Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 185

When Carter finally found Emma, she was trapped outside her hotel by a mob of aggressive reporters.

His gaze freezing over, he bulldozed through the crowd, completely ignoring the flashing cameras. He strode straight up to Emma and, before she could even process what was happening, pulled her firmly into his arms.

"I never should have left," he breathed.

Carter's voice strained with suppressed guilt. He shouldn't have hesitated for a single second.

Emma had been abandoned countless times in her life; he should have stood loyally by her side without looking back.

Startled, Emma couldn't fathom why he was suddenly saying this.

"Carter, let go first."

She gently pushed against his chest, but Carter refused to release her.

"You're hurting me."

Emma spoke softly, and Carter immediately let her go, hastily checking her shoulders.

"Does it hurt? Should we go to the hospital? I'm sorry, I..."

Carter apologized again. Emma looked up at him, a myriad of complex emotions swirling in her eyes.

Did he... really love her this much?

Yet, she couldn't shake the chilling instinct that these three deaths were inextricably linked to the Harrington family. The fact that Raymond had personally traveled to Garrison right at this critical juncture, appearing precisely when the scandal blew up online, couldn't just be a mere coincidence.

If a Harrington was truly behind this, she would never allow the mastermind to walk free.

Emma's brows furrowed tightly. She knew exactly how important Raymond was to Carter; she had no desire to trap him in the middle of a brutal war.

"I'm fine." Emma sighed, deciding to shove her complicated feelings aside until she uncovered the truth.

Carter watched her nervously, while the camera flashes practically blinded them from behind.

"Mr. Harrington, what are your thoughts on this murder case?"

"When did you and Emma get married? What was your motive for marrying your own cousin's ex-girlfriend?"

"You just sued hundreds of accounts to defend Emma. Does this reflect the Harrington family's official stance?"

The reporters' questions grew increasingly vicious.

With every shouted accusation, Carter's gaze grew darker.

Pamela lowered her head, a hint of self-deprecation creeping into her voice. "Unlike me. When I married into the family, I was utterly penniless and divorced."

"Don't say that. You're leagues above her. Do you really think the Harrington family lacks her little trinkets? If she possessed even half your grace, I wouldn't have made things difficult for Carter."

Raymond let out a heavy sigh. "Carter was willing to throw away his birthright as the heir just for her. He's completely lost his mind."

Pamela's hands froze mid-massage. "Did Carter really say that?"

"He's just acting out," Raymond sneered coldly. "Fine. I'll strip him of all his authority. Let's see just how unshakeable his love for Emma remains without the limitless power of the Harrington empire backing him."

Raymond's gaze was dangerously dark. Pamela offered a warm, disapproving counter. "They say it's better to tear down ten temples than to break up a single marriage. If the boy loves her, just let him be happy. The future of the Harrington family still belongs to Carter in the end."

"If Carter had found a stable woman willing to stay home and support him, I naturally wouldn't have interfered. What's worse, Emma's genetic background is completely unknown. If she carries any defective genes, she could poison three generations of the Harrington bloodline."

Raymond felt absolutely justified in his logic. For a dynasty like theirs, pure genetics trumped even the wealthiest family backgrounds.

Realizing she couldn't sway him, Pamela could only sigh in silence.

Raymond grabbed his phone and placed a call.

"Effective immediately, the Harrington family strips Carter of all his executive authority. I will be officially taking over the Harrington Group."