My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1012

Emily looked at her. “Do you really?” Emma pursed her lips, her gaze cautious. “My point is,” Emily said calmly, “I am not going to let her off the hook for your sake.” Emma froze, her expression clouding with pain and conflict. “I am going to report her,” Emily stated coolly, her gaze fixed on Emma. Emily's eyes were clear and direct. Though her expression was placid, her stare felt sharp, as if it could see right through a person. Emma flinched and looked away, staring down at her own hands as they twisted the fabric of her dress. Her breathing quickened, and the sound of her own heartbeat seemed to grow louder in the quiet room. Her palms began to sweat. Her mind was a chaotic mess, a tangle of conflicting thoughts she couldn't sort out. On one side was her sister Adelaide's only child, her own blood, finally found. On the other was the daughter she had raised, with whom she shared a deep emotional bond. She couldn't choose between them. She couldn't bring herself to help Emily expose Juliana, but she also couldn't condone Isabella evading justice and hurting the daughter she had raised. Emma's brow furrowed in agony. Emily watched her, then calmly turned her gaze away. Throughout the conversation, Emily had remained unnervingly composed in her words and expression. Only the occasional tightening of her brow betrayed her inner turmoil. Honestly, she had hoped Emma would stand with her without hesitation, instead of sitting there, silently torn, unable to voice her true feelings. Emily felt a wave of disappointment and helplessness. She had lived with Emma for twenty-five years, yet it seemed that bond couldn't compete with Adelaide's daughter, with Isabella Austin. Even after two decades apart, Emma cared deeply for Isabella. Even though Isabella had committed unforgivable sins, her biological family still loved her. So many people loved Isabella Austin. It was as if the world had always been on her side, always favored her. For a moment, Emily wanted to scream at the heavens, to ask why she had been given a second chance at life at all. A shadow of sorrow passed through her eyes. She closed them briefly, clenching her fists. When she opened them again, her composure was restored. “Mom, regardless of what you think, I am going to report Isabella Austin. I will not let her remain above the law.” Emma looked up, her face a mask of sadness and conflict. “What are you thinking?” Emily asked. Emma bit her lip, stammering, “I… I don’t know…” Suddenly, she grabbed Emily’s arm. “Isabella is still so young. If she goes to prison, her life will be ruined. She’s Adelaide’s only child. My sister is gone; I can’t just abandon her… Maybe… maybe there’s another way, a solution that works for everyone. We can think about it.” “Such as?” Emily asked coolly. Emma’s eyes darted around frantically. “For example, we could offer the victim’s family more money,” she said eagerly. “We could try to get their forgiveness. We could have Isabella go and apologize to them in person. That way… that way, everyone wins.” Emily listened quietly, then slowly pulled her arm from Emma’s grasp. The empty space in her hand seemed to mirror a new emptiness in her heart. “Emily…” Emily turned to her, her eyes still calm, seemingly unaffected. “Isabella caused permanent, irreversible damage to an elderly woman. From what I know of the victim's family, a settlement is out of the question.”