Liora's POV
“You’re deliberately being unkind, Liora,” Corwin said, irritation threading through his voice as he held my arm.
I tilted my head, feigning calm, while Calista lingered just behind him, lips curved in that infuriatingly smug smile. “Unkind? To whom?” I asked, my tone almost polite.
“To Calista,” he replied sharply. “I’ve already told you—stop treating her this way. You’re always letting your jealousy show, and frankly, I’m exhausted by it. Why can’t you understand something so simple?” His fingers tightened around my arm, just enough to sting. “Why do you insist on making this difficult?”
“I’m not jealous, Corwin,” I answered evenly, forcing control into every word despite the anger coiling inside me. “I understand perfectly. And don’t worry—I won’t cause trouble.” The words tasted sour as they left my mouth, but I swallowed the bitterness down. I wanted to tell him that none of this mattered anymore. That I was leaving. That I was getting married to someone else. But what was the point? He wouldn’t care enough to listen.
He finally let go, his hand drifting up to my cheek in a familiar, almost intimate gesture. Once, that touch alone could make my heart race. Now, it felt hollow. “Just trust me, Liora,” he said softly. “I would never hurt you. Stop imagining things between Calista and me.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Trust him? Not hurt me? Those were the same assurances he had shattered again and again over the past six months. If I had died yesterday, I was certain he wouldn’t have mourned me—not truly.
When I reached the study hall where I taught, the children rushed toward me, laughter filling the space. Their excitement wrapped around me like a fragile comfort, easing the ache in my chest for just a moment. I had always dreamed of having children of my own—Corwin once promised we would, someday. Now those promises felt as empty as his touch.
I was going to miss these kids. The thought hurt more than I expected.
Later that evening, I checked my phone and found another message from my parents. They were asking about wedding arrangements—what kind of flowers I preferred, the cut of my gown, whether I wanted a veil or something simpler.
I had loved weddings since I was young. Years ago, I even helped plan Sinna’s wedding—Corwin’s younger sister. She was married now, with two beautiful children and a husband who adored her. And me? Ten years of loving Corwin had left me with nothing but humiliation and heartbreak. If I had let my parents choose for me back then, maybe I would already have a family of my own. Instead, I was standing here, discarded by the man I thought I would grow old with.
At the estate’s private market, I bought farewell gifts for the children and for Elisha—one of the few people here who still treated me with genuine warmth. Seeing me struggle under the weight of the packages, two security staff quietly stepped in to help, their wordless kindness nearly undoing me.
The moment I returned, Corwin noticed the bags. His eyes sharpened with suspicion. “What are those?” he asked. “Who are they for?” Then he lifted a sealed envelope a courier had handed him. “And what’s this about a wedding?”
I took the letter from his hand, instantly recognizing my mother’s handwriting. “I think we need to talk,” I began carefully, keeping my voice steady. “About marriage—”
Before I could finish, one of the staff rushed in, visibly flustered.
“Sir, Calista isn’t in her room. We’ve checked the entire house—she’s nowhere to be found.”
Corwin’s expression changed instantly. Worry overtook everything else. Without sparing me another glance, he turned and hurried away, chasing after Calista as if nothing else in the world mattered. He didn’t even say a word to me.
I delivered the gifts to the children and to Elisha, forcing a smile as I did. My hands shook, but I didn’t let them see it.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Elisha asked quietly, her voice heavy as she gently guided the children away.
“There’s no reason for me to stay,” I admitted, my voice cracking despite my efforts. “He’s chosen someone else. I need to move forward.”
“The children adore you,” she whispered. “And I… I won’t have anyone to help me anymore.”
“I’m getting married, Elisha,” I said softly. The words still felt strange on my tongue. “I can’t remain here.”
“To whom?” she asked, hope flickering in her eyes. “Is he better than Corwin?”
I hesitated, then nodded slightly. “I hope he is,” I said honestly. “I really do.”
