My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 458

As Emily Blair was quietly taking in the atmosphere of the Davis home, Tristan suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her down into the chair opposite his father, Steven Davis.

“There’s only one person I care about, and that’s Emily. I’m not leaving her,” Tristan declared.

Emily blinked in surprise, glancing at Tristan’s profile. They were only pretending, of course, but he seemed genuinely upset.

She turned her head, running through the lines she’d memorized just the night before, ready to wax poetic about her and Tristan’s “love” for Steven’s benefit.

But before she could say a word, Steven gave a derisive chuckle, looking at Tristan like he was a child caught in a fib.

“Oh, cut it out. If you really mean it, kiss her—right here, in front of me,” Steven challenged.

Emily’s well-rehearsed words caught in her throat. She couldn’t get them out or swallow them back down, leaving her flushed with embarrassment.

Tristan, usually glib and quick-witted, suddenly fumbled, his ears turning red. “What are you talking about? You’re still here—I’m not that shameless!”

Emily started to say something, but Steven cut her off. “Ms. Blair, you two can stop the act. You’re not fooling me.”

She just raised an eyebrow in response, saying nothing.

Steven continued, “I’ve had people keeping an eye on you both for years. I know exactly what’s going on between you. Don’t waste your energy trying to pretend you’re a couple. It’s not convincing.”

Well, so much for keeping up the charade.

Emily took it in stride, showing no embarrassment at being found out. “Alright, I’ll make sure to be more convincing next time.”

Even as she joked, she was genuinely wondering where her performance had fallen short.

She looked Steven in the eye and asked earnestly, “Mr. Davis, could you tell me what gave us away?”

Steven was momentarily speechless.

His expression darkened, brows knitting together. “What did you say?”

Tristan’s gaze was fixed on the side of Emily’s face, his heart pounding. Their hands, which had merely been clasped together a moment ago, now intertwined completely as Emily’s fingers slid between his, palm pressing tightly against his own.

For a split second, Tristan’s mind went completely blank. His heart was racing with a wildness he’d never felt before.

Then, Emily lifted their joined hands, her voice clear and steady. “Mr. Davis, I’m the one who’s been chasing Tristan.”

Tristan’s thoughts short-circuited entirely, as if even his heartbeat had stilled.

Steven’s frown deepened.

Emily met his gaze head-on, smiling with utter poise. “It was my idea, Mr. Davis. I heard you were pressuring Tristan to settle down and had even picked out a fiancée for him, so I suggested pretending to be his girlfriend and coming here to meet you. The whole thing was my scheme, for my own selfish reasons.”