The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 379

“Liora?” My voice bounced off the trees. “Liora, where are you?!”

Nothing. Just the birds scattering from a treetop overhead.

Then, so soft it was almost inaudible: “Cal…lum…”

“Liora!” I moved toward the sound, where the babbling of a creek grew louder. I came skidding to a halt at the top of a small slope, and there, I saw her.

“Liora!” I nearly fell down the hill in my haste to get to her. She was partially submerged in the water, her face pressed against the rocks. The water around her was running pink from an enormous wound in her leg that was still gushing blood.

I slammed to my knees, ignoring the bark of pain up my joints, and scooped my hands under her shoulders. Her head lolled, eyelashes fluttering against her cold, wet cheeks as I pulled her onto the bank.

“Liora.” I patted her cheeks. “Liora, wake up.”

She made a small sound, but didn’t open her eyes.

“Fuck.” I pushed a strand of hair out of my face, and looked around. “Help!” I shouted. I rolled up my sleeves and began to pump at her chest. “HELP! One… two… Come on, Liora… Come on… HELP!!”

“Callum? Is that you?”

“Zane!” I looked up, still pumping steadily, to see Zane come into view at the top of the slope. His eyes widened when he saw Liora laying there, unconscious and covered in blood and mud. “Get the medics!” I said, not that I needed to tell him that, because he had already turned and taken off in the direction of campus.

I wasn’t sure how long I stayed there, desperately trying to keep Liora’s heart beating. It could have been seconds or an eternity.

All I knew was that, eventually, I lost count of each pump of her chest. I looked down at her still face and all I wanted was to gather her into my arms and apologize for being angry and never let go again.

I think I knew, in those moments, how I truly felt about her. Bianca or no Bianca. Baby or no baby. List or no list, contract or no contract.

“Callum.” Bianca suddenly appeared at my side. Her eyes went to Liora for only a moment before they went to me. “I need you.”

“I have to go to the infirmary with her.”

“She’s got Zane and half a million medics,” she growled, grabbing my arm. I tried to keep hold of Liora’s hand, but the medics paid me no mind, and in their haste, they pulled her away from my grip.

“No. Wait—”

“She’ll be fine,” Bianca said. Her nails dug into my forearm. “Your pregnant fiance needs you, Callum.”

My teeth gnashed. I looked at Bianca, and for a moment, I almost told her to cut the act and let me go. But the words wouldn’t come, because she was pale and clutching her belly, and she smelled like vomit.

I bit back a sigh as I watched the medics carry Liora into the infirmary. Then, she was gone.