My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 50

On the other end, Ethan Lane stared at the text message on his phone, a slow grin spreading across his face.

One of his buddies nudged his shoulder. “Well? Is she coming or not?”

“Oh, she’s coming. I invited her—why wouldn’t she?” Ethan’s confidence was unmistakable, his smile practically beaming with smugness. “You guys never saw how clingy she used to be. Always calling me ‘big brother,’ hanging onto my every word. She’s so damn naive, it’s not like she’d ever dare go against me.”

His friend laughed. “Alright then, we’ll get everything set up. Time to help you blow off some steam.”

Ethan nodded. “Go on.”

As he scrolled through the messages again, Ethan finally let out a breath he’d been holding. No one else noticed, but he could feel it—relief, subtle but real.

His friends couldn’t see the difference, but he could.

Emily Blair was nothing like she used to be. The old Emily had been timid to a fault, eager to please and terrified of defiance. She’d looked at him with the wide-eyed admiration of a kid who actually believed he was her brother.

Back then, Ethan only paid attention to his “little sister” because her meekness amused him. He’d toy with her, watching her light up with gratitude over the smallest scraps of kindness. It was entertaining, nothing more—a harmless pastime.

But now, since coming back, he couldn’t help but notice the change. Emily’s eyes no longer held that blind adoration. Instead, there was a sharp, stubborn defiance—a tension that hadn’t been there before.

It rattled him more than he cared to admit.

Sure, part of his outburst at Emily was because he wanted to stand up for Isabella Austin and Amelia Lane. But deep down, he also wanted to see Emily cave—wanted her to fall back in line, call him “brother” again, and trail after him like she used to.

He just never expected her to resist so completely, to keep her chin up no matter how harsh he got.

For days, he’d been uneasy.

Today, when he texted her to come over, she finally gave in. That alone eased his nerves.

Maybe Emily Blair hadn’t changed as much as he’d feared. Maybe things really could go back to how they were.

Still, that didn’t mean he was ready to let her off the hook.

He glanced down at his phone, then reached for the pale pink cocktail dress he’d set aside earlier.

He’d picked it out himself—a strapless number with a cleverly designed back. One gentle tug on the ribbon and the whole thing would slip right off. The dress was his idea of an “apology gift” for her to wear that night.

If tonight went as planned, he’d let Emily back into his good graces, treat her as his sister again, and pretend nothing had changed.

He was still lost in thought when someone knocked at the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound was gentle, measured. Ethan’s eyes lit up.

“That’s Emily—someone get the door.”

His friends exchanged skeptical glances. “How do you know it’s her? There’s a ton of us out there.”

Ethan’s voice faltered for a second. Even he hadn’t realized how well he knew Emily’s habits.

Even if Emily was technically his sister, she had no right to lay a hand on Isabella.

Isabella Austin had always been special to him, the girl he’d secretly treasured for years. Even if she liked Andrew Lane instead, Ethan couldn’t stop himself from caring—quietly, from the sidelines.

How dare Emily raise her hand against Isabella?

With that thought, Ethan settled back onto the sofa, waiting.

He hoped that, after tonight, Emily would finally realize her mistake and learn to control her temper.

If she showed some remorse, maybe he’d even put in a good word for her with Grandpa, help her move back into Lane Manor.

Emily, having changed into the dress, was led by a club attendant up to the rooftop.

The place was buzzing with music and laughter, men and women mingling beneath neon lights.

But when Emily stepped onto the rooftop, the chatter died instantly.

Ethan didn’t notice she’d arrived until his friend nudged him.

He looked up.

And in that moment, he froze.