Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 34

None of the Lockwood children knew the specific details regarding the pharmaceutical company. As far as they were concerned, Emma had purposefully schemed against the family because she saw her shares being taken away.

Tristan rounded up a few buddies that day. Upon learning that Emma would be visiting the construction site, he headed over as well.

"Tristan, this is a collaboration between CFT and the Harrington family..." one level-headed friend warned him.

Tristan sneered, aggressively tossing his cigarette butt onto the ground and crushing it under his heel.

"So what? Emma is just a grunt in CFT's logistics department at best. Plus, the Harringtons are our in-laws. Who the hell does she think she is? Why should I be afraid of her?"

Tristan wore a vicious expression as he led his crew into the site. Beside him, someone still nervously offered advice. "Tristan, you used to treat Emma pretty well. Is there really a need to make things this ugly? After all, she was your sister for so many years."

"Bullshit! My sister is Gillian."

While Emma was feasting on delicacies at the Lockwoods', Gillian was suffering from chronic starvation, literally hungry to the point of anemia. She used to faint all the time when she first returned to the family.

"Emma is nothing but a thief who stole Gillian's life!"

Tristan spat out in disgust, leaving his friend with no choice but to nod awkwardly.

Emma was on-site. "Make sure to be careful during construction. I know we're rushing the schedule, but your safety comes first."

She was in the middle of giving instructions when Tristan and his gang barged in.

"Everybody clear out! As long as I'm here today, nobody is getting any work done."

Emma frowned slightly. After a brief moment of thought, she addressed the foremen. "Take your crews and go inspect the site safety and materials for now. I'll handle things here."

The foreman agreed, but still felt uneasy enough to leave two men behind with Emma.

Emma walked over, but before she could even reach Tristan, he pointed a steel pipe squarely at her. "Emma, you did that to the pharmaceutical company on purpose, didn't you?"

"I just got back to the country. What could I possibly do?"

Emma arched a brow. The tax evasion involved tens of millions of dollars; how could they possibly pin that on her?

"You bought a custom watch, you flash VIP cards around—I bet every dime you spend comes straight from the plant's funds. If you ask me, you're the one who belongs in jail."

The more Tristan thought about it, the angrier he got. Charles had returned from the police station yesterday relentlessly cursing Emma as an ungrateful wretch, evidently furious beyond words.

At that thought, he weighed the steel pipe in his hand. "Hey, give me a deep bow and apologize right now, and I won't give you a hard time today."

The moment he hoisted the pipe, Emma instinctively took two steps back.

She was reminded of the countless times she had been mugged abroad. One time, the mugger had held an iron rod and said almost the exact same thing to her.

Luckily, Harrington personnel arrived right at that moment.

Emma didn't recognize them, but Tristan's buddies absolutely did.

Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Tristan's friends quickly grabbed hold of him and forcibly dragged him away.

"Are you alright, Ms. Lockwood? Mr. Harrington heard someone was causing trouble here and sent us to protect you."

The Harrington bodyguards glanced at the retreating group before turning back to Emma.

"But seeing as you appear unharmed, we'll take our leave."

Emma smiled and waved. "Tell Carter I said thank you."

The bodyguards came swiftly and departed just as fast.

Emma stood rooted to the spot, the corners of her lips curling upward.

She had trained under Travis for a year. She was fully prepared to let Tristan see some of his own blood if he actually dared to swing at her.

She hadn't expected him to be so spineless.