My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 236

Isabella Austin, sitting beside her, suddenly reached over and patted Emily’s shoulder, her laughter light and easy. “Thank you, officers,” she said.

“I knew all along this was just a misunderstanding. I trust Emily—she’d never do something like that.”

Emily Blair didn’t react. Isabella’s words, especially her last line, seemed to carry a double meaning, gentle and kind: “Thank you both for clearing Emily’s name.”

Emily’s head snapped up, her gaze locking on Isabella.

Clearing her name?

Isabella smiled with a warmth that seemed to light up her entire face, her eyes sparkling like a starry night—so calm, so radiant, not a trace of the anxiety she’d had earlier. She looked beautiful, soft, almost impossibly perfect.

Emily couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh.

Hadn’t her name just been cleared? She was the victim here, yet somehow she’d become the one under suspicion. Now, with the real culprit still hiding in the shadows, Isabella, all sympathy and understanding, had graciously “cleared” her.

It was almost laughable.

Isabella seemed startled by Emily’s reaction. The smile faded from her lips as she shrank back toward Andrew Lane, giving Emily a look equal parts pitiful and wary.

Emily simply stared at her, her expression unreadable, her eyes empty of any emotion.

She only looked away when she noticed Andrew’s hand resting firmly on Isabella’s slender shoulder, his grip supportive, as if trying to give her strength.

Emily’s gaze flickered, and she slowly looked up to meet Andrew’s eyes.

Under the stark hospital lighting, Andrew Lane’s features looked even sharper, chiseled and severe. His brow was strong and defined, his dark, narrow eyes shadowed and deep, hiding emotions Emily couldn’t begin to fathom.

He stood protectively close to Isabella, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. His voice was low and resolute. “Let’s go.”

The “let’s” was unmistakable—he meant himself and Isabella.

Alex White moved in front of Isabella, arm outstretched as if to shield her, his eyes scanning Emily warily, suspicion clear in his voice. “What’s with that look, Emily? The officers already said you’re not involved. What right do you have to doubt her?”

Emily shot to her feet.

Was this really Isabella’s world, with everyone cast in roles meant to support her?

Isabella was the darling of this universe, the one everyone protected and doted on. And Emily—facing Isabella—felt like nothing more than the villain in someone else’s story, a supporting character destined to lose everything in the end.

A chill settled in Emily’s chest.

She slowly sat back on the hospital bed, her gaze unfocused, her voice barely above a whisper. “I need to rest.”

Seeing her calm down, the officers and Alex finally let their guard down.

“Get some rest,” one of the officers said. “If you remember anything else, you know where to find us.”

Alex, though more relaxed, still shot Emily a wary look before turning away.

As Andrew wheeled Isabella out, Alex stayed close, placing himself squarely between Emily and Isabella, blocking her from view—still on high alert, ready to defend Isabella from any possible harm.

Only after everyone had finally left did Emily let herself collapse onto the bed, her whole body going slack as she squeezed her eyes shut.