The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 223

Liora’s POV

“Liora?” Mia scrambled out of bed, looking between me and the guards. “What are you doing? What’s happening?”

“I’m being expelled.” I couldn’t look at her. I just grabbed my suitcase out of my closet and threw it open on my bed.

“What? Why?”

“Why do you think?” I flung my dresser drawer open and began gathering up my socks and underwear.

“Zane and Callum, too?”

“Nope. They got off on a warning.”

Mia stared at the guards in shock. They didn’t speak. Just watched from the doorway. The one on the left, the younger one, had a flicker of regret in his eyes that was hard to ignore, but it didn’t matter now. He hadn’t stood up for me when it might have made a difference.

“Mr. Alder has been looking for a reason to expel me all semester,” I said, reaching for my sweaters next. “I guess I gave him one tonight.”

Mia sniffled and made a little sound of distress. When I looked at her, my heart cracked. Her eyes were wide and full of tears, and her hands were shaking. I wanted to cry just looking at her, but I refused to give Alder the satisfaction. I turned away, jaw clenching, and stuffed my sweaters into my suitcase.

The sound of shuffling in the hallway made me look up. I saw Amy approaching with her cardigan drawn tight around her shoulders. Behind her was her wolfless roommate, and our neighbors from across the hall.

“Liora’s getting expelled!” Mia sobbed before I could stop her. “Zane and Callum aren’t in trouble, but she’s getting expelled!”

“What?” Amy shoved past the guards. “Why? Because of Marissa?”

“Miss,” the older guard grumbled, “return to your—”

“No!” Amy stepped out of the guard’s reach. “You can’t expel Liora for this! Marissa is alive because of Liora and her friends!”

“It’s not my decision, Miss.”

Bianca glanced at her. “She should have called security. But instead, she went off on a reckless adventure for her own glory, and may have potentially contaminated evidence.”

“To hell with evidence.” Marissa’s girlfriend suddenly stepped into the room. “My mate is alive because of her actions tonight. And what have you done? Nothing, except sit around, paint your nails, and watch as two girls go missing.”

Bianca’s jaw tightened. She took a step toward Marissa. “I made sure everyone got to eat during this lockdown,” she whispered. “You should be on your knees, thanking me.”

“No. I’m not doing that. Not if you’re going to stand here and condemn someone who—”

“It’s time, Miss Belrose.” The older security guard checked his watch. “Let’s go.”

“But I’m still—”

“Anything you leave behind will be packed for you.” The guard took a step closer to me. “Let’s go.”

I took a shaky step back, heart pounding. Mia tensed beside me and grabbed my wrist. The guard ignored her. He took another step forward and reached for his baton. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Miss Belrose. Either way, you’re going—”