The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 307

Liora’s POV

We stared at each other for a long moment, too stunned to move. Callum’s eyes were wide, his chest heaving. His hand was still on my waist, warm through the fabric of my shirt, and my lipgloss was smeared across his mouth.

For a breathless second, I almost thought he might say fuck it and kiss me again. End this game we were playing and just do something that he clearly wanted to do for once. Because we both wanted it, obviously. And I was tired of beating around the bush and acting like we didn’t.

But it never happened. He released me, stepping back. He stood there for a moment, glaring at me like I’d done something wrong. Then, without a word, he turned and started walking toward the exit.

I snapped. I couldn’t take this anymore. I was already at my tipping point because of the situation with Mia, and this only made everything worse. I wouldn’t have to be fighting with her if Callum had just chosen me. I wouldn’t have had to hide my identity for an entire semester because we broke our bond and it made my wolf go away.

“Are you serious right now?” I shouted after him, fists clenching. “You’re just going to walk away after that? Without even saying anything?”

He stopped but didn’t turn around.

“We need to talk about this, Callum,” I said. “This is getting ridiculous.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” His voice was flat and cold. “We both have reasons why we can’t do this.”

“What reasons?”

“Like the fact that I’m engaged.” He finally turned to look at me, and the annoyance in his eyes, like making out with me had been nothing but a momentary lapse in judgment, made my mouth go dry. “And besides, you’re dating Zane.”

He walked out before I could respond.

I stood there in the empty hallway, just staring after him. A mistake. That’s what he called it. Just like before.

Was that all we ever were? Mistakes? As if the bond we once shared, despite now being broken, was nothing but a problem to solve from the very beginning? Was he really so blinded by duty that he couldn’t fathom doing something that wouldn’t hurt both of us?

When I finally let go, he blinked at me. “Uh. Wow.”

I didn’t look at Callum. I didn’t want to see his face. I just wanted him to see this. To see me kissing someone else, since he was so keen on pretending that anything that happened between us was a “mistake”. Let him stew in his own juices.

“We should go,” I said to Zane.

“Yeah. Okay.” He still looked dazed.

“Wait!” Bianca called after us. “Don’t you want to—”

“No,” I said without turning around. “We’re done here.”

Zane followed me to his car. The moment we were inside, he turned to me with a grin.