Chapter 46 Smoke and Fire
“Eliza broke off all ties with the Rivers family–why didn’t you tell me?”
Grace’s sharp gaze locked onto Zayden. “Do you even understand how important your engagement was? If Eliza’s no longer part of the Rivers family, then this marriage is worthless!”
“Mom, I don’t want to call off the engagement.”
Zayden’s fists clenched at his sides.
Grace, infuriated, slapped him across the face. “You don’t want to? You’re the heir of the Holt family! One day, everything we have will be yours! Whoever you marry must be a match for our name!”
“Thankfully, that Eliza girl had enough self–awareness to end the engagement herself. Otherwise, what were you planning to do after graduation? Marry some useless freeloader?”
Grace could hardly believe her son.
Still, the engagement was over, and if they had to find another match, so be it.
“She might’ve led you astray,” Grace continued, “but Naomi is the beloved youngest daughter of the Rivers family. Try to secure that relationship. If she doesn’t drag you down, I’ll still consider her worthy of being my daughter–in–law.”
Zayden said nothing.
It had been half a month since Eliza’s visit to the Holt home.
The semester was coming to a close, and final exams were around the corner. The air on campus was thick with tension.
After morning classes, Eliza returned from the restroom just in time to see Henry dash up from the track field, his face lit with excitement.
“Breaking news! You guys want some fresh gossip or not?”
“What kind of gossip?” Colton raised a brow, “And how would you know anything worth telling?”
“I’m telling you, this one’s nuclear,” Henry said as everyone began to crowd around. “Zayden and Naomi got a room together last night!”
The class erupted in shock.
“No way. For real?”
“Dead serious. My buddy’s family runs a hotel. He told me the two of them booked a room together last night and didn’t come out until morning.”
Eliza quietly returned to her seat.
The chatter died instantly. Everyone grew silent, worried the topic might upset her.
But Eliza’s voice was calm as ever. “I’m not engaged to Zayden anymore. Gossip all you want–I don’t mind.”
Across the room, Nolan’s hand paused mid–page.
Henry blinked. “Wait, you broke off the engagement?”
Weah.”
“When did that happen?”
tAbout two weeks ago.”
“You never said a word!”
Chapter 46 Smoke and Fire
Eliza gave a little shrug, “Didn’t see the point.”
+8 Pearls
Henry nodded, suddenly understanding. “No wonder Zayden and Naomi have been glued together lately. Guess they feel free now.”
“Enough with the small talk. Spill the rest–what happened at the hotel?”
“Yeah, don’t leave us hanging!”
Henry spread his hands. “How would I know what they did inside? All I heard was they left together this morning.
The story spread like wildfire.
By midday, the entire sophomore year was buzzing.
“Did you hear? Zayden and Naomi got a hotel room together!”
“No way. Is that true?”
Totally! Word is they’ve been secretly dating for ages.”
In the hallway, a few girls were still whispering about it when Eliza stepped out of the restroom.
As soon as they saw her, they fell silent.
Some of them even looked at her with sympathy.
Everyone knew how much Eliza had liked Zayden–how deep it ran. She’d even jumped into the ocean for him.
She was his fiancée.
And yet her own sister had swooped in and taken him.
Who wouldn’t feel sorry for her?
Just as Eliza was about to head back to class, Naomi’s voice rang out behind her.
Naomi jogged up, smiling sweetly. “It’s my birthday tonight. You’re coming home, right?”
“Eliza!”
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Eliza frowned.
Naomi went on, “Zayden’s coming with me. We could go together. You haven’t been home in two months. Mom and Dad still miss you, you know.”
Miss me?
What a joke.
Not one phone call from her parents in all that time.
Not that she wanted ore.
“Sorry, I’m busy.”
“Eliza, I’m still your sister. Can’t you come home for my birthday? Isn’t that a little cold?”
She was clearly baiting her.
Eliza didn’t believe for a second Naomi genuinely wanted her there–not after what had happened with the math competition.
