The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 198

Liora’s POV

“You got lucky,” Callum said quietly. “It’s actually not as deep as it looks.”

Callum’s touch was surprisingly gentle as he carefully cleaned the cut on my hand with disinfectant. I had taken a shot of whiskey from a bottle that he apparently always kept under his bed, which helped to dull the pain enough for him to work without me trying to pull away constantly.

I looked down at the cut and winced. “Looks pretty deep to me,” I muttered, lifting the bottle to my lips and taking another swig. I clenched my teeth tightly together while he carefully smeared antibiotic cream around the wound.

“Well, it won’t need stitches, at least.” Callum glanced up at me as he recapped the bottle of ointment. “Don’t drink too much of that, by the way. Alcohol is a blood thinner, and I’d prefer it if you don’t bleed right through your bandages.”

He was right. I set the bottle aside and rubbed my hand across my sore neck—I had sustained some scratches, but nothing that required more than some disinfectant and a smear of ointment—and watched him work. He was shockingly good at this, his movements practiced and precise. “Have you done this before?” I asked.

Callum shrugged as he reached into the first aid kit he kept in his bathroom and began to pack the wound with gauze. “A couple of times.”

“Why?”

“Shit happens,” he replied.

I snorted. “Shit does indeed happen.” I found it hard to picture Callum, the guy who constantly liked to remind everyone that he was the leader of the student council, getting into predicaments like this. Not before I came around and ruined his perfect image, at least.

Callum worked in silence for a few moments, carefully packing the wound to stop the bleeding. When he was finished, he began wrapping my hand with a bandage.

“When you jumped in front of the rogue earlier…” He frowned, drawing his brows together. “They said something that didn’t make any sense. Something that indicated that they might have been looking for you instead. And then they tried to take you afterwards.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, wondering how to respond. I couldn’t tell Callum the truth, even if the truth felt easier right now. I wondered if he would even believe me if I did, or if he would accuse me of lying again. Like claiming I was the princess and not Bianca might be another attempt at sabotaging his relationship.

Callum was staring at me, waiting for a response, so I finally said, “I’m not sure. I think they’re looking for someone with similar features to me. Marissa, Bella, and Helen all have the same hair color and build.” I shrugged. “I guess I fit the bill, too.”

I wasn’t sure if he fully believed me, but for now, he didn’t press the matter. Though, he did purse his lips for a moment, thinking.

“Interesting… I wonder who they’re actually looking for,” he muttered.