The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 149

Liora’s POV

I wanted to explain myself. I wanted to tell everyone that the rumors weren’t true—that I had merely been having dinner with my father and nothing more. And that the panties on the floor were mine, but that someone had stolen them from my dresser. I hadn’t placed them there.

And yet, the words stuck in my throat.

No matter how badly I wanted to tell everyone the truth, how could I? I couldn’t tell them my real identity. And right now, even if I did, they probably wouldn’t even believe me. Not when Bianca was clinging to Callum’s neck and sobbing. Not when all the evidence pointed to me being the King’s sugar baby.

“Well,” cinnamon roll boy said, tossing his empty red solo cup on the floor, “guess the party’s over.”

Everyone else seemed to agree. Before I could even blink, the room had emptied, leaving behind crushed cups and half-eaten food and a space full of lies and hurt. Bianca shot me one last furious look before she yanked on Callum’s hand and led him out of the room, too.

I didn’t look to see if Callum’s expression had changed or if he was still staring at me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see the disappointment that was probably written across his face.

Once everyone was gone, I flopped onto the couch, burying my face in the cushions. I refused to cry, but my chest ached painfully with the effort of holding it back.

I had dealt with plenty of bullshit before, but this? This was more humiliating than anything else I’d endured since coming to this school.

Someone had not only followed me around and photographed me without my knowledge, but had stolen my panties!

I didn’t realize that I wasn’t actually alone until I felt a hand gently touch my shoulder. Looking up, I spotted Mia and Zane standing over me. Zane’s expression was soft but concerned, and behind him, Mia was wringing her hands.

“It’s not true,” I said, pushing myself up to a seated position. “You guys know that, right? You have to believe me. I’m not sleeping with anyone, let alone the King.” The very thought made me want to gag. He was my own father!

It was what everyone else had done. Before I came here, I had never had a true friend. Not really. Yes, I had “friends” in court, but they only ever wanted to be close to me to get things out of me. Social status, money, gifts. Not because they actually liked me.

They were admirers and orbiters, not true friends. Zane and Mia were my first, and although I knew lying to them was selfish, I just… I wanted to enjoy this for a little while longer before everything was ruined.

I felt guilty thinking that way about Zane and Mia, especially Mia, but I had been burned too many times before to risk it. So I couldn’t bring myself to tell them the truth. Not yet.

My silence seemed to be the answer they needed. Zane perched beside me and touched my shoulder. “Want me to handle it?” he asked.

I wanted to say yes, but I shook my head. “No. This is my circus, my monkey. I’ll handle it myself.”