Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 147

Tristan stormed into the room, lunging forward to grab Emma's arm.

Sebastian had incredible reflexes and shoved himself between them, blocking Tristan's path.

"She's injured! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Tristan forced himself to dial it back, his jaw tight. "Mavis's engagement was broken off, and she was kicked out of the Ryder family. And... and..."

Emma raised an eyebrow. Did Travis really call off his wedding because of her?

"And Mavis's parents stormed our house! They're demanding my parents give them an explanation," Tristan rushed out, panic edging his voice. "This whole mess started because of you. You need to come back and explain yourself."

Tristan reached for her again, and Emma blatantly rolled her eyes.

"What does any of that have to do with me? Mavis decided to play mob boss and hired thugs to kidnap me without checking her facts. Sure, the guys who actually ran me off the road might not have been her crew, but she still put a hit out on me. She just failed."

Emma found Tristan's logic absolutely laughable. Right now, Mavis's friends were only locked up because a more lethal syndicate had beaten them to the punch and ruined their kidnapping plot.

That didn't magically erase Mavis's guilt.

"Whether it's her or anyone else, actions have consequences."

Emma stared coldly at Tristan. Tristan looked entirely blindsided by her total lack of sympathy.

"How can you even say that?"

He couldn't fathom how she could be so cold-blooded.

"If people have to face consequences for their mistakes, why aren't you taking responsibility for Gillian being swapped? If it weren't for you, Gillian never would have been stolen. Don't act like you didn't benefit from the whole thing."

Tristan's eyes blazed with self-righteous fury.

Emma narrowed her eyes, meeting his burning glare with a gaze made of pure ice.

"True. I fully admit that in the baby swap, I was the one who got the better end of the deal. But don't forget—when we were switched, Gillian and I were both helpless infants. The fact that nobody noticed for seventeen years isn't my fault."

Her eyes darkened dangerously.

"And surviving six brutal years overseas paid off whatever debt I owed your family."

She turned her head away, her expression hardening into stone.

Tristan thought she was just spinning excuses. She had been sent abroad at seventeen, completely bankrolled by the Lockwood family's wealth and prestige. How could her life ever compare to the hell Gillian was born into?

Sebastian stood off to the side, conflicted. He didn't want to drag himself into Lockwood family drama. He had already severely damaged his relationship with Logan over the lab incident.

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