The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 505

Liora’s POV

A laugh ripped out of me, hot and bitter, before I could stop it.

“Nice try,” I said, looking away. “But it’s not very funny to joke about that right now.”

Callum’s hand came over, hesitant, and rested on my leg, right over where my own fingers were splayed—tense, I just now realized, my nails digging into my jeans.

“Liora,” he said softly.

I turned my head slowly to look at him.

His expression was sincere and full of guilt.

I looked at Zane next. He had his head hung in his hands, rubbing his temples.

“You knew?” I asked, staring at Zane. He nodded without looking up, and I turned to Callum again, my mouth opening and closing a few times without any sound coming out. “Wh… Why?” I finally managed.

Callum’s lips parted, but the pain was too much. I shoved his hand off of me and reached for the car door handle, unable to bear hearing whatever excuse he had.

“I need some air,” I said.

“Liora,” Callum called after me as I climbed out into the dark night, leaving his jacket behind on the seat. “Liora! Wait—”

I slammed the car door and stalked off into the night before he could finish.

The forest was eerily quiet, save for the sound of my boots crunching on the ground. I shoved my hands into my pockets and walked deep into the darkness, not even knowing where I was going; just that I needed space, I needed to think, and most of all, I needed to breathe.

The tournament was Callum’s idea.

I didn’t know why it was his idea, or how he had convinced Bianca to host it, or if everything that happened during it was her plan from the start. But I knew one thing.

Zane nodded slowly.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I…” He looked at our feet, our legs now stretched out in front of us, shoes touching. “I thought it was a good plan,” he said. “Crazy, but effective. And we worried… We worried that if you knew, you wouldn’t agree to it.”

Indignation flared hot in my chest. I pulled my head back and stared at him. “I can’t believe you. Or him. That tournament was what got Mia—”

“I know.” Zane’s eyes guttered, filled again. “I know, Liora. Please don’t say it.”

His voice wavered on the last word, and some of the anger evaporated out of me. Zane had just lost the girl he cared for, the one he probably hadn’t even said he’d loved yet even though we all knew he felt it, and I was blaming him for it in a way.

“I’m sorry,” I said, exhaling. “I’m not upset with you. I just… I wish it didn’t have to be like this.”