The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 349

The common room was bustling at this hour as students rushed around, getting ready for classes. I made my way to the kitchen and threw a bagel in the toaster, leaning against the counter as I waited.

“Callum?”

Bianca stepped into view, appearing out of seemingly nowhere. My jaw tightened, wolf instinctively snarling at her presence.

Ever since the breakup, she had been following me around like a lost puppy, quite literally begging me at times to take her back.

I always told her the same thing.

We were over, and we were not getting back together.

I pretended I didn’t notice her and took my bagel out of the toaster, slathering on some butter. Then, as an afterthought, I put some jam on one side and peanut butter on the other, closed it like a sandwich, and wrapped it in tin foil before turning to leave.

Bianca was right behind me.

She grabbed my arm so hard her nails dug into my skin, and her eyes were as wide as saucers.

“Callum,” she whispered, tugging on my arm, “can we please talk about this? In…” She looked around furtively at the students who had already begun to gather, eager to see more drama. “In private?”

“I’m sorry, Bianca, but no. I already told you my decision. We’re through.”

Her face hardened. “But… But I’m the princess!”

“That doesn’t mean that I don’t have a choice in the matter,” I pointed out calmly.

The morning air was cool and soothing against my hot face as I stepped outside. Taking a deep breath, I unwrapped my sandwich and took a big bite. The peanut butter and jam had melted slightly, turning it all sticky and thin, but it soothed some of the sickness in my stomach.

I walked halfway across the quad, then spotted her.

Liora was walking with Mia, their shoulders bumping. She was laughing, just like she did in my head when my father was beating me. Today, she wore an oversized sweater with the sleeves rolled up slightly, and a pair of jeans tucked into boots. Her honey hair was braided, just as it always was these days. She was toying with the end of it with one hand, her other hand gripping the strap of her satchel.

I froze for a moment, just taking it all in, not caring if people stared and wondered why I was gawking at her like that.

Interestingly, knowing that there were no more expectations of me, that I was now basically homeless and poor and estranged from my parents and no longer betrothed to a princess, I suddenly found that I didn’t actually give a single shit about what anyone thought of me.

Which was precisely why I walked right up to Liora, blocking her path, and said, “Liora, will you come out for lunch with me today?”