliope’s POV
The next morning, I awoke with a beaming smile, only to realize there wasn’t a single dress in my wardrobe fit for the wedding party that evening.
“I’m heading out for a dress, I announced to my brother, who was engrossed in his video games.
“Get me some takeout,” he replied, hardly looking up.
I knew my parents had left early for work, busy preparing for the day I’d eventually take over the family business. Determined to enjoy a little independence, I decided to head to the mall on my own instead of relying
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Chapter
on the driver. Mid–thought, a message from Lucian appeared on my phone–a surprise since I couldn’t recall exchanging numbers with him the previous day.
“Free shopping for you today, Mrs. Lucian.”
A smile crept onto my face, despite my best efforts to suppress it, so I resolved to take advantage of Lucian’s offer. Upon arriving at the mall, I was warmly greeted by the staff, who encouraged me to pick whatever I liked.
As I browsed through the array of dresses, my attention was caught by a familiar figure lurking behind the racks. Our eyes met, and with a smirk, she approached, her pregnancy obvious.
“Well, if it isn’t the runaway wife, Calliope” she taunted.
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Chapt
I met Zephyrine’s gaze with a roll of my eyes. “What do you want, Zephyrine?” Her presence had soured my mood in an instant. “A long way from home,” I added pointedly.
Smirking, she replied, “Unlikely, Calliope. I’m here for a reason. Besides, Thad begged me to join him.”
I scoffed, “Well, don’t let me keep you. Hurry back to your Thad.”
As I turned to leave, Zephyrine yanked me back with unexpected force.
“You bitch! What are you doing in a place like this? You can’t even afford it, and how dare you walk away from me?” she raged.
Anger surged through me, and in one swift motion, I slapped her hard across the cheek, leaving my palm stinging. Zephyrine
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clutched her face in shock as I smiled- vindicated.
“You owe me that and much more,” I said with a grin. “Didn’t you say I pushed you? Perhaps it’s time I actually do everything you accused me of.”
Her eyes widened with fear as she retreated, crying out for security, “Help, there’s a crazy woman here.”
Zephyrine backed away clutching her stomach, while I stood firm, glaring defiantly. “You can’t even take half the crap you’ve dished out to me,” I sneered.
“Wait till I tell Thad about this,” she cried. “He will ruin you! He’s got a huge deal coming up. Once he signs it, you’ll be beneath him.”
I shrugged off her threat. “Why don’t you call
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him right now? I’d love for him to know why my palm imprinted your cheek,” I challenged, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed. “My morning’s quite open. Maybe I should mark your other cheek too.”
Zephyrine ran out crying, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I returned to selecting a dress. She undoubtedly thought I was still the same girl who could be pushed around- how wrong she was.
As I picked out the last dress, footsteps approached. Zephyrine, still in tears,
stormed toward me with Thaddeus, whose expression was thunderous.
“Calliope, what are you doing here and why did you hurt Zephyrine?” he barked.
I calmly walked over to him, and before anyone could intervene, I slapped him hard
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across the face. He staggered back.
“What the “Zephyrine began, rushing to Thaddeus.
“Don’t you ever speak to me like that again, Thaddeus,” I warned, my eyes blazing with
anger.
He looked stunned but quickly composed himself, his demeanor now cautious. “Calliope, let’s talk about whatever this is. I’ve been looking for you for days, please come home,” he pleaded.
Once, those words would have made my heart leap. They were the same ones he used when we got married. But now, they meant nothing to me.
“I am home, Thaddeus. You need to get the hell out of my city!”
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Thaddeus’s POV
I stared at the woman before me, fiery and fierce, a side of Calliope I had never seen before.
“What have you done to my wife?” I asked her.
This wasn’t the Calliope I knew. My wife was gentle and compliant, never one to lash out. Yet, the woman in front of me seemed indifferent to any connection we once had.
“What wife?” Calliope scoffed. “You’re still stuck in your own delusion. Sign those papers and move on, for heaven’s sake.”
I watched, bewildered, as she turned her back on me and walked to the counter. The receptionist smiled graciously as she
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wrapped her chosen clothes, asking for nothing more than politeness in return; Calliope simply walked away, leaving the
store.
“What just happened?” I murmured in disbelief.
“You messed up, that’s what,” Zephyrine snapped, breaking me from my daze.
I frowned, begrudgingly acknowledging her presence. “See how I was humiliated because of you, I retorted.
“Humiliated? She slapped me!” Zephyrine cried out.
I sighed, pulling her into a comforting embrace. “Calm down, I was just caught off guard seeing her like that.”
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“You were supposed to make her apologize to me, yet you let her walk away,” she accused.
Weariness tugged at me; her emotional rollercoaster was becoming exhausting. I took a deep breath and held her tighter. “Let’s just focus on tonight. We have a big evening ahead, and nothing will ruin it.”
Zephyrine nodded, offering a smile. “After tonight, Calliope will run back to you begging.”
Deep down, I wasn’t so sure anymore. The Calliope I’d faced was unlike the woman I’d known. Yet, I held onto a glimmer of hope.
We left the store and hailed a cab back to the hotel. My thoughts were a tangled mess, trying to reconcile the Calliope I once knew with the woman I’d just encountered.
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“What are you thinking about?” Zephyrine’s voice interrupted my reverie.
I shrugged, “I need to understand what’s going on with Calliope. This jealous streak doesn’t suit her, Zephyrine. Something is off.”
Zephyrine avoided my eyes, nodding slightly. “Yes, of course.”
I pressed further, frowning. “What did you do? What exactly happened the day we left the house?”
Zephyrine started crying again, “I told you everything. Calliope was furious when I woke her up, she pushed me and I fell. The blood in the room was mine.”
I sighed, patting her hair. “Alright, I’m sorry for doubting you. Maybe you’re right, and
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Calliope is simply jealous. I’ll have to talk to her.”
“How will you do that? Who knows what she’s doing back here, Thad? What if she tries to harm me?” Zephyrine worried.
“Calliope isn’t going to hurt you,” I assured her with conviction.
Zephyrine’s eyebrow arched skeptically, “Are you sure about that? She slapped both of us so hard her prints are on our cheeks.”
I cleared my throat, “Alright, then I’ll try to reason with her first, to settle this divorce business.”
“Maybe you should sign the divorce, Thad,” Zephyrine suggested softly.
I frowned. “Why would I do that? Calliope is
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my wife, and I’m not ending our marriage.”
“But she wants it, and she hurt you. Clearly, her heart isn’t in this marriage anymore,” Zephyrine argued.
Admitting Zephyrine might be right didn’t make things less confusing. Nevertheless, I knew I had to speak with Calliope after the event tonight. I could find someone to track her down.
“Maybe it’s time you move on, Thad. I’m here for you,” Zephyrine whispered, touching my arm lightly.
Unsettled by her touch, I pulled away, feeling an unwelcome shiver crawl up my spine.
“Zephyrine, I hope you understand I’m only helping you because you’re my best friend, and I promised your late father I’d take care
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of you,” I clarified.
Zephyrine smiled. “Of course, Thad. I’m grateful for your help, which is why I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Relieved she understood, I nodded. Now and then, she’d make physical gestures that felt strange, and I would remind her of my marital status.
“Don’t worry, I know how to handle Calliope,” I assured her.
Zephyrine stood suddenly and returned with two cups of tea. “It’s cinnamon tea; it calms the nerves,” she said.
I shrugged and drank the tea, but within twenty minutes, an unsettling warmth and dizziness began to overtake me, and the room started to spin.
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“I’m here now,” “Calliope’s voice suddenly resonated in the room.
