My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 31

Andrew Lane’s expression remained calm as he gave a noncommittal grunt.

He neither agreed nor disagreed.

Grandpa Kevin took it as assent, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. “Out of all my children and grandchildren, Andrew, you’re the one I’m proudest of. Keep up the good work.”

Andrew Lane’s eyes were cool and distant. “I understand.”

When Emily Blair stepped out of the house, the urge to move out was screaming inside her head. The thought surged like a tidal wave, and before she realized it, she was already standing in front of a rental agency.

She hesitated for just a moment, then walked in.

While the agent was showing her potential places to rent, her phone suddenly started buzzing nonstop—messages pouring in one after another.

She glanced down. It was her classmates, bombarding her with frantic texts.

“Emily, check the campus forum right now!”

“Is it true?”

“Someone’s saying you spent the night in a hotel with some guy!”

“Hurry up and look—pretty much the whole school knows, even the teachers.”

Emily’s heart dropped. She opened the campus forum, and right at the top was a gossip thread with her name in the title.

SHOCKING! Rich girl adoptive daughter spotted at a hotel with a male classmate last night—rumors say she’s out sick from overexertion, and the guy has already transferred schools!

Emily’s eyes grew cold as she clicked in, only to find several candid photos plastered throughout the post.

The pictures showed her being helped into a hotel by Jacob Gates, her profile and back caught in clear, purposefully suggestive angles.

The comments section had already exploded, racking up over a thousand replies.

“Don’t you all know? She’s always been like this. She’s even trying to get close to the Lane family—yes, that Mr. Lane! She knows he’s engaged but still goes after him. Shameless!”

“Ugh, I’m in her class. She’s really not here today. Said she’s sick. Guess it’s from a wild night at the hotel?”

“That’s not all—I know that guy. His family came in first thing this morning to finalize his transfer. Probably found out what happened.”

Suddenly, there was a rustling noise on the other end. Isabella sounded surprised. “Andrew, you’re out already?”

A low grunt from Andrew Lane.

Then his voice, cool and emotionless: “What is it?”

Emily’s words came out in a rush. “Amelia Lane is trashing my name online. Are you going to do something about it or not?”

Andrew’s tone didn’t change. “Trashing you how?”

“She’s telling people I seduced you and slept with another guy.”

He didn’t reply right away.

After a moment, Andrew let out a dry, almost mocking laugh. “And what exactly is she trashing you with?”

“Isn’t that the truth?”