The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 289

At the mention of Liora’s name, Mia’s face crumpled. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

“I don’t want to talk about her,” she said thickly.

“Did you guys get into a fight or something?”

“Something like that.” She grabbed her cup and downed the rest of it, then signaled the bartender for another. “She’s with Zane now. Did you know that?”

My wolf snarled. I felt my jaw clench, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Yeah. I heard.”

“I told her I liked him. Months ago. And she said she wasn’t interested.” Mia wiped at her face, smearing her mascara even more. “But then she goes and starts dating him anyway. What kind of a friend does that?”

I didn’t know what to say. All I knew was that that took me by surprise in multiple ways; not only that Mia had a crush on Zane, although I suspected it, but also that Liora had supposedly known about it and started dating him anyway.

That didn’t sound like the Liora I knew. She loved Mia more than anything. But maybe Liora wasn’t the person I thought she was.

“I’m sorry,” I said after a moment.

“Yeah. Me too.” Mia slumped forward again, resting her forehead on her arms. “I just… I thought she was different, you know? I thought she actually cared about me. But I guess I was wrong.”

My chest felt heavy. I knew that feeling all too well.

“Callum!”

I turned to see Bianca pushing through the crowd with a bright smile on her face. She was wearing a tight red dress and excessively high heels, and scowled when she saw Mia sitting there.

“There you are!” She ignored Mia and looped her arm through mine, pulling me to my feet. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

I looked at Mia. “I was just—”

“Come on. Let’s get a drink.”

Bianca pulled me away before I could say anything else. I shot Mia an apologetic look over my shoulder, but she still had her face buried in her arms, and didn’t see me. Bianca led me to a quieter corner of the bar and flagged down a waitress.

“Besides,” she whispered, “I’d rather be with you. Don’t you want to spend some alone time with your fiancee?”

My jaw clenched. I really didn’t want that at all. After the whirlwind that this semester had been, I just wanted to be alone for the holidays, holed up in the family library.

But I couldn’t decline Bianca’s request. Not without raising suspicion. Not without putting Liora in danger.

“Sure,” I said, although the words tasted like ash in my mouth. “You can stay.”

Bianca beamed and threw her arms around my neck. “Thank you, baby! This is going to be so much fun.”

I didn’t hug her back.

“Oh. My. Gods!” someone suddenly shouted from across the bar. Bianca and I turned, as did half the bar. A guy I vaguely recognized from my combat class was staring at his phone.

“Liora Belrose is retaking her field exam!” He turned his phone around to show the screen. “It’s being streamed online right now!”