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, pped him across the face. “You don’t want to? You’re the heir of the Holt family! One day, everything we bhave /bwill be yours! Whoever you marry must be a match for our bname/b!”

“Thankfully, that Eliza girl had enough self–awareness to end the engagement herself. Otherwise, what were you nning to do after graduation? Marry some useless freeloaderb?/b”

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 rtionship. If she doesn’t drag you bdown/b, I’ll still consider her worthy of being my daughter–inw.”

Zayden said nothing.

It bhad /bbeen half a month since Eliza’s visit to the Holt home.

The semester wasing to a close, and final exams were around the corner. The air on campus was thick with tension.

After morning sses, 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 baround/bb. /b“Zayden and Naomi got a room togetherst night!”

The ss erupted in shock.

“No way. For real?”

“Dead serious. My buddy’s family runs a hotel. He told me the two of bthem /bbooked a room togetherst night and didn’te out until morning.”

Eliza quietly returned to her bseat/b.

The chatter died instantly. Everyone grew silent, bworried /bthe topic might upset her.

But Eliza’s voice was calm bas /bever. “I’m bnot /bengaged to Zayden anymore. Gossip all you want–I don’t mind.”

Across the room, Nn’s bhand /bpaused mid–page.

Henry blinked. “Wait, you broke off the engagementb?/b”

Weah.”

“When did bthat /bhappen?”

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 togethertely. Guess they feel free now.”

“Enough with the small btalk/b. Spill the rest–bwhat /bhappened at the hotel?”

“Yeah, don’t bleave /bus 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 byear /bwas buzzing.

“Did byou /bhear? Zayden band /bNaomi got a hotel room together!”

“No way. Is that true?”

bTotally/b! Word is they’ve been secretly dating for ages.”

In the bhallway/b, 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.

bShe /bwas his fiancée.

And yet her own sister had swooped in and btaken /bbhim/b.

Who wouldn’t feel sorry for her?

Just as Eliza was about to head back to ss, Naomi’s voice rang out behind her.

Naomi jogged bup/b, bsmiling /bsweetly. “It’s my birthday tonight. You’reing home, right?”

“Eliza!”

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Eliza frowned.

Naomi went on, “Zayden’sing 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 bfrom /bher parents in all bthat /btime.

Not bthat /bshe wanted ore.

“Sorry, I’m busyb./b”

“Eliza, I’m still your sister. bCan’t /byoue 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 mathpetition.