The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 140

Liora’s POV

“I still don’t understand, Liora. Where did this dress even come from? And how did you learn to dance like that?”

Mia had hardly stopped chattering since Bianca had returned. She and Zane both wanted to know every detail. I wished I could tell them the truth; I really did. Especially Mia. But I couldn’t.

“No offense,” Zane said, leaning close, “but the King hardly even spent five seconds talking to Bianca, his own daughter.” He narrowed his eyes. “Why would he care if a single random student he barely knows is excluded from the ceremony?”

I responded with the exact same statement I had been all night: “I don’t know, okay? Appearances, I guess? Look, I didn’t even talk to him personally; just one of his assistants.”

Suddenly, I spotted movement and looked over to see Callum slipping out through the side door. He looked around furtively before disappearing, and something about it piqued my interest.

“I’m mostly just confused about where you got that dress—”

“I’ll… Be right back,” I blurted out, interrupting Mia. Before she or Zane could say anything else, I hurried away, slipping out the same door that Callum just did.

The door led to a small stone cloister surrounding a courtyard, at the center of which was a babbling fountain with a statue in the shape of two cherubs holding hands. Callum walked over to the fountain and plopped down on the edge, running his fingers through his hair.

Curious, I made my way over to him. I couldn’t stop thinking about his confession when we had been dancing, and now this… I wanted to know more.

“Hey.” I approached him and gestured to the spot next to him. “Can I sit with you?”

Callum glanced up at me with confusion, and didn’t answer right away. Finally, he nodded and scooched over. I perched on the cool stones beside him, and neither of us spoke for a moment. The only sounds between us were that of the fountain and the gentle strains of a violin wafting across the courtyard.

I turned to him. “What really happened last night? With the principal, I mean.”

“Exactly what I told you. I brought him the vial and the earring.” He sighed. “He didn’t believe me. Said you planted everything to frame Jessica and Bianca, and confiscated the evidence.”

My jaw ticked. “Typical,” I muttered, looking away. I wasn’t surprised that the principal would ignore even one of his favorite students just to spite me. I thought back to the day I’d been called to Mr. Alder’s office with Callum’s parents, and wondered if this was related. Probably.

“Where did you learn to dance like that?” Callum suddenly asked.

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