My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 211

Emily Blair frowned slightly and turned away, about to slip past.

But the man grabbed her arm, grinning with a sleazy confidence. “Come on, Ms. Blair. It’s just a drink. No need to make it so difficult, is there?”

Her face went cold. “Let go.”

The man's smile vanished as he felt the sting of rejection in front of everyone. He tightened his grip on her wrist, no longer bothering to hide his anger. “Emily Blair, who do you think you are?”

His voice dropped to a harsh growl. “Don’t you dare play hard to get with me.”

His words echoed through the enormous indoor pool, loud enough to draw the attention of everyone nearby.

The crowd at the pool had split into two groups. Most people were clustered around Andrew Lane and Isabella Austin, eager to flatter the power couple. The rest—shirtless men with paunchy bellies and hungry, twisted grins—had gathered around Emily Blair, their eyes raking over her as if they could strip her bare with a glance.

Further off, Alex White was still in the water, half his face submerged. It was impossible to read his expression.

With Andrew Lane and Isabella Austin’s arrival, the music had been turned off, making the men’s crude voices around Emily Blair ring out all the more clearly.

As the man spat his insults, nearly everyone at the pool turned to look.

Emily found herself boxed in by leering men, the stench of their sweat hanging thick in the air. The smell was so strong it made her want to gag.

Isabella Austin’s voice broke the tension, laced with concern that sounded just a bit too careful. “Emily, who are these people? You’re still in high school. Shouldn’t you be focusing on your studies instead of… this?”

The question was artfully phrased.

Anyone with eyes could see how uncomfortable Emily was—Isabella certainly wasn’t blind. She had to know Emily neither wanted nor welcomed any of these men. But by framing it this way, Isabella made it sound like Emily was willingly keeping their company, all while positioning herself as the caring “big sister,” offering gentle advice.

Emily caught the implication instantly.

If he couldn’t have Isabella, Emily was a good enough consolation.

So he barely registered Emily’s fury; if anything, it only stoked his desire. He leered at her, moving closer. “Come upstairs with me, Emily Blair. I’ll show you a good time.”

Emily’s gaze turned icy, her voice flat. “This is your decision.”

He didn’t bother to listen, nor did he care to understand.

In the next instant, Emily moved. In a flash, she drove her knee straight up, landing a brutal blow between his legs.

“Ah!”

The man’s words died in his throat. His face twisted in agony, turning beet red as he doubled over, clutching himself. For a moment, his whole body convulsed before he collapsed to the floor, writhing in pain.