My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 415

She rented a place along the fourth ring road of the capital—a modest house in a run-down neighborhood, sharing it with Emma George and Elizabeth Wilson. The house was neither small nor spacious, its walls patched and peeling with age. Less than six feet separated it from the surrounding buildings, which were crammed close together. The neighborhood buzzed with life, mostly filled with young professionals and laborers from out of town. People mostly kept to themselves, so despite the crowded quarters, things stayed relatively quiet, broken only by the occasional wailing child or a neighborly shouting match.

The house had three bedrooms and a living room, just under a thousand square feet, simply furnished but with all the necessary appliances. Rent was about the same as what she’d paid back in her old city, so Emily Blair found it manageable.

Elizabeth Wilson, however, didn’t stay there often; she was busy looking after her grandmother at the hospital.

Emily covered the rent herself, despite Elizabeth’s protests. Elizabeth had insisted on paying her share, but Emily wouldn’t hear of it. Eventually, Elizabeth relented, promising to pay her back later.

Emily had only nodded—she could tell Elizabeth would move out on the spot if she refused her request.

When Emily got home that day, Emma George hadn’t returned yet.

She didn’t think much of it. Slinging her backpack off her shoulder, she headed straight to her room. The material Xavier Gonzalez had taught them that day wasn’t too difficult, so after a quick review, she pulled out her high school prep book and set to work.

Even though she’d already mastered this year’s entrance exam topics, the way things had changed since her “second chance” left her uneasy. What if the exam questions changed too? She needed to be prepared for anything.

After finishing her planned practice tests for the day, Emma was still nowhere to be seen. Emily pulled out her phone and sent her a quick text.

Where are you? Will you be home for dinner? I’m thinking of ordering in.

Emma replied almost instantly: On my way back! Don’t order takeout—I bought groceries. Can you start the rice?

Sure, Emily typed back.

She slipped on her slippers and padded into the kitchen.

As Emily opened the door, she found Emma staring at her phone, looking surprisingly serious.

Startled by the sound, Emma jerked her head up. She looked tense, gripping her phone tightly and holding it upright—so upright, Emily could no longer see anything on the glowing screen.

Emily arched an eyebrow. “Mom, what are you looking at? You look so nervous.”

Emma shot her a quick glare, pocketing her phone as she walked inside. “It’s so dark down here—if someone suddenly appeared in front of you, wouldn’t you be scared?”

Emily nodded in agreement. “Fair point.”

“But,” she continued, following Emma inside and swinging the door shut behind them, “you didn’t look scared, Mom. You looked nervous.”