My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 52

Emily Blair agreed without hesitation, raising her glass and pretending not to notice Ethan Lane slipping quietly behind her. With a smile, she asked the crowd, “You’re all looking forward to this, aren’t you?”

No one had expected her to say that, and truth be told, nobody really cared what Emily Blair had to say. They were too busy watching Ethan Lane behind her, eyes shining with anticipation.

She continued, “I heard you wanted to give me a present tonight.” She paused, letting the words hang in the air. “But you know, it’s only fair to give something in return. So I’ve prepared a special gift for you, too.”

The room was packed, but hardly anyone was actually paying attention to Emily’s words. Instead, all eyes were fixed on Ethan Lane, waiting—almost drooling—to see Emily’s dress fall to the floor, to see her break down in tears, clutching at her clothes.

Emily’s gaze swept the audience and locked with Andrew Lane’s, whose eyes were dark, detached, and unreadable. She offered him a faint, knowing smile.

Without taking a sip, Emily set her glass back on the table.

A second later, she felt a hand tug sharply at the strap of her dress from behind. Her smile only widened.

She’d reinforced that strap on purpose. Of course Ethan Lane couldn’t pull it loose.

She even caught him muttering under his breath, “What the hell…?”

Realizing the strap wouldn’t budge, Ethan let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thank God, he thought, it didn’t come off.

But then Emily spun around to face him, her eyes locked on his, unblinking.

Ethan’s throat tightened. “What’s wrong?”

“Having trouble?” she asked softly, almost teasing.

For a split second, Ethan’s mind went blank. “What do you mean?”

Emily’s hand landed on his shoulder. She grinned. “Don’t worry. Your jacket comes off just fine.”

He stared at Emily in disbelief. “What the hell are you doing?!”

Her expression turned icy. “Doing what? The same thing you planned to do to me. You all wanted to see me humiliated, stripped bare for your entertainment. Well, I wouldn’t stand for it. So I sacrificed you instead. Look how much fun everyone’s having—your sacrifice wasn’t in vain.”

Ethan’s lips snapped shut, then he glared at her, eyes blazing with rage. “How did you know about this?”

His face twisted in fury and humiliation. “Emily Blair, how dare you do this to me?!”

He was trembling with anger, shooting daggers at her, as if he could tear her apart with his eyes alone.

Emily only regretted not having more time—if she’d had a knife, she’d have cut through his trousers too, left him completely exposed.

She sneered, “What’s wrong? It’s fine for you to do it to me, but not the other way around?”