Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 245

Carter felt a pang of bitter frustration, but he kept it to himself. He had to invite Percy to the Lockwood estate too?

By the time they arrived at Lockwood Manor, his expression was dark and thunderous.

"Mr. Harrington, please have a seat," Logan greeted with polished courtesy.

Emma glanced upstairs. "I'm going up to see Ms. Jennings."

"I'll go with you."

Logan noted her distant, formal address but merely tightened his jaw without commenting. It was a miracle she had even shown up.

Emma didn't object, following him into Violet's bedroom.

Violet's face was flushed with fever. Before she could even speak, a violently harsh cough tore from her throat.

"Logan, step out for a minute. Let me talk to Emma alone."

Violet managed to croak out the words. Logan hesitated for a second before turning and leaving the room.

Violet struggled to sit up, instantly gripped by another hacking fit.

"Emma..."

Emma frowned. "Why haven't you gone to the hospital?"

"I thought I was getting better, but I guess it just dragged on." Violet coughed again. Emma couldn't stand watching it anymore. She walked over to the bedside table and poured her a glass of water.

Violet took the glass and weakly grabbed Emma's hand. "Emma, do you hate me because I refused to do the DNA test?"

"I don't hate you."

Emma smoothly slipped her hand out of the woman's grasp, her eyes scanning the bedsheets.

She had hoped to spot a stray hair with a follicle to take for testing, but unsurprisingly, despite her illness, Violet's bed was immaculately clean.

Pulling her gaze back, Emma spoke in a flat tone. "You all decided that because your biological daughter suffered while I supposedly lived in luxury, it gave Gillian a free pass to terrorize me. You saw her hostility every single day, and you chose to look the other way."

Emma's expression didn't change. In the past, she might have defended herself, arguing that surviving abroad hadn't exactly been a walk in the park either. But she didn't bother now.

Malicious exile didn't afford them the right to play the victim.

"One of you is my flesh and blood, and the other is the daughter I raised. I love you both equally. When the two of you are constantly at each other's throats, it tears my heart to pieces."

Violet couldn't control Gillian, so she resorted to begging Emma.

If they kept going at it, the entire Lockwood family would be dragged down.

"Just do this for me. Be the bigger person. Please, Mom is begging you."

Violet's eyes pleaded with her.

Suddenly, the bedroom door was violently shoved open.

"Who needs her to be the bigger person?! What gives her the right? Do I look like I need her pity?!"