The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 95

Callum

I swear the dining room in our house is bigger than the school gym.

Gold trim, chandeliers, a table long enough that you could lose someone halfway through a meal. It’s all a bit much. But of course, that’s my parents.

I sat there with them, three perfect little statues eating in perfect silence while the staff ghosted around the edges, and all I could think was how I’d rather be literally anywhere else.

And then my father said the thing I’d been dreading: “The engagement is the best thing that could have happened for this family.”

Mother didn’t even look up from her plate. “The royal alliance was always the goal. Everything else is a distraction. Bianca is a good match.How is she doing?”

I set my fork down before I snapped it in half. “Well, mother. She is showing off her ring, excited for our match.”

“Ah, to be in love!” My mother beamed.

I met her gaze cooly. “Mother, I am not doing this out of love. It’s for the family, even if it feels wrong.”

Father’s head came up, that cool, practiced stare he’s perfected over a lifetime of ordering people around. “You’re old enough to understand duty, Callum. This isn’t about what you want.”

“Exactly what I just said,” I nodded, keeping my voice level even though my insides were grinding like gears. “But you’re not listening. There’s something wrong here. A puzzle piece isn’t fitting. Something about all of this isn’t what it looks like.”

Mother finally looked at me then, one perfectly arched brow lifting. “You’re imagining things. You will not endanger this union with childish doubts. You’re to be in love with the Alpha Princess.”

Childish.

Right.

I almost laughed. “So, let me guess. As long as the alliance is shiny enough, I’m supposed to ignore every red flag waving in my face?”

“Watch your tone,” my father warned, his voice biting.

“Maybe you should watch yours,” I muttered under my breath, just low enough that only I could hear it.

Because of course, none of it mattered. They didn’t hear me, they didn’t want to. Because if we were wrong…

I shut up and stared at my plate.

They were never going to listen, I’d figure it out myself. I know Liora is lying. Or someone is.

The chime of the doorbell cut through the tension like a blade.

One of the servants moved instantly, already halfway down the hallway.

“I’ll get it,” I said, pushing back my chair, looking for a way out.

“Callum—”

But I was already walking, the marble floor cold under my shoes, each step sharp and fast.

Whatever was waiting on the other side of that door couldn’t be worse than sitting back there pretending everything in my life was perfect.

Liora

Mia stared at me like she was watching a horror movie, and to be fair, I felt like I was in one.

“You’re really going through with this?” she asked, perched on the edge of her bed while I fastened the clasp on my coat.

“No,” I said. “But I have to try.”

She blinked. “That’s not an answer that makes me feel better.”

“It’s not supposed to.” I straightened the sleeves, smoothed the crease in my trousers. “This might be my only shot at some classified info. I can tolerate one night if it gets me closer to an answer.”

Her lips pressed together like she wanted to argue, but she stayed quiet.

The knock at the door came right on time, three even taps.

I didn’t look back when I opened it. “Don’t wait up.”

“Be careful,” Mia said softly.

I stepped into the hall without another word.

Zane’s limo was parked directly outside the dorm like it had been dropped there to make a point. Sleek, black, and polished so clean I could see my reflection in the tinted windows.

The door opened before I could touch the handle, and Zane leaned forward from the leather seats inside, grinning like he had just won something.

“You clean up nice, princess,” he said. “Didn’t know you could look this good without threatening to throw someone into a wall.”

I climbed in without a word and closed the door behind me.

“Nothing to say?” he teased, leaning his elbow on the back of the seat. “No warning about how this is the worst idea I’ve ever had?”

“I’ve said it already,” I said, eyes straight ahead. “I told you, if this doesn’t work, don’t bother me again.”

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