A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

She'd always misunderstood Gideon. For the longest time, Yvette assumed he came from money. Who would've thought Silas was the one pulling the strings in that family? Now Gideon wasn't even considered an heir. So where was all that supposed wealth, anyway?

Three million dollars. It was enough to make anyone's head spin.

"Gideon, come on, that's enough!"noveldrama

Yvette couldn't help herself. She waited for a moment when Fleur was distracted and slipped over to Gideon's side. She couldn't watch this train wreck anymore. One more hand and they'd have to start borrowing money just to stay afloat.

She'd thought marrying Gideon meant a life of luxury, brunches at fancy bistros, shopping sprees, weekends at the lake house. Instead, she got a front-row seat to stress and overdraft fees. Her dreams of being a lady of leisure? Total fantasy. She was barely holding it together as it was.

Gideon frowned, jaw tight. He wanted to win it back, he really did. But luck just wasn't on his side tonight.

Verity grinned, her voice syrupy-sweet. "Hey, cuz, you don't have to keep playing. But you're not going to welch on your debts, are you?"

Dahlia glanced at Gideon, brow raised. "You do have the cash, right? We agreed, remember?"

Calliope didn't say anything, but she watched him too, cool and silent.

Yvette's face flushed. She blurted out, "Guys, it's just a little friendly game, right? We're family, who's counting dollars?"

Verity snorted. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're tapped out, Gideon! Didn't we all say we'd play big tonight? If you're broke, you should've said so before. You can't just take the winnings when you're up and then back out when you lose. That's not how grown-ups play. Honestly, nobody likes a sore loser."

Gideon rounded on Yvette, snapping, "You have no idea what you're talking about. Just stay out of it!"

Then, to Verity, he said, "I never said I wouldn't pay up. I lost, I'll settle up."

He took out his phone and started Venmo-ing everyone their winnings.

Verity's eyes lit up when her phone pinged. "That's more like it! We should play again sometime."

Dahlia smiled too. "See? Gideon's a good sport."

Calliope got her notification and just nodded, a little smile flickering across her lips.

When the group dispersed, they drifted into the living room, grabbed

some pie and oranges f

the coffee table, and flopped the couches.

Silas got roped into a game of chess with Eamon pretty quickly.

Calliope noticed Gideon glancing at her, and she raised her eyebrows, thoughtful. She shot him a couple of looks.

Gideon noticed right back.

With so many people around, it wasn't the time for a face-to-face conversation, so he pulled out his phone and shot her a text.

Gideon: [Callie, are you still thinking about me? I can tell, you keep looking over here.]

Calliope hadn't expected that. She just wanted to warn him, but somehow he'd completely misread her intentions.

Was this guy for real? Did he honestly think the world revolved around him?

She had to stifle a laugh.

After a moment, she texted back.

Calliope: [You're mistaken. I just wanted to tell you, your wife should probably get checked at the hospital. The baby... well, I don't think it's a good idea to keep it. Something seems off. Of course, it's your call to believe me or not. I didn't look too closely, just a hunch.]

She hit send and figured that'd be the end of it.

But Gideon wouldn't let it go.

Gideon:[Callie, I know you still

about me! You're worried, aren't t

you? You just can't get close

because I'm married, right? But deep down, you still love me, don't you?]

Calliope was speechless.

Honestly, some people just never get the hint.