My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 855

She picked up the phone and immediately heard Tristan Davis’s apology, followed by yet another reminder that he already loved someone else and would never marry her.

After being turned down again and again, Cynthia Rivera’s patience finally snapped. Before Tristan could hang up, she beat him to it and ended the call herself.

With such a blunt rejection from Tristan, even Cynthia wouldn’t have the nerve to seek him out again anytime soon.

“Alright, I’m heading out,” Emily Blair said, waving as she slipped past Cynthia toward the door.

Cynthia, flustered and angry, called after her, “I didn’t say you could leave! You haven’t explained yourself. Stop right there!”

Emily stopped at the bathroom door and turned, her tone calm and even. “I’ve told you everything you need to know. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can do.”

Suddenly, her steps faltered. Not far ahead, a man was waiting.

Emily’s eyes narrowed in surprise. Instinctively, she glanced back toward the restroom door.

Cynthia hadn’t come out yet.

Emily approached him. “What are you doing here?”

Tristan slipped his hands into his coat pockets, a small smile playing on his lips. “You didn’t come back, and I started to worry something had happened. I decided to check and, as luck would have it, here you are.”

“I just ran into someone I knew. We talked for a bit.”

Tristan gently rested his hand on her shoulder. “Alright, then let’s go. The food’s getting cold.”

Emily hesitated, glancing over her shoulder toward the bathroom once more, uncertain whether Cynthia had overheard Tristan’s voice.

“Aren’t you going to ask who I was talking to? Maybe it’s someone you know.”

Tristan grinned. “If you’re saying it that way, I’m sure I do. Who was it?”

Emily didn’t bother to hide it. “Cynthia Rivera.”

Tristan’s eyebrows lifted. He looked sideways at Emily, studying her face.

She raised her brows right back at him, teasing, “Your childhood friend. Don’t you want to go and say a few words?”

He kept his gaze on her, searching her expression. The smile faded a little in his eyes when he realized she wasn’t putting on an act.

At the entrance, Emily stopped short at the sight of Cynthia, her eyes rimmed red and shining with unshed tears. She glanced between Cynthia and Tristan, who wore a blank expression.

Cynthia approached and stood before Tristan, her gaze pleading, raw emotion in her eyes.

“Tristan, could I talk to you for a minute?”

Emily pressed her lips together and quietly stepped back to give them space.

“Stay where you are,” Tristan said suddenly.

Cynthia froze, startled, her voice small. “I’ll stand right here. I won’t come any closer.”

“Not you.” Tristan turned his head toward Emily, who had been inching backward.

Emily pointed to herself, incredulous. “You mean me?”

Tristan fixed his eyes on her and didn’t look away.