My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 641

Isabella Austin could barely breathe, her complexion tinged with a sickly blue—she looked absolutely dreadful.

Benjamin Gomez’s voice was calm, almost cold. “Isabella, you need to remember, you’re the one asking for my help now.”

“If that’s how you want it—if what you do has nothing to do with me—then what I do is none of your business, either.”

He pressed on, his tone unyielding. “You need to think this through. Would you rather spend a week with Ashley, or have Andrew Lane find out you’re not the innocent, highborn woman he thinks you are?”

Isabella dug her nails so hard into her scalp that her head ached. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, swirling with anxiety and confusion.

“Benjamin, can’t you just help me, no strings attached? Not this time?”

His response was unwavering. “No, Isabella. You need to face reality.”

“But you know why I have to make something of myself. You know why marrying into the Lane family means everything to me. You know what it’s like for me in my own family, Benjamin. You know how hard it’s been. Why did things have to change? Why can’t you help me, like you used to?”

His voice softened a fraction. “I’ll always care about you, but I need you to care about me—and about our daughter, too.”

Despair washed over Isabella’s face.

Most of the silence that followed was filled with her endless internal struggle.

Three minutes later, she finally let go of her hair. Her usually gentle voice was now hoarse and ragged.

“I’ll do what you want. But you have to promise me—promise that the Lane family, and especially Andrew, will never find out about my connection to you and Ashley. They can’t ever know.”

A hint of satisfaction curled Benjamin’s lips. “I promise.”

Isabella closed her eyes. “Then go. Make the arrangements. We’re running out of time.”

His tone softened. “Wait for me.”

She hung up, letting her forehead fall weakly against the wall.

She’d barely had a few minutes to collect herself after that draining conversation when someone approached from behind.

“Ms. Austin, since your competition results have been revoked, we’ll need you to return your trophy and certificate to the committee.”

Isabella clutched the trophy and certificate, spinning around as she sucked in a breath. “What’s the rush? Didn’t you say it still needs to be reviewed by the higher-ups? Until the final decision is made, I’m not handing anything over.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify