The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 283

Liora’s POV

I turned back to Zane and folded my arms. “Not interested.”

“Aw, come on, Liora.” He jogged to catch up with me as I started walking away. “Just hear me out.”

“I heard you out yesterday, and you thought it would be funny to blackmail me over something that was difficult for me to open up about. So no, I don’t think I will.”

“That wasn’t blackmail. That was… negotiation.”

I shot him a glare over my shoulder. “Call it whatever you want. The answer is still no. Asshole.”

Zane grabbed my wrist, stopping me. His expression had shifted from playful to something almost desperate. “Liora, please. I’m serious about this. My parents are going to disown me if I don’t find a mate soon, and I really don’t want that to happen.”

“Then find an actual mate. Not a fake one.” I yanked my arm away.

“I really need to pass that test, Liora.”

I stared at him for a long moment. He looked worried, which was rare for Zane. Usually, he was the last person to show that kind of emotion. Which meant that it was probably really important.

An idea suddenly occurred to me.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll tutor you for the retake. But in exchange, you have to keep my secret. No fake relationship. Just tutoring.”

Zane stared at me. He opened his mouth, then closed it. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head, trying to decide which was more important: passing the test or having a fake relationship.

Then, he grinned. “I have a counter-offer.”

“Of course you do.” I rolled my eyes and went to leave again, but he stopped me once more, this time caging me against the wall. I folded my arms and glared up at him.

“I’ll keep your secret and help you convince the principal to let you retake the field test,” he murmured, voice low so only I could hear, “if you tutor me and agree to a fake relationship. Just for one month. One date a week. Four dates.”

“Tonight?!” I blurted out. “That’s too soon. I haven’t even—”

“Can’t waste any time,” he said, already backing away. “My parents are visiting this weekend, and I need to show them I’m making progress. See you at seven!”

…

Callum’s POV

“I’ll pick you up for our date tonight.”

The words hit me harder than they should have. I’d been hiding behind the corner, straining to listen to what they were saying. I felt like a fool for even doing it, like some kind of lovesick schoolboy, but I couldn’t help it. I hadn’t heard much.

But then I heard that.

So she was dating Zane. Actually dating him. Not just messing around or whatever it was they’d been doing all semester.