The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 69

Zane

Everyone looked stunned when Liora’s name was called.

Everyone but me.

I bet on her the moment she kicked open that office door and dismantled the system with a pencil and a death glare.

I smirked, watching the room reel. This night just got interesting.

Liora, you beautiful little choas gremlin. Please, never leave.

Mia broke off from me long ago to ambush Liora with a hug, bless her heart. I hung back. Hugging wasn’t exactly on my agenda.

Besides, watching Liora from afar was wildly entertaining. Like spotting a rare, sharp-toothed forest sprite stirring up noble drama in its native ballroom ecosystem.

I wa more then happy just watching, posted against the marble column like a decorative statue, sipping spiked punch and pretending not to stare.

Liora moved around far more poised then a wolfless could fake. Hypnotic even, and a few other wolfless came up to her and Mia, shaking her hand.

Her dress shimmered under the chandelier light—dark fabric like midnight water, thorny embroidery wrapping her waist like armor. Mia buzzed at her side, clearly trying to keep her grounded, full of praise, but Liora didn’t look like she needed it.

The girl who was supposedly nothing had just outscored every single alpha-blooded brat in the room. Including Bianca, Callum. And me.

I smirked into my cup.

Of course she did.

“You’re the last person I expected to see without a date” a voice said, slicing through my thoughts.

I felt a smile creep over my lips. “Evening, our great prince Callum. Shouldn’t you be out there, twirling Bianca into a glitter-induced seizure?”

He sighed. “In time. She’s a bit…flustered at the moment,” his eyes glancing ot the bathroom.

That earned him a raised eyebrow from me. “Ah, yes. Your future queen. How dutiful. How’d she take the news? I hear she isn’t used to losing.”

Callum ignored the jab, posture too perfect for someone clearly running on fumes. He stood next to me, silent for a moment.

I studied him with a crooked grin. If I wasn’t still mad at him, I might’ve pitied the guy. Didn’t seem easy, being the crown jewel of everyone’s expectations.

“You’re looking at me like you’re about to swing again,” he muttered, eyes locked on the dance floor. “If you are, hit harder this time. I need a reason to leave.”

I snorted, swirling my drink. “That desperate, huh? Sorry, I may be a deadbeat, but even I’m not stupid enough to suffer the public wrath of punching our precious golden prince.”

His head tilted. “Ah, so you’ll only do it in privacy. So, you do care about public opinion.”

“Don’t push it.” I smirked, and to my surprise, he chuckled.

His gaze swept back over the crowd, settling exactly where I knew it would.

“She really did it,” he murmured, posture relaxing just slightly as his eyes followed her. “No surprise.”

I tipped my drink toward him. “Didn’t think you renewed your subscription to the Liora fan club.”

“I didn’t,” he said, a bit too quickly. “But I’m not blind.”

“Mm.” I leaned on the railing beside him. “You should try being both. It makes things way less complicated.”

Callum cut me a sideways glance, but didn’t argue. Just stood there, rigid and quiet, like he was thinking way too much. I could practically hear the gears grinding in that overachiever skull of his.

Then came the pause. The long, loaded kind, the kind that warned you something stupid or sincere was about to fall out of someone’s mouth.

“You like her.”

That pulled me back. “What?”

“You do,” he said again, like he was delivering a verdict. “You’re looking at her like she’s the last truth left in the world.”

I scoffed, quick to roll my eyes. But damn it, my ears felt hot. “Don’t be ridiculous. I look at every girl like that.”

“Not like that.”

“Oh? And I suppose you look at her with presidential indifference?”

“I have to,” he said, and it came out quieter than I expected. “There’s no room for anything else.”

I blinked. Okay, I wasn’t expecting honesty.

“Sounds lonely, bud.”

He didn’t answer. Just kept staring at her like maybe, if he focused hard enough, she’d look back.

I gave a sharp exhale through my nose and nudged his shoulder with mine. “Well, sucks for both of us then, doesn’t it?”

Callum didn’t move. Barely breathed.

“Callum,” she said, voice calm and clear, somehow cutting right through the music. “I meant what I said. I don’t want anything from you. And since you can’t make the choice…”

A breath.

“I will.”

Callum went still. His face drained of color, lips parted like he couldn’t quite catch enough air.

“As you know,” Liora began, voice steady, “you tried to sever us once. Tried to break the fated bond. But you failed,” she continued, eyes locked on him. “Because you lacked the knowledge of who I am.”

Callum blinked once. Just once. But I saw the truth in that tiny flicker—He who what was coming.

“But don’t worry. You don’t have to look over your shoulder, or carry guilt like a curse.”

She tilted her chin up. Not cruel. Not kind.

“You’re free.”

Her eyes gleamed under the chandelier light.

“And so am I.”

Then—

“I, Liora Silverthorne, reject the bond.”

She turned. Didn’t wait for his response. Didn’t look back. She just walked away.

The music didn’t stop. The party didn’t pause. But something shifted, like the floor tilted just enough to throw the whole room off balance.

Callum stared at her back like it was the final page of a story he never got to finish. His hand moved to the railing beside him, whether for balance or just to feel something solid, I couldn’t tell. But he looked… different. Like someone caught between staying still and falling apart.

And I’d… never seen that look from him.

I didn’t say anything.

Honestly? I wasn’t sure where to even begin.