A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"Yvette, what are you doing here?" Gideon grabbed her wrist, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"They said you were drinking too much, so I came looking for you... I couldn't find you, then heard Callie's throwing a birthday bash here, so I came over," Yvette explained, her eyes red and puffy.

"Gideon, you still have feelings for Callie, don't you? If you do like Callie, let's call off the wedding. I don't want to put you in a tough spot."

Gideon released her wrist, shaking his head with a wry smile. "I've never had feelings for her. Besides, she's my uncle's wife now. She's off-limits.'

"But... you and her were perfect together. It's my fault. I messed things up for you," Yvette said, looking down in self-reproach.

"Gideon, maybe we should reconsider this wedding. You should talk to your uncle. After all, he's your family. It's not right for an uncle to take his nephew's girl.

It doesn't matter to me... I can handle a bit of gossip or ridicule. Even if people talk, it won't bother me. I just want you to be happy. Seriously, Gideon, I've thought it through. As long as you're happy, I'm fine." Gideon looked at Yvette, his heart softening a bit.

"Yvette "

Yvette looked up. "Gideon, you've done so much for me. Even though I once saved you, you don't owe me anything. Let's just call it even, okay? As for the promise you made to protect me forever, you can just forget it."

Gideon furrowed his brow. "I made you that promise. How could I forget? I never loved Calliope. Everyone knows she's the one I can't stand the most.

Don't worry. Our wedding will go on as planned! You wanted the wedding to be grander than the one I had with her, and I promised you it would be the best!"

Gideon looked at Yvette, his expression determined.

"Gideon, thank you. You're wonderful!" Yvette hugged him tightly.

Gideon instinctively wanted to pull away. He found himself comparing Yvette to Calliope.

He used to think Yvette was leagues ahead, kind, gentle, and everything she did seemed perfect.

But for some reason, Calliope's face

kept appearing in his mind. He

couldn't shake the feeling that Calliope was more beautiful, that

Yvette somehow couldn't measure up

IMS

He must be losing it. How could Yvette not measure up? Even Calliope's own parents didn't love her.

It must be because Silas treated Calliope so well, giving him a sense of loss, like a child whose favorite toy got taken away.

Yeah, anyone would feel bad if their toy got snatched away.

He loved Yvette. Yvette had saved his life, and he owed her so much. The better Silas treated Calliope, the more he should cherish Yvette to show them that Yvette was the one for him and that she was better than Calliope.

Losing Calliope wasn't a loss. He got no shares but gained the woman he loved.

That night, Calliope enjoyed her birthday party immensely.

It wasn't extravagant, but

iet

surrounded by familiar faces and receiving gifts she adored, it felt like the good old days when Grandpa was still around.