Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 128

Scarlett froze, instantly looking embarrassed. She leaned over the table, tilting her head as she whispered softly.

"Dominic Mercer is... someone I used to have a crush on. The day Grandfather was hospitalized, he sent me a bouquet of pink roses and said he hoped Grandfather would recover quickly."

Emma realized instantly that there had been a massive misunderstanding that day.

She frowned slightly in thought, while Carter seemed to piece together exactly what was going through her mind.

"Emma, please just accept these. Don't worry about the cost. If anything, we're worried this bridal gift isn't enough."

Helena smoothly steered the conversation back on track. Emma's cheeks flushed slightly as she stood there, showing a rare flash of bashful hesitation.

"Thank you for the gifts, Dad, Mom."

Her soft, sweet use of 'Dad' and 'Mom' made Edward and Helena beam from ear to ear.

Carter's heart fluttered in his chest. In a way, it felt like his relationship with Emma had just taken a very real step forward.

However...

He glanced at Emma with a flicker of concern, but before he could dwell on it, Pamela, who had been quietly spectating the whole time, finally spoke up.

"Congratulations on getting such a wonderful daughter-in-law, Helena. I'm so incredibly jealous, but unfortunately..." Pamela rested a hand mournfully against her stomach, "It's my own fault I can't conceive."

She and Raymond had no children, and Raymond knew how deeply it affected his wife. He grabbed her hand tenderly. "It's fine. As far as I'm concerned, Percy and Gillian are exactly like our own son and daughter. They're getting engaged soon anyway, so whether you want to be called the mother of the bride or the mother of the groom, it's entirely up to you."

Raymond joked to lighten her mood, and Pamela offered a shy smile. "Don't say things like that. Percy and Gillian have their own parents."

"Oh, it's perfectly fine! I'm just thrilled Gillian has another set of parents to love her," Violet chimed in quickly, looking at Pamela with profound gratitude.

Charles eagerly nodded along. Securing an alliance with the Harrington family's fifth branch meant gaining their absolute backing—he was practically over the moon.

As they all laughed and chatted warmly, and even Evelyn showered Gillian with enthusiastic praise, Logan quietly stole a glance at Emma.

Carter hastily cut off the second half of Emma's sentence. He could tell she hadn't planned on asking him to tag along.

But he absolutely wasn't going to miss a chance to spend time alone with her.

Julian suspected nothing. He nodded in agreement. "Alright, you two head out first. I'll join you as soon as I wrap up a few things here. Since my schedule is fairly open right now anyway, you guys can treat it like a relaxing getaway."

Carter, a man who despised being told what to do, felt absolutely zero resentment toward Julian's strict instructions. He was actually thrilled. Whoever said having an overprotective brother-in-law was a bad thing? It was fantastic.

"We'll head back and start packing."

He was highly satisfied with his brother-in-law's arrangement.

Emma stared at him in utter disbelief. It wasn't until they were safely inside the car that she finally asked.

"Aren't you supposed to be running the Harrington empire?"