My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1016

The wealthy businessman took the stage again, delivered his speech, and then stepped down to toast each guest at the tables.

Emily Blair kept her eyes on Isabella’s parents, then leaned over to Emma George. “Alright, let’s go talk to them.”

Emma had been tightly wound all evening. The moment Emily spoke, she jumped to her feet. “R-right now?”

Emily nodded, meeting her eyes. “The charity gala is almost over. If we wait any longer, we’ll just have to find another time.”

Emma looked anxious, her hands twisting in the fabric of her dress. She kept licking her dry lips, her gaze glued to Isabella’s parents.

Emily didn’t hesitate. “Come on.”

Emma gathered her skirt and hurried after her.

Nearby, Isabella’s parents had just finished making their donation, dropping an envelope in the donation box. This year, they gave much more than usual, several times what they’d given before.

Now, Mr. and Mrs. Austin sat on a sofa together. She massaged his shoulders gently and whispered, “We donated in Isabella’s name. I hope God will recognize it for her, that maybe she’ll have a better life in her next one.”

Mr. Austin let out a quiet sigh, patting her hand. “He will. I’m sure of it.”

She let her hand fall and he began to rub her shoulders instead.

Mrs. Austin closed her eyes. But instead of seeing Isabella, she saw Ms. Silva—the woman she’d noticed earlier. Ms. Silva’s eyes were filled with such sorrow, so much left unsaid.

That look was exactly like her precious Isabella’s. For a split second, she thought she’d seen her daughter.

She let out a shaky breath.

But it wasn’t Isabella.

Mrs. Austin said softly, “I can’t help thinking Ms. Silva looks a lot like Isabella. Or maybe it’s just because I miss her too much.”

Mr. Austin paused what he was doing. “You thought so too?”

She turned, surprised. “You see it as well?”

He nodded, his brow furrowed.

A shadow passed through Mrs. Austin’s eyes and her mouth turned down. “It’s just wishful thinking. Isabella’s already gone.”

Mr. Austin started kneading her shoulders again, his voice rough. “We just miss her too much.”

A dull ache settled in Mrs. Austin’s chest. “We do. If only Isabella were still here.”

Mr. Austin lowered his gaze, silent.

The ache in Mrs. Austin’s heart twisted into something sharper, darker. She clenched her jaw. “This is all Emily Blair’s fault. If it wasn’t for her, Isabella wouldn’t have died. Everything is because of her.”

Mrs. Austin lowered her eyes, saying nothing. Her heart felt tangled and heavy.

When Isabella was alive, she’d hoped for her real daughter’s return. But now that Isabella was gone, she didn’t care anymore. In fact, she didn’t even want her biological daughter to come back.

Part of her wondered if Isabella found out she wasn’t really their daughter. Maybe that’s what made her lose her way, led her to use desperate means to prove herself, and finally, drove her into a corner where Emily finished her off.

That thought made her resent the daughter she’d never even met. She started hoping that girl would just stay away. In her heart, Isabella was her only daughter. No one else could take that place.

The idea startled her so much she almost gasped out loud. She tried to squash it, but she couldn’t help herself.

Even if they did find their real daughter, she knew she could never love her the way she’d loved Isabella. She felt sorry for that girl, but she missed Isabella too much.

Mrs. Austin looked up and suddenly froze. Her eyes turned cold, filled with disgust and rejection, a feeling so strong it made her stomach churn.

Emily Blair and Emma George were walking straight toward them.

To Mrs. Austin, it was like watching a pile of rotting trash head in her direction.

She didn’t want to see Emily Blair, let alone share the same air.

She stood up abruptly. Mr. Austin looked at her in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

She motioned toward Emily and Emma, her voice icy. “Let’s go. I can’t stand to even look at them.”