Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 256

Emma had originally planned to go to the Vance estate, but Carter's remark gave her pause.

"The more factions that start digging into this, the more meticulously the person behind the curtain will cover their tracks."

Emma cooled down. Carter was right. Her adoptive parents, as well as the Reynolds family, were not the type to sit quietly and swallow grievances. Getting too many powerful people involved right now might actually backfire.

"Let's go home."

Emma slumped back into the car seat, feeling mentally and physically drained. A conspiracy this deep wouldn't be unraveled overnight; she couldn't afford to rush.

The more anxious she was, the more mistakes she would make.

"Winifred, please prepare something light for dinner."

Carter returned home with her. Seeing Emma head straight upstairs to the study without a word, he didn't interrupt her.

It wasn't until three or four hours had passed that Nanny Winifred knocked on the study door.

"Mr. Harrington, did you and the young miss get into an argument?"

Nanny Winifred, who usually called him 'son-in-law' in a fond way, was now addressing him quite formally.

Carter rubbed his temples. "No."

"She hasn't left her room in hours. Why don't you go check on her?" Nanny Winifred's eyes were filled with worry. Afraid Carter might brush it off as nothing, she hastily added, "Mrs. Vance told me that the young miss likes to be alone when she's upset. But it's getting really late. If she skips another meal, her stomach condition will flare up again."

Carter stood up. "I'll go see her."

He knocked on Emma's bedroom door. Hearing no response, he frowned and pushed it open.

Emma was sitting on the balcony, painting. Her expression was solemn and icy.

"Em, it's time to eat."

Carter walked over and called out softly.

Emma acted as if she hadn't heard him, her brush moving rapidly across the canvas without pause.

He approached slowly, his brow furrowing when he saw the contents of the painting.

It depicted a woman lying in a pool of blood, a shattered vase nearby, and a table full of untouched food.

"Em, you..."

Filled with concern, Carter reached out to stop her, assuming the trauma had triggered this dark expression of art.

But Emma finally lifted her brush, having completed the final stroke, and quietly set it down.

"This is the scene as I saw it. I've reconstructed it as accurately as I can."

Emma stared intently at the canvas. Carter realized then what she was doing. She was painting the exact scene of Violet's assault.

Carter instantly understood her objective.

"The vase was originally sitting on a corner cabinet inside the room. And there are no signs of the food on the table being knocked over or disturbed."

With her stomach pressing uncomfortably against Carter's muscular shoulder, Emma helplessly patted his back.

"Put me down first. I can walk on my own."

Her face burned hot. Being carried to the dining table like a sack of potatoes was far too embarrassing.

Carter practically bounded down the stairs, only setting her down once they reached the dining room.

As soon as Emma was seated, Carter thrust a freshly plated bowl of food in front of her. "Eat. Quickly."

"You're acting like I'm going to starve to death if I delay my bite by a single second."

Emma teased lightly. Carter beamed with genuine relief, incredibly thankful she wasn't spiraling into self-blame.

Standing off to the side, Nanny Winifred watched them with a bright, satisfied smile and quietly texted a report to Mrs. Vance.

[Ma'am, the young miss was in a terrible mood today and skipped meals again. But Mr. Harrington physically hauled her down to the dining room and even got her to laugh. It seems he's quite attentive and knows how to take care of her.]

At that exact moment, Gillian—who was supposed to be keeping vigil at the hospital—arrived in Garrison City.

With eyes full of dread and complex emotions, she stepped into a lavish, dimly lit villa. Standing by the second-floor railing was a man in a sharp suit, swirling a glass of red wine.

"Gillian, it's been a long time."

"It seems my little kitten has run into some trouble at home, to actually remember her master."