Calliope blinked, a little startled that Nadav had been the one behind Livya’s ominous words at the wedding. “Because I like Brice. He isn’t a terrible person. Please don’t judge him based on his reputation.”

“I just wanted you to be careful,” Nadav said reasonably. “An older, more experienced boy like him, he might take advantage—”

“But, Daddy, Calliope is plenty experienced. If anyone was taking advantage, it was her,” Livya cut in, and turned sweetly to Calliope. “You’re sleeping with Brice because he’s rich, right? But then, you learned from the best. Like mother, like daughter—”

“I’m not sleeping with him—” Calliope interjected, her hands balling into fists at her sides; but Livya just talked louder, almost shouting to be heard over her.

“I always suspected that you were a liar, and now I have proof! You’re a lying gold digger, and I bet your mom is too!”

“What are you talking about?” Calliope asked, even as her stomach somersaulted in fear. Where was her mom?

Livya smirked. “Calliope, I was so inspired by your devotion to the hospital that I decided to make a donation in your honor, to the children’s wing.”

Calliope felt a cold dread gathering in her stomach.

“But when I called the hospital to make a donation, they had no idea who you were.” Livya feigned confusion. “They had no record of all your countless volunteer hours.”

Nadav frowned. Light from the windows streamed in great thick bars over the curlicues of the carpet, over the salt and pepper of his hair. “Calliope,” he said heavily. “All those times you said you were going to the hospital, where were you really going?”

Livya cut in. “To go meet up with Brice! She’s been putting on an act this whole time, don’t you see? She doesn’t care about philanthropy at all!” She rounded on Calliope. “I always thought there was something fishy about you. And it turns out I was right.”

Calliope didn’t argue, because for once, she couldn’t think of a lie to tell.

“What’s going on out here?” Elise glided calmly into the living room. She was wearing a simple white shirt with lace detail at the throat, making her look innocent and girlish. Calliope felt a measure of relief at the sight.

If anyone could fix this situation, it was her mother. There had never been a person alive, man or woman, that Elise couldn’t calm down. She was the world’s greatest living expert on bending people to her will.

“Elise,” Nadav said, and Calliope knew what was coming: He would punish Calliope, deprive her of whatever remaining freedoms she had, and she would never see Brice again. Fine, she could take it; she would take any abuse right now to spare her mom. Calliope squared her shoulders and lifted her head, ready to plead for forgiveness.

She never expected what Nadav said next.

“Have you been lying to me?” He was looking not at Calliope, but at her mom.

Elise hesitated—only for an instant, but a crucial one, because in that instant her face revealed the truth. “What do you mean?”

“Were you honest with me about who you are? About your past? Or were you telling me what you thought I wanted to hear?”

Calliope saw her mom teeter uncertainly on the edge between a lie and the truth. She landed on the truth.

“I—I may have exaggerated our charity work,” she stammered. “We didn’t travel the world as roving philanthropists.”

“So you moved here directly from London?” Nadav asked.

Elise was trembling. “We did travel the world for a few years. We just weren’t volunteering.”

“What were you doing, then? How were you supporting yourselves?”

Elise looked stricken. What they had been doing was shopping, eating at expensive restaurants, staying at the very top hotels, treating themselves to every creature comfort they could get their hands on. And they funded all of it by tricking people out of their money.

“We were seeing the world,” Calliope explained. “My mom showed me all the historical and cultural sights, taught me to appreciate diversity.”

Nadav ignored her. His eyes were still on Elise. “You made up all those years of volunteer work? Why? Was it just about the money?”

“Of course not!” Elise stepped forward to put a hand on Nadav’s arm. He recoiled as if scorched.

“You’re telling me you saw me at that party and lied about who you were because of my wit and personality? My money had nothing to do with it?”

Elise flushed. “Okay. I would be lying if I said the money wasn’t part of it—”

“Part of it?” he said, caustically repeating her words.

“That was only at the beginning! Everything is different now! I love you,” she persisted, “so much. I had no idea that I could ever love someone this much.”

“How am I supposed to believe anything you say?” Nadav’s voice was very cold and deliberate, and it was far more terrifying than if he had shouted. “You just admitted that you were lying to me about who you are.”

“I wanted to be someone you might fall in love with! Someone worthy of your love! I was afraid that you wouldn’t love the real me. Don’t you see?” Elise cried out. “Your love has actually made me better. I’m becoming that person, the woman you fell in love with. I’m right here.”