My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 45

The girl gritted her teeth in fury. “Emily Blair, I swear I’ll never let you off the hook!”

Emily moved through the crowd, her voice steady and calm. “Fine. I’ll be waiting.”

Just a few days later, the school’s anniversary gala was set to take place, featuring Isabella Austin’s piano performance. Normally, it would have drawn little attention, but thanks to a flurry of online posts, Isabella’s performance had suddenly become the talk of the campus.

Though the original posts had been deleted, nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of Isabella’s fans and the shippers who paired her with Andrew Lane. Social media buzzed with heated discussions, laced with curses and insults directed at her.

Emily had seen these cheap tricks in her previous life—she’d witnessed too many smear campaigns, endured even more herself. By now, this kind of spectacle didn’t faze her in the slightest.

It was obvious who was pulling the strings behind all those posts.

Emily didn’t waste her time stewing; she posted to her own social feed instead.

“Wishing the happy couple a lifetime together. 🌹”

She attached a screenshot of Isabella’s profile banner—a photo of Isabella and Andrew Lane holding hands, taken from behind.

The post was quickly flooded with likes, but Emily didn’t bother to check. She packed up her things and left the school.

As soon as she stepped outside, she spotted a Rolls-Royce parked at the campus gate—Andrew Lane’s car.

A luxury vehicle like that, idling at the busy entrance, drew everyone’s attention. Students whispered, craning their necks to see who’d be lucky enough to get picked up.

Emily kept her eyes forward, determined to slip away unnoticed.

But she’d barely made it past the crowd when a hand seized her arm from behind.

“Ms. Blair, Mr. Lane requests that you get in the car.”

Emily yanked her arm free, her voice icy. “Kindly let him know I’ve already left the Lane family. He has no right to interfere in my life.”

Emily wanted to snap back that it was none of his business, but with Andrew’s resources and stubbornness, he’d find out sooner or later. No point resisting.

She resigned herself to treating him like a glorified chauffeur, staring out the window at the passing traffic as she coolly rattled off the name of her old neighborhood.

Andrew lounged in the driver’s seat, one leg crossed over the other, idly tapping his fingers on his knee. “You went through all that trouble to get out, and this is where you ended up living?”

His tone was casual, but the mockery was clear. Emily bristled, but kept her expression neutral as she shot back, “Even the worst place is better than somewhere that looks perfect on the outside but chews people up inside.”

Andrew let out a low, amused laugh—a sound that was all gravel and velvet.

Emily rolled her eyes in exasperation, careful not to let him see.

The car started with a purr, and in the next instant, Andrew reached over and grabbed her hand with startling speed.