Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 69

After dinner, the patriarch dismissed the younger generation to mingle among themselves.

However, he specifically kept Emma and Hayden behind for a few extra minutes of conversation before finally letting them go.

"Where do you live? I'll drive you."

Feeling the absolute daggers Carter was glaring at him, Hayden braced himself and made the offer to Emma.

Carter's face instantly darkened into a thundercloud.

Emma waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine. Mr. Harrington is going my way."

At first, hitching a ride in Carter's car had felt incredibly awkward, but by now it was practically routine.

Carter's expression smoothed out considerably, while Hayden let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"Hey, my hands were tied. Grandfather insisted I drive you. If I let you go home without an escort, he'd literally skin me alive."

Hayden muttered as he walked out ahead of them. He had no idea why his grandfather adored this girl so much, but an order was an order, and he had to make sure she was taken care of.

The atmosphere in the car was stiflingly awkward. The silent communication between Carter and Hayden was intense—one practically vibrating with annoyance, the other shrugging in helpless surrender.

News of the drama at the estate spread through Capital City's elite circles like wildfire. When Charles heard the full story, he sat in stunned silence for a long time.

"Did Elder Shaw really say that?" Charles finally asked, looking at his daughter.

Gillian was so furious she wanted to smash every vase in the room.

"I don't know what kind of dirty tricks she pulled! She was stuck abroad for six years. How could she possibly have connections to the Shaw family?"

Gillian was entirely consumed by the suffocating wave of jealousy.

She had finally returned to the Lockwood family, her rightful place, so why was she still living in Emma's shadow?

Everything Emma had belonged to her!

"Do you think Percy had something to do with it?" Charles murmured.

Gillian shook her head vigorously. "Impossible. Percy was more shocked than I was."

"Maybe she networked through Percy behind our backs." Charles couldn't wrap his head around it. The Lockwood family had given her a pathetic fifteen thousand dollars over two years. She could barely afford to stay alive abroad, let alone schmooze with the Shaw family.

Hayden stared at him suspiciously. Ever since Carter's uncle had rushed into a spontaneous marriage, the Harrington family had become incredibly paranoid about background checks for any potential spouses.

Carter's eyes lost focus for a second. Thinking his friend was seriously evaluating her as a partner, Hayden nodded in approval.

"My family wouldn't care either way. My grandfather might be a hermit, but he's not stupid. No one's scamming him. But you, on the other hand? You've literally never dated anyone. Sure, your uncle's wife came from a rough background, but she's a good person. Emma, though? She clearly has a lot of hidden depths—"

Hayden was mid-ramble when Carter suddenly cut him off.

"She really loves the coffee at your place. Hire someone to deliver it to her every single day. I'll cover the salary."

"Huh?"

Ignoring Hayden's bulging eyes, Carter continued in total seriousness. "Right, she also loves cake, but she hates that blue box you use. Change it."

Hayden clicked his tongue, crossing his arms as he stared at his friend's retreating back.

*Unbelievable.* He had known Carter for years, and he was just now realizing the terrifyingly ruthless billionaire was actually a total romantic.

He was completely hopeless.