A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

Ulysses stood off to the side, watching Calliope.

He couldn't help but notice she had three brothers-and not just any brothers. These guys were nothing like him or his own family. They were taller, more charming, looked like they'd just stepped out of a GQ photo shoot. And the way they treated Calliope? You'd think she was made of glass and spun sugar.

They absolutely adored her.

Ulysses just stared, feeling all sorts of things-none of them great. Especially when he looked at Julius. Everyone knew Julius: the guy was a big deal in show business, the kind of person whose name always got whispered at parties. Compared to Julius, Ulysses was, well... nobody, not even in the same league.

And this Julius was Calliope's third brother? So what did that make Ulysses, her "real" third brother? A distant runner-up, at best.

Of course Calliope didn't acknowledge him. Honestly, if he was in her shoes, he'd probably pick Julius as his brother too. Who wouldn't want a famous, successful brother over, well... him?

It made sense, but it stung all the same.

He stood there, lost in thought, until he realized Quentin and Norton were both staring right at him. They had this presence about them-like they could command a room just by walking in-and now they were heading his way.

They stopped in front of him, looking down their noses.

"You're Ulysses, right?" Quentin said, his tone sharp. "Listen, the Jewell family never really cared about our Callie. That's fine. She's never been short on brothers. She's got us, and that's all she needs."

"Now you've seen it with your own eyes. So remember this: lay off Callie. If you mess with her, we'll make it our business to make things right."

"She's our little sister, and we're crazy about her. We'd never let anything happen to her. We don't care if you're a blood brother or whatever. You don't want her, fine. But don't you dare make her life harder."

Norton nodded in agreement, "Honestly, if Callie didn't have such a big heart, who among us would even look twice at the Jewell family? We've got more money, more style, and let's face it, we look a hell of a lot better on the family Christmas card."

Ulysses knew they weren't just spouting nonsense. Everything they said was true. He'd heard about. Calliope's other brothers before, but he never realized just how devoted they were and how much they cared.

He'd been wrong. He never imagined Calliope had this kind of support.

Quentin and the other two didn't waste any more time on Ulysses. They'd said their piece, and that was that.

Calliope walked past Ulysses

without so much as a glance, sticking close to her brothers. The four of them strolled off together,

ing and laughing.

"Hey, let's go somewhere for Christmas this time!" someone suggested.

"Oh, Julius, I need your help with something! You'll say yes, right?" Calliope's voice had a playful, sweet note to it.

Ulysses heard that. He realized, with

a jolt, that Calliope could be soft and affectionate, just like his sister Lisette. She just never acted that

way around him. She saved all for

her real brothers.

Suddenly, Ulysses felt hollow inside, like a little kid whose favorite toy had just been snatched away.

He numbly wheeled his suitcase to the car and rode home in silence.

When he finally got back, Horatio had already been released from the hospital and was resting at home.noveldrama

A housekeeper helped Ulysses with his bags. He stepped inside, glancing at the walls.

There, hanging in the hallway, was a brand-new family portrait-everyone smiling, everyone together, except for him.

He wasn't in it at all.