The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 489

Chapter 489 

Liora’s POV 

Mrs. Oakes didn’t slow down until we were halfway across the building, moving at a pace that had me struggling to keep up with her given the state I was in. The hallway lights felt too bright after the dim candlelight of the banquet, and the tiles of the floor suddenly felt like a maze. I had to keep a hand on the wall just to keep from collapsing. 

Finally, she pushed open a door near the end of the corridor and pulled me inside. It was a small sitting room, the kind used for faculty meetings or private consultations. Two chairs, a low table, a lamp in the corner. She shut the door behind us and whirled on me. 

“Why did you sign up for the combat discipline when you know how dangerous it is?!” 

I blinked. “What?” 

“The tournament. Combat.” Her voice was sharp. “Of all the disciplines available, you chose the one that puts you directly in Bianca’s line of fire. How could you do something so… so… reckless?” 

“Reckless?” I blurted out. “I thought you were the one who signed me up!” 

“I beg your pardon?” 

“My name was on the list already. When I went to change my discipline, they said no changes were allowed. I figured you signed me up. That you had a plan.” 

Mrs. Oakes looked at me for a long moment. I looked back. The realization seemed to hit us both like a freight 

train at once. 

“I didn’t sign you up,” she said quietly. 

The room went quiet except for the faint sound of the music and voices drifting down the hall from the banquet. 

“Then who did?” I asked. 

She pressed her lips together. “I don’t know.” 

I looked at the floor, trying to organize my thoughts, which kept sliding around like a baby deer on ice. I ran my hand over my braid and sank down into the chair behind me, burying my face in my hands. 

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