The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 157

Liora’s POV

I turned abruptly, staring at Callum with wide eyes. His gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, guiding the car through the winding landscape with ease, but his jaw was set in a firm line and his expression was completely serious.

“You… believe me?” I whispered.

I almost thought I was dreaming. No one believed me; sometimes, I wasn’t even totally sure if Mia, my best friend, believed me. But Callum said he did.

He nodded. “I do. And…” He glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes. “I’m sorry this is happening to you.”

My throat bobbed. I wasn’t sure what to say to that. What was there even to say?

But I had to admit that it did feel sort of nice to know that I didn’t have to defend myself with one person, at least. Callum, of all people, believed my story. It didn’t mean that he thought Bianca had been the one behind it, but it had to mean something.

As I thought that name—Bianca—my stomach sank again. I felt the weight of my phone in my pocket as if it had grown heavier just in a moment’s time.

Bianca was cheating on Callum.

It was no secret to me that their relationship wasn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows. Callum was no idiot; he knew exactly how cruel and abrasive Bianca was. He had made it pretty clear that night in the library that he was only doing it because he had been told that he had no choice.

But he still wore that ring on his finger. She was still supposed to be his wife one day.

And right now, she was with another man in a motel room doing who-knows-what.

As Callum pulled up to campus, I made a decision. He had been kind to me tonight—kind when so many other people hadn’t been that way. And if I had been in his shoes, then I would want to know. Gods, I would want to know.

Callum pulled into the parking lot and stopped by the back door to let me out. But I didn’t get out. I slipped my phone out of my pocket and turned to him.

“Callum, I have to show you something.”

He lifted a brow. “What is it?”

I took a deep breath and began tapping on my phone screen. “I wasn’t just out walking earlier. I spotted Bianca doing something…” I sighed and held out my phone. “Here. Just look for yourself.”

Frowning now, Callum took my phone and studied the grainy, blurry image that was on the screen. I bit my lip, remaining silent, waiting for him to speak first.

When he did, his voice was tight. “The fuck is this?”

I took my phone back. “I’m so sorry, Callum. I didn’t think—”

“I gave you a ride home, I told you I believed you when no one else would, and this is how you repay me?” He grit his teeth. “You’re claiming that Bianca, what? Went to a motel and cheated on me?”

“Yes, Callum. I am. I saw her embrace this guy and go into the motel. I overheard her on the phone saying that you would be back soon and that it needed to happen ‘quickly’.”

Callum’s jaw tightened. “So you followed her.”

I didn’t want to tell him what I’d truly done. I couldn’t. But it didn’t matter; my silence told him all he needed to know.

“That’s not real. You’re full of shit—trying to sabotage my relationship. Get out of my car.”

“Callum—”

“Get. Out. Of. My. Car.”

His voice was low and dangerous. I wanted to stay and argue, but the hateful look in his eyes made my chest turn to ice. When I didn’t move, he huffed hotly, reached over my lap, and opened the door for me.

The guy hesitated, eyes widening at the mention of her name. I took that as my answer, and with a guttural growl, I shoved my way into the room.

“Woah—hey!” the guy said, holding up his hands as he stumbled backwards against the bed. “What the fuck, man? I-I’ll call the police.”

“No need. I just need to take a look around.” I was furious with him, but my gripe wasn’t with him—not really. If Bianca was here, then she would be the one to pay.

But as I looked around, I didn’t see her. The bedsheets were rumpled, both pillows seemingly having been used, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. I didn’t see any women’s clothes anywhere. The bathroom was empty. On the surface, it seemed that this guy was sleeping here alone.

And yet, as I sniffed the air, I swore I could smell the faint scent of women’s perfume. I whirled on the guy, eyes flashing.

“Where is she?” I snarled.

He kept his hands raised. “I-I don’t know who you’re talking about, man. Y-You must have the wrong room.”

“No. This is definitely the right room. I saw pictures. Pictures of you, with my girlfriend, entering this room.” Those pictures instantly seared themselves in my mind; I had made special note of the room number. 113. This was definitely it.

But she really wasn’t here. For all I knew, the perfume was just the lingering scent of another guest who had used this room last.

Mortification suddenly washed over me, hot and sharp. Even if Bianca was cheating on me, what the fuck was I doing? Humiliating myself by starting shit in the middle of the night like a loser, that’s what.

I passed my hand over my face and turned to the guy, who was slowly reaching for his phone.

“I’m sorry,” I said, reaching into my wallet. I pulled out all the cash I had on me and tossed it into his lap. “Just… forget this happened.”

The guy didn’t answer, too frozen in shock to say anything. It didn’t matter, anyway.

With what dignity I had left, I turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind me.