The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46

I raised an eyebrow. “You?”

“Okay, no, yeah, he’d definitely body–slam me into next week. But I’d go down looking cool. Besides, he

deserves it.”

I huffed a half–laugh despite myself.

“I just can’t believe it,” he went on. “He’s really going through with it, huh? The whole engagement to Bianca thing? Like… willingly?”

“Why are you surprised?” I asked bitterly. “They’re perfect for each other. She wants power, and he’s just spineless enough to let her have it.”

He nodded off handedly. “Yeah, he’s a right piss off. Sometimes, I can’t stand that guy.”

I looked away.

He tapped the edge of my shoe with his own. “Hey. You should try a remind calm, your face is red.”

“I am calm. This is me being reasonable.”

“You’re eating my pocket–gummies. That is the opposite of reasonable for you.”

I tried to hide my smile, but it slipped out anyway. “You’re not going to let me wallow in peace, are you?”

“Not a chance. Besides whether you admit it or not, all this bothers you, right?”

We sat in silence for a bit, just listening to the wind run laps around the schoolyard. Students filtered out of the main building behind us, voices rising and falling like waves. None came near us, though.

That was the thing about being publicly humiliated, you become invisible and infamous all at once.

Zane leaned over, plucking a stray blade of grass off my jeans. “Can I ask you something without you biting my

head off?”

“No promises.”

He smirked anyway. “Then I’ll risk it. Why don’t you just leave?”

The question hit harder than I thought it would. I blinked at him.

1/3

3:33 AM Thu 2 Oct

Chapter 46

100%

+25 BONUS

“Seriously,” he went on, voice gentler now. “You’re not trapped. You don’t owe this place anything. So why

stay where everyone treats you like you set the school on fire? You don’t… love Callum, you don’t really have a

reason to stick it out. So why?”

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

Why was I still here?

I looked around, at the trees, the buildings, the stupid carved initials on the bench near us. At Zane’s annoying,

thoughtful face. At the sky I saw every day and somehow never noticed.

“I don’t know,” I said finally, picking at a loose thread on my sleeve. ““Maybe because every time something

went wrong in my life, I fought back. Retreating was never an option. I wanted to prove I could stay if someone

says I can’t.”

Zane was quiet for a second. Then, softer, “That’s a lot of pain just to make a point.”

I hesitated, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “Maybe… I thought Callum would choose me.”

His head tilted, but before he could say anything, I rushed to clarify, “Not Callum specifically, just… he’s my

fated mate. That in itself is supposed to be rare, lucky, right? And I found him. But he doesn’t want me. Not

really. And-” I swallowed. “It’s a weird feeling. Knowing something is yours by fate, but not by choice. I

mean…the one who’s supposed to want, love, me more then anything took one look at me and… just… doesn’t.”

Something inside me pulled tight and I felt my face heat, pulling my knees closer to my chest.

Zane didn’t respond right away. Then he said, “Yeah. Now that makes sense for a reason to stay.

>>

“This feels stupid.”

“It’s not.”

“No, I am.”

He looked at me sideways. “You are at times, but not for this reason. Wanting to believe in love and being loved

isn’t dumb.”

I made a face. “You suck at comforting.”

“Not trying to be good at it. Just being honest.”

More silence, but it was the soft kind. One I didn’t mind.

2/3

8:33 AM Thu 2 Oct

Chapter 46

100%

+25 BONUS

He laid back on the grass, arms crossed behind his head. “If I were you, I’d take off. Find some sun–drenched

school in the south for wolfless and get rich or someting. Start fresh. I mean, you have the talent to do anything, who cares if some fated pairing didn’t workout.”

“Easy for you to say, you’re an heir with endless money.”

“Details.”

I nudged him with my foot. “What about you, then? What’s your excuse for being here? You slack off all day, flirt with half the girls on campus. You could do that literally anywhere. So who are you to tell me to ditch my

whole life?”

Zane leaned back on his elbows, eyes drifting toward the sky. “Difference between you and me? I would. Walk away, I mean. And it wouldn’t be the first time.”

I let that sink in. Zane always acted like he didn’t have a care in the world. But there was something in his voice, and it made me wonder how much of his charm was armor. Why he really was here…

the 3/3