My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 238

Alex White was always in the know, able to navigate any social circle with ease. It took him less than half an hour to figure out what Emily Blair had done.

A frown creased his brow, a flicker of contempt darkening his eyes as he pressed his lips together in a thin, hard line.

Emily’s little stunt had just thrown Isabella into the worst possible position.

He didn’t even need to imagine what was being whispered behind Isabella’s back. Of course, he already knew. Every one of those competitors—each with their noses in the air—secretly resented Isabella, the favorite to win the Starlight Piano Competition. There was no way they would ever truly accept her; there was always a trace of envy, of malice.

Isabella Austin, catching his expression, let out a soft, teasing laugh. “What’s wrong? Who’s ruffled your feathers this time?”

Alex’s voice was low and steady. “You just focus on your performance. Leave everything else to me and Andrew. We’ll handle it.”

Isabella’s reply was gentle. “Did something happen?”

He hesitated, eyes clouding for a moment.

“It’s nothing,” he said, though his jaw tightened. “I was just thinking… if Emily Blair had even a tenth of your kindness, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

Isabella pressed her lips together, her voice soft and calm. “Emily’s still young. She’ll grow up one day.”

Alex shook his head, letting the silence speak for him.

But in his mind, the comparisons were relentless. At Emily’s age, Isabella was already celebrated as a prodigy, invitations to study abroad piling up, adored by everyone she met—young or old, man or woman. She was impossible not to love.

Emily, on the other hand, was notorious for her temper and her reputation. She had a knack for making enemies, and her character left much to be desired. No matter how hard she tried, she could never come close to Isabella, yet she insisted on making herself Isabella’s rival.

All Alex could do was trail behind her, watching from the sidelines, forever the second choice. He did everything she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—do herself.

Isabella turned away from him then, lifting a hand to wipe at the tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m just… a little upset, that’s all.”

Her words weren’t overtly emotional, but Alex heard the hurt trembling beneath them, and his heart clenched painfully.

“Isabella…” he breathed, raw with worry.

She sniffled, her voice trembling, “Alex, could you… give me a moment alone?”

His frown deepened. For a second, he hovered uncertainly, reaching out as if to brush a strand of hair from her face, but his hand stopped mid-air. Slowly, he curled his fingers into a fist and let his arm fall back to his side.