The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 430

Liora’s POV

My father spotted me before I could react to Belinda’s presence.

“Liora.” He said my name with a warmth that made my shoulders relax on instinct, and crossed the drive toward me with his arms open. I went to him, and the hug was the same as it always was. Solid, familiar, smelling of that cologne he’d worn since as long as I could remember.

“Dad,” I whispered. For a moment, standing there with my cheek pressed against his shoulder, I almost forgot about Belinda entirely.

Almost.

He pulled back and held me at arm’s length, looking me over. “You look tired,” he said.

“It’s been a long week,” I admitted.

His eyes moved past me to Callum, who was standing two steps back with his hands clasped in front of him. My father’s expression darkened the moment he saw him.

“What is he doing here?” he whispered.

“I’ll explain,” I said, forcing a smile. I gestured for Callum to come over, and he did.

“Your Majesty,” Callum said, and dipped his head in a respectful bow.

My father’s gaze lingered on him a second longer before it came back to me. “I thought I made myself clear.”

“Can we talk in private?” I asked.

My father pursed his lips, but nodded. Then, he gestured to the witch. “You remember Belinda,” he said.

I looked at her. She was standing just off my father’s shoulder, close enough that it struck me as slightly odd. Something else about her struck me as odd, too, but I couldn’t quite put a finger on it. Before I had a chance to, my father took me by the arm and started guiding me inside.

“Let’s talk in my office,” he said.

He didn’t invite Callum.

I offered Callum a small smile over my shoulder. “Make yourself at home,” I said. He nodded, and I followed my father inside.

My father’s study was private and quiet. The moment we were alone, he whirled on me.

“Liora, I was very clear about not telling anyone.”

“No. You are not marrying that boy.”

“But—”

“No buts. Where is the list I gave you?” he asked. I opened my mouth, but I didn’t get a chance to respond before he waved his hand and said, “It doesn’t matter. I’ve selected a new match for you, anyway.”

A new match?

The office felt smaller all of a sudden. I thought for sure that my father was joking, that this was some kind of sick prank. But my father’s face was hard, even harder than I had ever seen it before. It made my stomach twist.

“But… He’s my fated mate,” I said.

“Not anymore.”

“Dad.” I grabbed his arm. “You and Mother have always told me that the mate bond was sacred. That it was the Moon Goddess’s choice, not ours.”

“And I stand by that.” He was very calm about it. That was the part that unsettled me more than anything, the flatness of it. “But Callum is a disowned man with no title, no estate, and no standing. He rejected you and broke your betrothal contact. He has no place in your life.”