Chapter 5

Calista thought, 'Beatrice and Lucas really are two peas in a pod. Not just their looks. Even the way they talk, you can never tell what's real and what's not.'

Tristan spoke up, breaking their quiet stare-down. "Calista, it's raining out there. I know you probably blame Lucas for slipping and falling, but don't hold it against him. He's just a kid. I'll have him come apologize to you later, okay?"

Before Calista could say anything, Beatrice got up, shook her head at Tristan, glanced toward the front door, and closed it behind her.

Beatrice fell hard to her knees in front of Calista.

"It's all my fault. I didn't teach him to be careful, and you fell from upstairs and got such a scare... I'm apologizing on behalf of my son. Please forgive him!" she said.

"What are you doing? Get up!" Tristan said in a low, urgent voice.

He tried to pull Beatrice to her feet, but she shook him off and said, "I know you hate me for stealing the man you loved, and now you got hurt because of me.

"My son is still just a kid. He's been coddled at home and doesn't understand what's dangerous. Please, don't blame him. If you want to hit me, yell at me, do whatever you want. Just don't take it out on him!"

Calista stayed silent, absently tracing the old scar on the top of her left foot.

'Funny how all my injuries seem to end up on the left side,' she thought.

Back in the orphanage, after the younger twin beat her up, the older one would kneel in front of everyone, begging her to forgive them, just like now.

But now, she wasn't a child anymore.

Calista smirked, her lips dry and cracked as she parted them.

"What if I refuse to forgive him?" Calista shot back.

"Calista, don't go too far! Beatrice broke her arm trying to save you!" Tristan snapped.

He pulled Beatrice up and protectively moved her behind him.

Right on cue, Lucas's cries echoed from outside. Beatrice broke free from Tristan's grip and threw the door open.

She grabbed Lucas by the collar, dragged him over to Calista's bedside, and her hand rained down slaps on his back, one after another.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Ms. Wolfe, please forgive me," Lucas sobbed.

Benjamin smirked coldly, his lips pressed tight.

"If you can't teach your kid, that's on you, Mr. Calloway. Shouldn't you be the one handling the spanking yourself?" he said.

The sound of slaps came to an abrupt halt as a group of people burst in, kicking the door open from outside.

Ashford scooped Lucas up and shot Tristan a frosty glare.

"Mr. Thorpe, why don't you explain to the Calloway family how Ms. Wolfe, who's been living with you, just happened to run into my son the moment she left your place?" Ashford said coldly.

He gestured to the bodyguards behind him, pulled out his phone, and started playing a video.

Tristan's eyes shook with disbelief as he raised his hand, actually aiming to slap Calista.

Benjamin seized his arm in a tight grip and forcefully yanked it away.

"Tristan, is this your idea of trusting Calista? This was nothing but a coincidence! Or did you already forget how and where you two first met?" Benjamin snapped.

Tristan pressed his lips into a thin line, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

Calista gave a bitter, self-deprecating chuckle. 'Turns out, the trust between us was paper-thin,' she thought.

Their first meeting at the bar was something they used to tease each other about all the time. She could still picture Tristan getting force-fed drinks and looking totally embarrassed.

Tristan's father, Ashford Calloway, let out a cold snort. "Tristan, I let you run wild before, but now you're one of the future heirs of the Calloway family! Keeping a woman like her around is no good for you or the company at all!"

"Are you really going to stand by and watch everything the Calloway family has built over generations go up in smoke because of this bitch?" Ashford snapped.

Beatrice clung to Lucas, who was quietly sobbing, her eyes full of rage, like she could rip Calista to shreds.

"Ms. Wolfe, I know how much you love Tristan, and I've always covered for you with the family. But how could you keep going after my son like this?" Beatrice snapped.

"I even kept your plan to get married overseas a secret! Just what do you want from me? What will it take for you to finally be happy?" Beatrice demanded.

Beatrice rolled up Lucas's sleeve, showing the inside of his arm covered in red pinch marks.

Tristan and Ashford both gasped in shock, completely stunned by what they saw. Ashford went straight for Calista, hand raised to strike her, but Tristan stepped in and blocked him, holding him back with all his strength.

"Ms. Wolfe, please don't make things any harder for me! Lucas is my only son!" Beatrice pleaded.

Still holding Lucas, Beatrice fell to her knees in front of Calista and bowed her head, knocking it hard against the floor.

"You unfilial son! Still standing up for her? That's your own kid!" Ashford shouted.

Calista just stared at the chaos in front of her, emotionless, her eyes fixed on Tristan for what felt like forever.

Tristan felt a chill run through him. He'd never seen her look at him like that before.

The room was full of yelling and crying, but Calista didn't say a word.

Her heart hurt so much it was numb now. The man she loved didn't trust her at all.