Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 88

Emma didn't get all the answers she wanted, but the conversation wasn't entirely fruitless.

Carter mentioned that Pamela Palmer had been married before, which likely meant she hadn't had any children at the time.

The Harrington family had run a background check back then, but Carter hadn't paid much attention to the details. He promised to dig up the files once he returned home.

Emma's suspicions about Pamela grew heavier. She was still lost in thought when she walked into her rented apartment.

"What's on your mind?"

Julian walked out of the kitchen holding a plate of food. Seeing her walk in with a deep frown, he paused to sniff the dish he had just cooked.

It smelled perfectly fine.

Snapped back to reality, Emma looked at her mentor standing in her apartment with sheer surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think?"

Julian practically ground his teeth. If he didn't show up, who was going to make sure she actually came home?

Now Emma was genuinely confused. Had Carter explained what happened that night to Julian or not?

Julian wasn't a puritan. Why was he so obsessed over a few kisses?

"Julian, about that night—"

"Eat first. Don't forget the medical conference is tomorrow."

Julian went to scoop her a bowl of rice. He knew perfectly well that Emma had been pushed into a corner and forced into intimacy with Carter to survive the drugs, but it didn't stop him from wanting to strangle the bastard for taking advantage of her.

He didn't stick around after dinner, leaving Emma zero chance to explain.

Watching him shut the door behind him, Emma let out a quiet sigh.

She'd have to ask Carter what exactly he had told Julian tomorrow.

The location for the medical conference remained unchanged; it was the exact banquet hall Julian had booked initially.

Emma wasn't in a rush and arrived right on time. By the time she walked in, the room was already packed.

"I knew she was hiding the Vance Group's information for her own selfish reasons. Thank God I got my hands on it first."

Charles's insults were loud and vicious, bringing the entire banquet hall to a dead silence.

Levi instinctively stepped forward, but Julian put a hand on his arm to stop him.

Seeing the dangerous, amused smirk slowly forming on Emma's lips, Julian whispered, "Let her have her fun first."

Emma straightened up, crossed her arms, and leaned back comfortably in her chair. She crossed her legs and raised an eyebrow at Charles. "Did you quit being a CEO to work as a security guard, Mr. Lockwood? Makes sense. It's a much more fitting job for someone your age."

Carter watched her with absolute devotion. Hearing her comeback, a fond, appreciative smile touched his lips.

Even her insults were elegant and pleasing to the ear.

In stark contrast to their amusement, Charles looked like he was about to explode.

"You are still a daughter of the Lockwood family! Have you completely lost all respect for your elders? Has every ounce of filial piety been fed to the dogs?"

Humiliated by the quiet snickers rippling through the crowd, Charles pointed a shaking finger at Emma.

"If you still consider yourself a Lockwood, stop embarrassing us and get out!"