My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 308

When Arianna George called, Emily Blair was already staring at a message she’d typed out on her phone but hadn’t sent yet.

Seeing Arianna’s name flash on the screen, Emily pressed her lips together, hesitated for a moment, then answered, “Ms. George?”

“Emily, is there something you need to talk about?” Arianna’s voice sounded heavy with exhaustion—so weary that Emily barely recognized it, and a knot of worry tightened in her chest.

She lowered her voice and got straight to the point. “Ms. George, has the organizing committee been giving you trouble?”

There was a pause. For several seconds, all Emily could hear was silence. Finally, Arianna replied, “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me. Just focus on your studies, all right?”

Emily glanced out the window. The giant screen that had once advertised the Starlight Piano Competition now played some other commercial.

She spoke softly, “Ms. George, I never wanted to drag you into this.”

She blamed herself for not thinking things through. All she’d wanted was to bring Vivian Martin’s name back into the light and expose Isabella Austin’s plagiarism. She hadn’t planned on involving anyone else—she’d only ever meant to handle things on her own.

That was why she hadn’t told anyone about it. Not Emma George, not Elizabeth Wilson. No one.

She never wanted to be a burden to anyone.

“This whole mess started with me,” Emily said quietly. “It’s not your responsibility, and it has nothing to do with the Starlight Piano Competition either. With how much attention this is getting, there’s no way it’s all happening naturally. Someone’s pulling strings behind the scenes. You know as well as I do who’s backing Isabella Austin.”

Everyone in their circle knew exactly who stood behind Isabella Austin.

Andrew Lane.

He was Isabella’s greatest—and most unshakable—support.

Emily clamped her mouth shut, refusing to answer.

“You think I can’t see through you?” Arianna pressed. “You’re already hatching some wild plan in that head of yours, aren’t you? It’s going to be something huge—I can tell. Otherwise, why would you be so evasive when I ask?”

Emily pressed her lips tight, her eyes lowered to hide her thoughts.

There was a long silence on the line, broken only by the faint sound of Arianna’s breathing.

This girl, Arianna thought, will always be a source of worry.

Her heart softened. When she spoke again, her voice was gentle, no longer so stern. “Listen to me, Emily. Don’t go doing anything foolish. Focus on getting better, and keep up with your studies. That’s what really matters.”