The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 491

Chapter 491 

Liora’s POV 

“You okay?” 

Callum’s hands were still around my waist, steadying me, and I was still looking up at him with what I could only assume were giant, drunken doe eyes. The cheek Bianca had slapped was probably still red. I could feel it tingling as fresh heat crept into my face. 

I pulled back and straightened. “I’m fine.” 

He looked at me for a moment before he said, “Come on. I’ll walk you back to your room.” 

I wanted to tell him to fuck off. The words were right there, at the forefront of my mind, right along with the memories of him just standing there when Bianca humiliated me in front of everyone. But my head was still swimming and my feet were heavy, and the dorms were still a decent walk away, so I didn’t say anything. I just started walking and decided that if he wanted to follow me, that was up to him. 

Callum fell into step beside me. 

We walked in silence for a while. The lampposts cast amber circles of light on the path ahead of us, and somewhere across campus, the banquet was still going, faint music and laughter drifting through the air. 

By the time we reached the dorms, I had sobered up just enough to manage the stairs without falling. Callum stayed close the whole way up, not touching me but close enough that I knew he would catch me if I stumbled again. I hated that it made me feel comforted for the first time in weeks. 

I unlocked my door. Mia wasn’t back yet, probably still at the banquet. My side of the room was a mess. Admittedly, I hadn’t had much spirit to clean it as of late. 

“Sorry for the mess,” I muttered as I shoved a pile of unfolded but clean laundry off the bed. “I’ve been, uh, too busy to clean.” 

Callum didn’t comment. 

I dropped onto the edge of my bed and started reaching for my boots. My fingers fumbled with the laces, now 

soaked and stained with wine. 

“You need to keep going tomorrow,” he said. “Whatever happens in that ring, please don’t give up. Fight dirty if you have to. Just win.” 

“Zane said to punch them in the throat.” 

Callum’s mouth curved ever so slightly. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but for once, Zane’s actually not wrong. 

I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms around them. The initial edge of my anger had dulled a little, worn down by exhaustion and too much wine and the simple, disorienting fact of him sitting in front of me being kind. But the rest of it was still there. 

“If you have that much faith in me,” I said, “then why didn’t you step in tonight?” 

His expression faltered. He looked at the floor. 

“It’s not for lack of wanting,” he said. “It’s just… standing up to her publicly right now doesn’t help you. It tells her that she still has leverage over us. That I still care enough about you to react.”