My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 102

That day marked Kevin Lane’s seventy-eighth birthday, and the entire Lane family—more than a hundred relatives from every branch—had gathered at the estate for his grand celebration.

Emily Blair was among them.

She owed the Lane family a debt of gratitude; after all, they had raised her. Yet, when Kevin Lane asked her to attend the party, Emily couldn’t help but hesitate.

This time, even Andrew Lane’s parents were coming.

The Lane family ran businesses all over the world, and Andrew’s parents usually managed the overseas operations. They rarely returned home, making their presence at the estate a rare event.

But rare as it was, Emily’s memories of their visits remained vivid.

In her previous life, she had attended this very same seventy-eighth birthday party. Andrew’s parents had been there as well.

By then, word of her pregnancy had already spread.

Andrew’s parents had heard, too.

She remembered Andrew’s mother, Diana Harris—always the picture of elegance and poise. Dressed in a deep green silk dress, Diana was in her mid-fifties but looked no older than thirty-five. Her manner was calm and gracious, her every gesture dignified.

When Diana looked at Andrew, her eyes were warm and loving, the way a mother doted on her son. To everyone else, she was unfailingly polite.

But when her gaze landed on Emily, it grew cold—assessing her with the detached scrutiny of someone appraising a piece of merchandise, as if silently weighing her worth.

And in the end, Emily’s worth never quite measured up.

Diana never even bothered to greet her. During the toasts, she would intentionally skip right past her.

Andrew’s father, Kyle Lane, was a man of few words—stern, reserved, with the same stoic expression Andrew often wore.

Emily remembered the only thing Kyle said to her that day.

He told her to go back to her room, that she was embarrassing herself and the family.

He said it in front of everyone.

A hundred pairs of eyes settled on her, some mocking, some sneering, some filled with scorn. Emily had wanted nothing more than to disappear.

The party went on all day, but she spent it holed up in the tiny room reserved for the house staff.

She was deeply grateful for the choices she’d made since returning to this life.

On the other end, the butler fell silent. There was a faint rustling before Kevin Lane himself picked up.

“Emily, why don’t you want to come? Your grandpa really wants to see you.”

Emily pressed her lips together, frowning just a little.

It wasn’t as if the party would fall apart without her. She certainly wasn’t important enough for Kevin Lane to plead with her personally.

So why was he trying so hard?

Emily forced herself to sound obedient, speaking softly.

“Grandpa, the exams are only three months away. I really want to focus on studying and get into a good university.”

Kevin Lane replied, “It’s just one day, Emily. It won’t take up that much of your time. Besides, don’t you miss your grandpa at all?”