My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1028

The truth hit him so suddenly it was almost dizzying, and he couldn’t stop the grin that tugged at his lips. His heart was thundering, wild and uncontrollable.

He reached out and pulled Isabella into his arms, just wanting to hold her close and soak in the happiness swirling around him.

“Thank you, Isabella. Really. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Dennis all this time. I mean it.”

Maybe Benjamin’s happiness was catching, because Isabella’s lips curved into a shy smile.

He hugged her tighter. “Thank you for giving me such an amazing surprise.”

Isabella gave his chest a gentle punch. “You know, this is all your fault. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had to spend all those years tiptoeing around in the Lane house.”

Benjamin leaned back a little, his hands still on her shoulders, searching her face. “Does Andrew Lane know Dennis isn’t his son?”

Isabella hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, he knows.”

Benjamin’s gaze turned serious.

They both understood the reason.

Andrew Lane was paying back a debt.

Years ago, there was a fire. Isabella had carried Andrew out of the burning building on her back. He never forgot that night, or the fact that she’d saved his life.

Back in high school, everyone gossiped that they were dating, but none of it was true.

Out of gratitude, Andrew always looked out for Isabella, did anything she asked. Falling for him just felt natural. But Andrew was good-looking, smart, and talented. Girls lined up to chase after him, and Isabella hated it. Whenever someone asked about her and Andrew, she’d drop hints, act mysterious, let people think they were a couple just to keep the other girls away. And it worked. Some of the girls who’d been trying to get close to Andrew just disappeared.

Once she saw how well her plan worked, Isabella got bolder. She’d act extra close with Andrew, touch his arm, laugh a little too loudly, anything to make them look like a real couple. The rumors got so out of hand that even the teachers thought they were together.

In her mind, Andrew belonged to her.

Everything stayed the same until graduation, when Andrew finally called her out.

“I know what you’ve been doing.”

For a second, Isabella just stared at him, her cheeks turning pink as his words sank in. “So… you know.”

Her tears finally spilled over.

Andrew hesitated, then, like always, reached out to wipe her cheeks.

All the times she’d loved his quiet attention came rushing back, but now she couldn’t stand it.

She sniffled, her voice breaking. “Then why are you always so good to me?”

Andrew held her gaze. “You saved my life.”

Isabella turned and ran.

Andrew tried to follow, but she shouted at him, her voice cracking, “Don’t follow me!”

After that, Isabella left the country without saying goodbye and cut him off completely.

It wasn’t until she was abroad that she met Benjamin Gomez. Still smarting from Andrew’s rejection, she decided to be with Benjamin—to get back at Andrew for breaking her heart.