My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 309

A wave of bitterness washed over Emily Blair, making her grip her phone tighter. It took her a moment before she managed a quiet, barely audible “Mm.”

“That’s my good girl,” Arianna George coaxed gently. “Hey, have I ever asked you if you’re planning to apply to art school, or are you just taking the regular college entrance exams?”

When Emily finally spoke, her voice was a little hoarse, though by the time it reached the other end of the line, it sounded perfectly normal.

“I’m not applying to art school. My grades in the core subjects are good enough.”

Arianna sounded relieved. “That’s great. Just focus on your studies, okay? Don’t let this whole mess get to you.”

All Emily could do was murmur her agreement.

After hanging up, she let herself collapse backward onto the bed, staring vacantly at the ceiling above her.

Night fell, and she still hadn’t sent the text message she’d drafted hours before.

In the days that followed, friends, classmates, even teachers reached out, all wanting to know how she was, what had happened.

But as she scrolled through the messages, Emily could see the thinly veiled malice beneath the surface of their supposed concern. Her gaze grew cold.

Aside from Elizabeth Wilson, her own class, and Ms. Carter, she doubted anyone at school truly cared. Most of those asking after her just wanted to kick her while she was down.

“You need to think long and hard about how you’re going to fix this. If you can’t, there’s no point in you coming back. You might as well just quit now!”

By six in the evening, Emily sat at the dinner table, staring at the plate of nutritious food the housekeeper had prepared. She had no appetite—couldn’t bring herself to eat a thing. It was only when Emma George insisted she drink some chicken broth that she managed a few sips.

By eleven, the housekeeper and Emma had already gone home, leaving Emily alone in her hospital room.

She finished a practice math exam and was just about to go to sleep when, out of nowhere, a sharp cramp seized the muscles in her left calf. The pain was so sudden and fierce, it took her breath away. She couldn’t help but let out a low, strangled gasp as her hands twisted into the sheets and her left leg curled up instinctively.

But the slightest movement tugged at her already injured ankle, and a new wave of agony ripped through her, so excruciating it nearly made her cry out.