The word reject burned her alive. While it easily spilled out of the lips of Laurel, for Elize, it was like a thousand shards cutting though her soul. Her lips trembled and she averted her gaze from Laurel to look at Caleb, who was still in deep conversation with Norma. She noticed that the actress had come a few inches closer to him and that rattled her. She had this urge to rip away the girl from his side, but then Laurel's words bounced across her mind—reject him. One look at Caleb's face and she knew that she didn't deserve him. She was out of her depth here. She had always thought that she hated him, but now she wasn't even sure that she hated him or wanted him. Elize rose to her feet quietly and walked out of the inn, as Laurel crossed her legs and watched her leaving with a smile.