My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1002

He slowly removed his arm from around Tristan’s shoulders. “Hey, let’s all talk calmly, okay? Just talk it out.”

Tristan lowered his gaze to his phone, not answering.

Penelope was determined to get information about this woman out of him. She had been pursuing Tristan for years. While they’d made no romantic progress, their friendship had grown closer, and she’d always believed that persistence would eventually pay off. She never imagined another woman would beat her to it—and that Tristan would be the one to confess his feelings.

She was hostile toward this unknown girlfriend, but her intention wasn’t to sabotage or interfere. She just wanted to understand where she had lost.

She stared intently into Tristan’s eyes. “Tristan, can I know?” For years, she had worn her heart on her sleeve without shame. She believed in being open about love, and if she had to lose, she wanted to lose with clarity and dignity.

Tristan met her gaze. His expression was the same as it had always been when he looked at her—polite and distant, without a trace of affection or intimacy.

“She’s a very good woman,” he said.

Penelope pressed on. “How good?”

Just as Tristan was about to speak, his phone chimed with a notification. It was a text message.

Standing so close, Penelope saw Tristan’s eyes instantly light up, a tenderness appearing in them that she had never seen before. It was like looking into a deep pool of water that could gently pull you under. She watched as he picked up his phone, his movements almost eager as he tapped the screen to read the message. A slow, genuine smile spread across his face as his thumbs moved quickly, typing a reply.

Luke helpfully explained, “Tristan got special permission to have his phone. His girlfriend has a fever, so he’s been waiting for a message from her. The time he was allotted is already up, so he needs to return it soon or he’ll have to write a formal apology.”

Luke raised his eyebrows, annoyed. “Hey, I’m just trying to be nice!”

Penelope turned and walked away without another word.

After a morning spent in a feverish haze, Emma made sure Emily was settled in her room before going to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Once she was alone, Emily took out her phone and read the messages from her assistant.

Everything was arranged for the DNA test; all that was needed were the samples from Juliana and Emma. She had Juliana’s. Now she just needed Emma’s.

Emily immediately got out of bed and crept out of her room. She found Emma in the kitchen, noisily chopping ribs. Without alerting her, Emily quietly slipped into Emma’s bedroom.