My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1326

His tone was clipped, as if he were stubbornly proving a point.

Tristan's sudden defensiveness caught her off guard. "What's wrong?"

Regretting his harshness instantly, he looked away, his chin dropping to his chest. "I-I didn't mean it like that."

Assuming he was still spiraling in guilt, Emily took his hand and spoke with deep affection. "It's alright. None of this was your fault. You did everything right, and I'm so incredibly grateful. Seriously, please stop beating yourself up."

The more she reassured him, the stranger his expression became. He stubbornly kept his face turned away, hiding his eyes.

Determined to see what he was hiding, Emily leaned over into his line of sight. "What is it? Talk to me, please?"

He just turned his head further away, a deep scowl settling on his features as he outright refused to look at her.

She offered a few more words of comfort and leaned a little further. Suddenly, the exaggerated movement pulled at the wounds on her arm and abdomen, eliciting a sharp gasp of pain from her lips.

Tristan snapped his head around in a heartbeat, grabbing her shoulders with unfiltered panic. "Are you okay?!"

Emily chuckled softly, sinking back against the pillows. "I'm fine, just stretched a little too far."

The moment she said it, an even deeper wave of frustration washed over his face.

She couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Why are you acting like a pouting child?"

He stared at her, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Are you really okay? Do you need a doctor?"

She squeezed his hand. "I promise I'm fine. No doctors necessary."

Then she added, "I think you're the one who needs checking out right now."

He stiffened. "I'm perfectly fine."

Emily reached up and pinched his cheek, finding it just as satisfying as she remembered. "Look at your face. You're practically throwing a tantrum. What's going on? Why are you upset? Just tell me, don't bottle it up."

He awkwardly batted her hand away. "Nothing's wrong. You're imagining things."

She laughed again. "Tristan, how long have I known you? Do you really think I can't tell when you're sulking?"

He opened his mouth but no sound came out.

"I just got back from a terrifying ordeal, and here you are, brooding in silence, refusing to talk to me," she teased gently.

Then, she threw out a wild guess. "Are you mad at me? Is that why you won't say anything?"

He looked completely helpless at the accusation. "Of course not..."

"Then tell me what it is," she urged softly. "Let me make it better."

He looked away once more, dropping his head in total conversational stonewalling.

Emily offered a resigned smile and pulled his hand into her lap. "That's fine. I'm right here. Tell me whenever you're ready, okay?"

He suddenly whipped his head around and stared intensely into her eyes.

Feeling slightly bewildered under his scrutiny, she touched her cheek. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

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