The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 324

Liora’s POV

“Right now?” I texted back.

“Yes, right now. Usual spot.”

I sighed, glancing out the window. The sun was shining; it wasn’t our usual hour to meet up, and I would most certainly get caught. But it wasn’t like I was going to race again.

I decided to meet Zane anyway, if only so I could tell him about my decision. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice as I slipped outside and through the gardens, acting like I was just going for a stroll.

A few minutes later, I found Zane at our usual spot. To my surprise, though, he wasn’t in his car, but rather standing there on the road with his hands in his pockets and that smile of his that always made it look like he was up to something.

“How did you get here with no car?” I asked, spreading my hands wide as I walked over to him. “Did you shift or something?”

His grin widened. “You’ll see.” He draped his arm around my shoulders and began walking down the road.

“Zane.” I stopped and turned to look at him. “I can’t race anymore. My mom found out, and I made a promise—”

“We’ll talk about that later. I have to show you something first,” he cut me off.

“But Zane, I really can’t—”

“Gods, Princess, would you just come with me?” Zane laughed.

I rolled my eyes but relented, allowing him to guide me down the road. The air was biting cold today despite the sun, and I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. I hadn’t anticipated going for a walk along the roadside today, although now my interest was piqued.

Zane led me toward a pull-off along the side of the road, flanked by trees and shrubs. I spotted something yellow peeking through the bushes. Zane then stopped and turned to me. “Close your eyes.”

“Zane—”

“Fine.” Laughing, he walked behind me and covered my eyes with his hands, then began to propel me forward.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see. Watch your step here. And… there.”

With a flourish, he pulled his hands away from my eyes. I gasped.

The car from last night was sitting in the gravel. In the daylight, it looked like even more of a shitbox. The paint was peeling in more places that I hadn’t noticed before, and the muffler was dragging on the ground.

But it was here. With a giant “SOLD” sticker in the window.

I whirled on Zane, my mouth hanging open. “Zane, what’s going on?”

He smiled and draped his arm around my shoulders again, giving me a squeeze. “You like it? I got it for you.”

“But Zane, I can’t race anymore!”

My friend looked at me. “Wait, what?”

“I can’t race!” I threw my hands up in the air. “My mom found out about it and had a mental breakdown. I promised never to race again.”

His face fell. “But…”

“You have to return it,” I said. “The guy will take it back, right?”

“No…” He scratched his head, looking sheepish.

“We can get it working enough to get you to school by the start of the new semester,” Zane said, grinning. “Then, I figured you and I could work on it here and there when we have free time.”

“Plus,” my father added, “having your own vehicle would make it easier for you to come visit the palace. Your mother and I have missed you dearly. Perhaps once, every other weekend, would be sufficient…”

I didn’t know what to say. For a long moment, I just stared at them both, my mouth hanging open. I must have looked like a fish out of water, gawking at them like that, but I couldn’t help it.

When I made that promise never to race again, I figured I’d also never get to drive again. My father rarely let me drive growing up; there was always someone else who could do it, and I figured it would be no different now.

But this… It was unexpected, to say the least.

And it made me smile. Because it meant freedom. And it meant that my father had been paying attention to my needs, and had put aside his own hangups to my sake.

“This means more to me than you could ever know,” I said quietly.

My father’s expression softened. “I do know, darling.”

Without thinking, I moved forward, throwing my arms around my father. He chuckled, patting my back. Then, I moved to Zane and did the same. He held me longer, burying his face in my hair, his arms tight around my waist.

When we released each other, there were tears in my eyes, although I blinked them away.

“Master Zane, if you wouldn’t mind pulling the car into the garage, we could get started today,” my father said, still smiling.

Zane nodded, grinning, and hopped into the driver’s seat. The car door creaked and groaned as he swung it shut, and the engine sputtered, and the wheels hopped over the asphalt as he drove away, but I couldn’t stop smiling. It was mine. Freedom.

I leaned my head on my dad’s shoulder as we watched Zane drive away. He wrapped his big arm around me and gave me a squeeze. Then, he leaned closer and said, “He wouldn’t be a bad match, you know…”

“Ugh! Dad!” I shoved him away, shuddering, but he laughed. And honestly, I did, too.