Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 67

Seeing Alfred Shaw step into the room, Gillian immediately put on a sweet, innocent facade and jogged over to him.

"Elder Shaw, this woman is deliberately causing a scene at your birthday banquet."

She pouted, acting as though she were one of his own beloved granddaughters. The patriarch kept a stern, imposing expression, but politely asked, "And you are?"

"I'm Percy's fiancée."

She lowered her head shyly, absolutely certain that the Shaw family would show her deference as Percy's future wife.

Instead, Alfred's eyes darkened imperceptibly. He completely bypassed her and walked straight toward Emma.

"Grandfather, it's just a misunderstanding."

Hayden quickly stepped forward to support the older man, but Alfred ignored him completely as well.

Hayden mentally groaned. *We're doomed. This is a disaster.*

He frantically pulled out his phone to call Carter. Just as the call connected, he heard his grandfather's booming voice.

"My dear girl, when did you get back to the country? How is your mentor's health?"

The entire room froze in stunned silence.

Was the formidable patriarch actually speaking to Emma?

Emma flashed a brilliant, sweet smile. "I just got back a little while ago. My mentor is as healthy as an ox! He's just swamped with work right now and couldn't find the time to fly back.

Since I was in the country, he asked me to deliver his birthday gift to you. I also wanted to personally apologize. I've been back for a while but hadn't come to visit you yet. I'm so sorry."

Emma presented the gift, and the notoriously strict, unsmiling patriarch threw his head back and roared with joyous laughter.

Hayden stood completely paralyzed, the phone pressed against his ear.

"Holy shit, Carter, you've got an insane eye for women. My grandfather has never looked this happy a day in his life. Where the hell did you find this absolute treasure?"

Even Carter hadn't expected Emma to have such a deep connection with Alfred Shaw.

Instead of pressing for details, he simply replied through the phone, "I don't have a good eye. I'm just lucky."

Who on earth was this girl?!

"Elder Shaw, I have to go to work! The estate is way too far from my office."

Instead of acting overly deferential, Emma whined playfully, acting exactly like a spoiled granddaughter.

She felt entirely at ease. When she was abroad, her mentor was always recounting wild stories of his youth with Alfred. Whenever the two old men had their marathon international phone calls, she was always sitting right there beside them. She felt like she already knew him.

"Work? A girl like you shouldn't have to work! We absolutely can't have you exhausting yourself, especially when you've finally recovered your health."

Alfred patted her hand, his eyes softening with genuine sorrow. "It's been years, and you're still so terribly thin. That old fool clearly didn't feed you properly. But don't you worry. Now that you're home, I'll make sure you're pampered and fed until you're absolutely radiant."

Hearing those words, a sudden, suffocating wave of emotion tightened Emma's throat.

Her eyes welled with tears, and she offered a smile that looked heartbreakingly fragile.

"Okay. I promise I'll eat everything and get perfectly radiant. I definitely won't let your love go to waste."