The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 226

Another student furrowed his brow. “That’s impossible. She’s a princess!”

Bianca blanched, looking around. “I… I do have the money!” she blurted out. “I just… Um… The lockdown is messing with my bank account!” She suddenly turned to the runner and unclasped the pendant around her neck—my mother’s heirloom.

“Here!” she said, shoving the brooch in the runner’s face. “Take this as payment. It’s very valuable. It should cover everything.”

My stomach dropped. I pushed away from the wall where I had been leaning and took a step forward. There was no way in hell I was letting her pawn off my mother’s heirloom.

But before that could happen, Callum suddenly stepped forward and handed the runner his card. “I’ll cover it,” he said quietly. The runner nodded and swiped the card through his mobile card reader, then printed out the receipt.

Bianca let out a sigh of relief and clasped the pendant back around her neck. “Thank you. I’ll pay you back!”

“No need.” Callum pocketed the receipt and turned away. His jaw was tight, and he didn’t look at me when he passed. I stared at the necklace Bianca was wearing and decided now, more than ever, that I needed to get my mother’s heirloom back. As soon as possible, preferably.

“Atttention all students,” Alder’s secretary’s voice suddenly boomed over the PA system. “Please prepare for the arrival of the royal Gammas, who have been sent by the King himself.”

The students all looked around, murmuring amongst themselves. Mia stiffened. “The royal Gammas are coming?” she asked. She smoothed down her hair. “How do I look? Presentable?”

I nodded, standing on my tiptoes to look over the swelling crowd. My father hadn’t mentioned sending the Gammas. A few moments later, the double doors at the front of the gymnasium opened, letting the morning sunlight flood into the room. Several school security guards entered first, flanking the doors.

“Please be orderly!” one of the guards who had tried to escort me out last night called out. “The Gammas are arriving!”

The students hushed as a group of Gammas in royal uniforms marched into the room.

I smirked, wishing so badly that I could regale her with stories I had about each and every one of those Gammas. Drinking contests gone wrong. Training with them in the rain and the mud. Which ones were having secret affairs with whom. The list could go on.

Just then, Bianca stepped forward, grinning. “Gammas,” she said, spreading her arms wide, “it’s a pleasure to receive you today.”

Oh. This should be good.

Marcus eyed her up and down with that discerning gaze I knew all too well. It was a look he’d given me and probably every single other Gamma in that group on more than one occasion whenever we displeased him. Gray eyes studied her face and her hair, then flicked down to her perfectly manicured hands, and finally, her pink mini skirt and heels.

“Who the hell are you?” he barked.