The footsteps were still a ways off.

Emily Blair closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, her gaze was steady, stubborn.

She took a step forward and whispered, “Hurry. Let's go!”

Without looking back, she picked up her pace, limping as she made her way toward the check-in counter.

When a feeling of dread grows this intense, it stops being just a feeling-it becomes reality.

Her expression darkened. Dragging her suitcase, she strode to the counter on her injured ankle.

Elizabeth Wilson and the others were confused. Emma George hurried after her, whispering, "Emily, is something wrong?"

Emily caught her breath. "We have to move. Now. We're running out of time." "Emily Blair!"

The urgent footsteps grew louder, and suddenly a furious shout rang out behind them—like a thunderclap rolling through the terminal.

Emily's pupils contracted; her heart pounded even faster.

Elizabeth stared in disbelief. "That's Andrew Lane!"

Gritting her teeth, Emily muttered, “Ignore him. Keep moving."

Emma frowned. "How did this happen? Wasn't Kevin Lane supposed to keep Andrew in the dark? Didn't he manage to cover for us?"

Elizabeth looked anxiously at Emily's back. "And how did Andrew get here so quickly?"

Emily's jaw tightened.

She wanted to know the same thing-how did Andrew find her? How did he get here so fast?

Kevin Lane had promised her she'd reach the capital safely, that Andrew would never know her route or destination.

Yet, only a few hours later, Andrew had already caught up.

With Kevin's resources and connections, it shouldn't have been this easy for Andrew to get her travel details.

Sure, maybe Kevin couldn't keep the secret forever, but with him running

interference, Andrew shouldn't have been able to find her this quickly.

There was only one explanation: Kevin Lane must have told Andrew. That was the only way Andrew could have arrived so fast.

Emily's chest heaved in anger.

Of course. Not a single member of the Lane family could be trusted.

Elizabeth and Emma realized things were far more urgent than they'd thought, and, without another word, hurried along with her.

"Emily Blair."

This time, Andrew's voice was cold, controlled, stripped of anger-like a final warning before his patience broke.

Emily acted as if she hadn't heard him, moving faster toward the counter. She slid her ticket across to the attendant, trying to keep her voice steady. "Please, we need to check in as soon as possible. Thank you."

"Of course, just a moment..."

The attendant took the tickets, glancing past Emily's shoulder at the man approaching behind her. When he drew closer and she saw his face, her cheeks flushed and she quickly looked back down, typing at her keyboard.

“Just a moment, it won't take long..."

She hesitated. "Ms. Blair? There's someone behind you-he's been calling your name."

Emily forced down her frustration, keeping her voice level. "I don't know him. Please, just check us in as fast as you can. I'm in a hurry."

The attendant couldn't help but smile. "Ms. Blair, no matter how rushed you are, the flight leaves at a set time, you know."

The footsteps drew even closer. Emily licked her dry lips. "I just need to get through security as soon as possible. Please."

After asking for speed three times, the attendant seemed to catch on. She glanced again at the man behind Emily, her eyes lighting with sudden understanding. "Of course. I understand."

With focused urgency, the attendant tapped at her keyboard, and within seconds handed their tickets back. "You're all set. This way to security."

Emily took the tickets and nodded. “Thank you. Let's go," she said quietly. Elizabeth echoed her. "Go!"

The footsteps were right behind them now. Emily's pulse raced; she barely felt her injured ankle as she hurried toward security, each step sending a fresh jolt of pain up her leg.

"Emily Blair!"

Andrew's voice was right behind her. Emily's breath caught-she could see the security gates just a few yards ahead.

She gritted her teeth and pushed herself faster.

The next moment, Andrew's presence seemed to close in around her-steady, overwhelming, inescapable. As Elizabeth and Emma gasped, a strong, warm hand seized her wrist.

"Emily Blair."

"Andrew Lane!" Elizabeth and Emma shouted at once, but Emily barely heard them.

The world spun as she was pulled into a familiar embrace, the crisp scent she knew so well filling her senses. His iron grip tightened around her wrist, holding her fast.

She squeezed her eyes shut, her cheek pressed into his chest.

Before she could look up, she heard Andrew's cold, hoarse voice above her. "Emily Blair, where do you think you're going?"