The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 118

My feet swung lightly over the floor, toes curling against the cool air. “So you found out.”

“Not from you,” she replied, the words clipped just enough to sting.

I sighed, my fingers tightening around my journal. “Sorry. I’ve been distracted. It’s not you.”

“I know it’s not.” She fluffed her pillow, hard enough to be a statement. “I support you, Liora. Through and through. I just wish you’d realize people actually care about you, and it’s only fair to… care a little back.”

The words landed heavy, and I sat there stiff, unsure what to say. “I appreciate it, Mia. Really. You’re my closest friend—”

“Then what’s going on with you?” she cut in. “With Zane? With Callum? One minute you’re going to some dance with Zane, the next he’s telling me you hate him—”

I snapped my head toward her. “He said that?”

“Well, not word for word,” she said with a little shrug. “But… basically.”

“That jerk,” I muttered, rubbing my face like it might erase the irritation. “Look, nothing is going on. I’m not dating anyone. I’m not interested in anyone. I’m on…” I paused, chewing over the words before landing on, “my own mission.”

Mia tilted her head, her expression softening, but only slightly. “One you can’t tell me?”

I shook my head slowly. “Not yet.”

Her eyes lingered on mine for a beat too long, then she leaned back against her pillow, the distance between us settling in like a third person in the room.

“Well,” she sighed, pulling the blanket tighter, “then how was the dance?”

I made a face. “Loud. Too much perfume in the air. The usual.”

“That’s not an answer,” she said, giving me a look.

“It’s my answer.” I shrugged, spinning my pen between my fingers. “You didn’t miss much.”

Her brows pulled together. “At least you could go.”

Ouch.

“I heard Bianca made some big speech,” she continued.

“She did,” I said, leaning back in my bed. “It was… very Bianca. Sparkling, self-congratulatory, probably rehearsed in the mirror.”

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