Chapter 76
Tom was finally out of the picture, but now she had to figure out how to get her hands on that $100,000.
She leaned against the bathtub, staring at the bubbles floating around her, her mind racing. Who could she ask for that kind of money? The first person that came to mind was Jack. Without wasting any time, she grabbed her phone and dialed the Gray family's number. Grace picked up, sounding icy. "Let me talk to my dad. It's important."
"Why can't you talk to me? What's so urgent between you two?" Grace was clearly annoyed, but before she could finish, Jack took the phone. "Calliope, what's up?"
Grace's grumbling was still audible in the background, but Calliope ignored it. "My stepdad Tom found out and wants $100,000 to keep quiet."
"$100,000? Are you kidding me?" Jack was furious. These people were like a black hole, always wanting more.
Calliope sighed, resting her head on the edge of the tub. "I don't know, but if you don't pay him off and he spills everything, you'll have to deal with the Moore family."
That would be a nightmare; the Moore family wouldn't let him off the hook easily.
"I'll think about it," Jack said after a pause, then hung up.
A small smile played on Calliope's lips. She slipped into her bathrobe and got out of the tub, her long legs catching the light just right.
Sylvester was alone, lounging by the floor-to-ceiling window, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he stared out at the night sky.
Calliope walked out of the bathroom, her hair still damp, giving her a slightly wild look.
Hearing her, Sylvester spoke up, "Calliope, come here."
She hesitated for a second, then walked over and sat next to him. "Why aren't you asleep? Don't you have a busy day tomorrow?"
Sylvester didn't say much, just nodded. Calliope didn't push it, but her eyes were drawn to the cigarette between his lips, curiosity sparking.
She usually hated smoking. David never smoked, and Tom looked awful when he did. But tonight, Sylvester looked oddly captivating with that cigarette.
There was something roguishly elegant about him, a mix of arrogance and mystery.
"What are you staring at? Want to try?" Sylvester chuckled, offering her the cigarette.
Calliope hesitated, then impulsively took it. She was curious about what it felt like.
"Silly girl, that's not how you do it," Sylvester said, his eyes soft with affection as he watched her fumble.
Calliope took a deep drag, and the smoke hit her throat hard, making her eyes water.
"I don't want it anymore, here you go," she said, handing it back.
Sylvester gently stroked her hair, his voice soft. "Good girl, I don't like women who smoke."
"Then why did you let me try?" she asked, confused.
Sylvester took a drag himself, then put out the cigarette. He cupped her face with his hand and kissed her.
Calliope instinctively wanted to push him away; the smoke was too much. But Sylvester's lips stayed firm against hers, the taste of tobacco slowly numbing her senses.
For the first time, she found the smoke wasn't so bad. Her bathrobe slipped open a bit, revealing a hint of her chest.
"Calliope, don't disappoint me," he whispered in her ear, his voice rough and magnetic.
Her heart tightened. What did he mean by that?
"Why do you say that?" she asked, her heart racing.
Sylvester rested his forehead against hers, lifting her chin gently. His gaze was unusually serious. "This is my second time being sincere. Don't let me down again, or I might completely break."
Calliope nodded, half understanding.
Was he talking about Nina? No one could tolerate repeated betrayal.
"I understand," she whispered.
For the first time, Sylvester gave her a gentle smile, and she felt the bathrobe's belt being slowly untied.
"So, be good, understand? You must be obedient." Sylvester untied her bathrobe, lowered his head, and kissed her again, his hand moving to her chest.
The night outside was deep, the future uncertain, but at least at this moment, he genuinely liked this girl, asking for nothing in return.
Calliope wanted to escape, but her body unexpectedly complied, even naturally responding to Sylvester, stirring subtle emotions.
What did this mean?
Had she fallen for Sylvester?
Meanwhile, back at the Gray home, Grace was fuming.
"This is insane! Another $100,000! We can't give it! Absolutely not!" Grace was adamant; she didn't want to waste another penny on them.
Jack looked troubled. "What if Tom exposes this to the Moore family? Would a prestigious family like the Moores accept an illegitimate child? They could pull their investment at any time! We'd go bankrupt immediately!"
"I should have gone to the Moore family! It's a secret marriage anyway. If something happens to Sylvester, no one would know I was married! Dad, you're biased. You thought of a secret marriage for Calliope, but not for me!"
Vivian was also full of regret, seeing Calliope living a successful life. She couldn't be more remorseful. She had intended to push Calliope into a pit, but it ended up benefiting her!
"How can you be so ungrateful? Everything I did was to protect you," Jack said.
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