Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 325

As evening fell, Emma took a stroll along the shoreline.

Carter's brow furrowed the moment he spotted a cluster of tourists down by the water.

"Didn't I order the entrance closed off? Why are there still people here?"

This stretch of beach was the Harringtons' private property, though they usually kept it open to the public. It was only closed off when members of the family came for a vacation.

Carter had instructed the staff to stop ticket sales a full week before bringing Emma here.

Jeff immediately made a call to investigate.

"The guards said Mrs. Palmer invited a few friends over."

Carter's eyes darkened with unmistakable annoyance.

"Have security clear the area."

He had spotted Sylvia in the crowd. Emma had always hated mingling with that social circle, and he wasn't about to let them ruin her mood.

Hearing his order, Emma stopped Jeff. "Don't. Doing that would be a slap in the face to Uncle Raymond and Aunt Pamela. It's a massive beach; a few extra people just makes it livelier. It's fine."

Jeff didn't even wait for Carter's approval—he simply tucked his phone away. Everyone knew the boss's wife held the real power.

Sure enough, Carter nodded in agreement.

Emma wandered closer to the water. Surrounded by women in skimpy bikinis and designer swimsuits, her flowing red dress felt distinctly out of place.

"Emma."

Someone called out her name. Emma, who was crouched down examining a crab, glanced up.

Tiffany Yale limped awkwardly toward her, slowly lowering herself to a squat.

"What is it?" Emma asked, standing up with the crab in hand.

Tiffany bit her lip. "I just wanted to thank you. My leg is healing beautifully."

"You still need to rest it. Limit your walking and avoid squatting down for now," Emma advised clinically.

Tiffany nodded, then dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Dominic is here too. Be careful."

Emma raised an eyebrow. The mention of Dominic Mercer put her on high alert.

The man was known to hold brutal grudges.

"Your property? This is Harrington land. What gives a gold-digger like you the right to act so high and mighty?"

The insult was so vile that even Sylvia frowned. "Chloe, that's enough," she warned.

But Chloe Gifford was completely emboldened.

"Why shouldn't I say it? Everyone knows what happened with Harvey. You used a cheap stunt to crawl into Mr. Harrington's bed, then threw a massive jewelry auction to force the family into accepting the marriage!"

She clicked her tongue in sheer disgust.

"Ugh. If I got drugged like that, I'd be too ashamed to live. I would have jumped off a building by now."

Emma arched an eyebrow, a radiant, terrifyingly bright smile spreading across her face.

The onlookers exchanged confused glances, unsure of why she was smiling. Sylvia, however, felt a sudden chill. That smile was dangerous.

"What? Cat got your tongue—Ah!"

Before Chloe could finish her taunt, Emma lunged forward, twisting her hand violently into Chloe's hair. Chloe shrieked in agony. Forced to bend over to ease the searing pain in her scalp, she stumbled helplessly as Emma dragged her forward.

"Since you love talking so much, keep talking."