Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 68

Tristan, his face still smeared with cake, felt so thoroughly humiliated and enraged that he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. Realizing Emma possessed a remarkably close tie to the Shaw family, he feared the patriarch would demand an explanation and quickly slipped out of the venue.

Gillian stared in disbelief, her eyes practically burning holes into Emma out of pure jealousy.

She couldn't fathom how Emma could possibly know a man of Elder Shaw's stature.

Once the general guests had offered their birthday wishes and slowly filtered out, only a few close family friends remained in the estate. Gillian finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"I had no idea Emma knew you, Elder Shaw. She must have leveraged the Lockwood family's connections. You probably don't know this, but her mother is a vile woman. Right after I was born, she swapped me with Emma, letting her live as the pampered Lockwood heiress for over a decade."

Gillian dropped the bombshell, eagerly waiting for the patriarch to look at Emma with disgust.

Instead, Elder Shaw's brow furrowed. "What Lockwood family?"

"Oh, there's a young up-and-comer in Capital City named Logan Lockwood who's been making waves in finance. He couldn't make it today. This is his younger sister," someone in the crowd chimed in.

Elder Shaw's frown deepened.

"And what's this nonsense about swapping babies?"

Hearing his question, Gillian practically vibrated with excitement.

"When I was born, her mother secretly took me and threw me into a dumpster, so her own daughter—Emma—could take my place as the Lockwood heiress. My parents are just too kind-hearted. When Emma went abroad, my family even paid for everything!"

Gillian shot a triumphant glare at Emma, desperate to watch her squirm in humiliation.

Elder Shaw was furious.

"Throw her out."

Hearing the command, Gillian thrilled with victory. She immediately snapped at Emma, "Did you hear him? Get the hell out!"

*Hmph. Emma really was just coasting on the Lockwood name to get the patriarch's favor.*

*I should have exposed her when the whole room was listening.*

Emma didn't so much as flinch. She just calmly continued eating her food.

Gillian grew frantic. "What's wrong with you? Didn't you hear Elder Shaw tell you to leave?"

Elder Shaw waved it off dismissively. Carter's predatory gaze immediately locked onto his useless cousin.

Panic seized Percy's chest. Without another word, he dragged Gillian toward the exit.

Right before he left, he shot one last look at Emma.

It finally hit him. The "cheap" ex-fiancée he used to look down on was currently sitting effortlessly among the city's highest elites, her presence radiating undeniable dominance.

Every move Emma made was dripping with elegance and grace.

Carter smoothly stepped sideways, entirely blocking Percy's line of sight.

Hayden watched the entire exchange, biting the inside of his cheek to hide a massive grin at his friend's possessive little maneuver.

"I wondered what kind of monsters could be so heartless. To abandon a brilliant, beautiful girl like you in a foreign country where you nearly died time and time again..."

Elder Shaw completely ignored the silent war between the two men. Heartbroken for her, he immediately ordered the butler to bring several more plates of food specifically for Emma.

"Don't you worry. I don't care if it's the Lockwood family or whatever family—we don't acknowledge them. As long as you're in this country, I've got your back."