The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 447

“And yet, he is. So perhaps you don’t know him as well as you thought.” Her eyes wandered over me, over the dress that was now stained from the wine Ambrose had tried to force down my throat. “Do you want my advice, Liora?”

“No.”

“I think,” she continued, ignoring me completely, “that you should accept your fate gracefully. Marry Ambrose. Go live at his estate. Be a good, obedient wife and don’t cause any trouble. If you do that, the King might be willing to give you a portion of your inheritance. You could maintain some dignity.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. The sound was bitter and hollow, echoing off the stone walls.

“Dignity?” I repeated. “You think marrying that monster would give me dignity?”

Belinda’s smile thinned out a little. “I think refusing would be unwise.”

“And I think you’re a manipulative, power-hungry bitch who’s using my father to get what she wants.”

The smile vanished.

For a moment, Belinda just stared at me. Her eyes had gone cold, the warmth draining out of them like water swirling down a sink.

“You should watch your tongue,” she said softly. “You’re not a princess anymore. You have no power here.”

“I have more power than you think.”

Belinda’s lips pressed into a thin line. She straightened, then turned to the guard.

“Escort her to her room,” she said. “Make sure she stays there. And take her phone away.”

Before I could protest, the guard grabbed my upper arm again.

I didn’t fight him this time. There was no point. I just let him guide me through the palace, past servants and courtiers who all turned to stare, until we reached my bedroom door.

Upon reaching it, he released me while he opened the door. I turned to him.

“We trained together,” I hissed. “Delta Marcus would be ashamed of you right now.”

“Marcus, please. I need you.”

The silence was deafening. Before, I had at least felt his pain, his panic, an indication that he was there and needed my help. But now there was just… emptiness. Like the link had been severed completely.

Either he was unconscious, or something far worse, something I didn’t even want to consider, had happened.

My throat tightened, tears threatening to spill again. I pressed my hands to my face and breathed, trying to keep the panic at bay.

Marcus was in trouble. Callum was being forced into a marriage with Bianca. My father had stripped me of my title and was marrying me off to Ambrose.

And I was locked in my room with no way out and no one to help me.

I moved to the door and leaned back against it, slowly sliding down until I was sitting on the floor. I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, resting my forehead on them.

Marcus’s knife remained wrapped around my thigh, unused.