My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 372

Thinking back on everything that had happened, Emily Blair felt as if it all belonged to another lifetime.

She remembered how, in her previous life, she had humbled herself before Andrew Lane to the point of groveling, and now it seemed almost impossible to believe. That woman hardly felt like her at all—nor should she have been.

Once, Emily had tiptoed around Andrew Lane and the Lane family, always trying to please, always apologizing for her own existence. But now, her attitude toward both Andrew and his family couldn’t have been more different. She’d changed completely.

It was Andrew Lane, ironically, who had taught her the most important lesson of all.

No matter how desperate or helpless a woman might feel, she should never pin all her hopes on a man. Lean on others, and they’ll eventually walk away. Rely on someone else, and even the strongest support can crumble.

Especially if that someone’s heart was never truly with you.

The only thing you can truly count on is what you hold in your own hands.

Even if all she ever earned was just enough for bills and groceries, at least it would be hers—hard-won, honest, and real.

This time, she would not, under any circumstances, let Andrew Lane control her choices or her future.

Never again.

When Andrew’s name flashed across her phone, Emily looked at it coldly and let it ring. She stood up and headed for the bathroom to get ready for bed.

Half an hour later, she emerged from the bathroom in loose, comfortable pajamas, towel in hand as she dried her hair. She padded softly across the old floorboards in her slippers, balancing herself with one hand on the wall as she hopped on her good foot.

Bending over, she took the hairdryer from her nightstand. The gentle warmth washed over her as she sat on the edge of the sofa, eyes closed, listening to the soothing hum.

Suddenly, another sound broke through the droning noise. At first, Emily didn’t pay much attention. Old buildings made plenty of strange noises.

But the sound grew louder, more insistent. She opened her eyes, frowning, and listened carefully. The hairdryer clicked off, and silence settled over the apartment. Now she could hear it clearly.

Thud. Thud. Thud—

Someone was knocking—no, pounding—on the apartment door, heavy enough to make the walls tremble.

And then Emma George’s voice rang out, sharp and wary: “Who is it? If you don’t stop, I’m calling the police!”

Emily pulled herself upright, grabbing her cane, and limped out of her bedroom.

Emily patted her hand, trying to reassure her. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m not going out.”

Emma tugged her toward the back room. “Let’s just lock ourselves in and call the police. We’ll wait for them to get here.”

Emily held her mother’s wrist, steadying her. “It’s okay. Let’s not panic.”

She had a hunch about who was on the other side of the door.

Suddenly, the constant ringing of Andrew Lane’s calls flashed through her mind. A little voice inside her whispered that it was Andrew himself out there.

As if on cue, the pounding stopped.

Emily’s heart skipped a beat. She stared at the door, tense and alert.

A moment later, a familiar voice called out from the hallway.

Just as she suspected. The old building let in every sound—neighbors arguing, someone chopping vegetables for dinner, even the barking of dogs and meowing of cats. Emma had complained about it a thousand times before. And now, every sound seemed to echo through the night, making Emily’s heart pound even harder.