Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 247

Miriam Sterling wanted to see her. Naturally, Emma refused.

However, while Emma and Jocelyn were out shopping a few days later, they ran into Miriam anyway.

"Emma, please! I really need a favor. Let's just sit down and talk!"

Miriam rushed forward frantically but was immediately blocked by Emma's security detail.

They were in a public mall, and Emma didn't want to cause a scene. She sighed and led the way into a nearby café.

"I'll grab a table over there," Jocelyn offered. She figured this was personal, and knowing Emma could handle herself perfectly fine, she gave them some space.

Emma sat down with a coffee. "What is it?"

"Emma, you and Phoebe were best friends for so many years. She told me you're close to a very famous designer. I'm begging you, could you please introduce her?"

Miriam rubbed her hands together anxiously. Her current living situation was a nightmare compared to her life at the Harrington estate.

Sure, she had lived in the staff quarters back then, but it was a private room in a massive luxury mansion. Now, she and her daughter were crammed into a tiny rental apartment.

Rent, utilities, groceries—every single thing drained their bank account.

So she desperately needed her daughter to make it big so she could finally live comfortably again.

"Phoebe sent you?" Emma took a slow sip of her coffee. "Doesn't she have Gillian backing her up?"

She highly doubted Phoebe would send her mother on this errand.

Miriam pursed her lips awkwardly, dodging the question. "I know how powerful you are now, Emma. You're married to Carter Harrington. Introducing her to the right people would be effortless for you. But you know how hard Phoebe works... we've had such a tough life..."

She forced a pathetic sob. Emma just raised an eyebrow. "When she was twelve, the Harringtons brought her to the city to attend school. Over the last decade, they've covered every single expense she's ever had—clothing, food, housing—and even gave her an allowance of thousands of dollars a month."

Just as Phoebe came rushing into the café, those exact words hit her ears. She froze dead in her tracks.

[Why should the Lockwoods care about something the Harringtons won't even touch? They've been paying your way for years anyway. So your mom dies? Big deal. At least you won't be dragged down anymore.]

That venomous text message she had received during her mother's medical crisis echoed violently in her skull, twisting like a knife.

For years, she had wondered if Emma had actually been the one to send it. Now, she had her answer.

Emma was just a cold, heartless monster to the core. She was just incredible at faking it.

"Emma Lockwood."

Phoebe walked over, her eyes overflowing with bitter disappointment.

"You don't need to take your hatred out on my family or my friends. What happened between us has nothing to do with them. If you have a problem with me, then come after me directly."