My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1098

Tristan walked away without looking back, his steps so final that Steven Davis and the entire Rivera family went pale. Cynthia just stood there, champagne glass trembling in her hand, staring helplessly at Tristan’s retreating figure.

“Tristan, where are you going?” she called out, her voice shaky with panic.

The guests had no idea what was going on. Some looked confused, others whispered among themselves, exchanging glances as Tristan cut through the crowd. No one could miss the stormy look on his face.

Tears welled up in Cynthia’s eyes. She spun around and collapsed into her mother’s arms. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rivera looked like they wished they could disappear.

The ballroom buzzed with low voices, bits and pieces of gossip floating through the air as everyone tried to figure out what had just happened.

Steven Davis scowled, muttering, “Unbelievable.”

Emily heard the commotion behind her even as she tried to move quickly down the hallway. She kept her head down, stepped into the elevator, and rode up to the presidential suite Tristan had booked for her.

Once inside, she pulled out her phone and checked her messages. Nothing from Tristan. Her heart felt heavy. She was about to toss her phone aside when it lit up. Tristan was calling.

She hesitated just a second before answering.

“Where are you?” Tristan’s voice came through, breathless and tense.

Emily took a moment before she replied, “I’m in the room. Are you coming?”

“Yeah. Which room?” His voice sounded rushed, like he’d forgotten everything but her.

She almost laughed. He was the one who set up the suite, after all, but she just answered quietly, “Thirteen oh four.”

“I’ll be there soon. Wait for me.”

“Okay.” The call ended before she could say anything else.

Emily sat on the sofa, fiddling with her phone, suddenly wishing she hadn’t handed her gift to the hotel staff. She should have kept it and given it to Tristan herself.

She considered calling again, but changed her mind. Quietly, she started eating the dinner, barely tasting it.

The room was silent. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the chaos in the ballroom. Was Tristan still there? What was he doing? How would he handle everything now?

None of tonight’s drama had been part of her plan. She felt restless and uneasy, pushing her food around even though it looked delicious.

She tried to reassure herself. Tristan couldn’t have known about the engagement. If he had, there’s no way he would have invited her here. His shock had been way too real.

After eating about half her dinner, she put down her fork, appetite gone.

Not long after, her phone rang again. She grabbed it, half hoping it was Tristan, but the screen showed Cynthia Rivera’s name.

Emily’s eyes narrowed. She answered, cutting straight to the chase. “What do you want?”