Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 228

Emma’s mind was awash with a rush of inspiration, her thoughts swirling around the dance she’d just envisioned. If she really turned it into a full-length ballet, just as Serena had suggested, how would she stage it? The possibilities exploded in her mind, ideas colliding in a storm of creativity so intense that when Theodore’s messages came in, she barely registered them. They were nothing more than a few drops of water, swallowed up by the wild tide of her imagination.

Blocking him never even occurred to her—he simply didn’t matter right now. She glanced at his messages and let them disappear into the background as she returned to her world of dance.

The idea had sparked from the image of a phoenix rising from the ashes, but the more she thought, the grander her vision grew: the endless cycle of life, the passage of time, the immensity of the world. She wanted to build her ballet atop the foundation of a bestiary—creatures mythical and real, weaving together a story through movement.

Excitement surged through her, pushing out every other emotion. That night, even her dreams were filled with soaring mountains, winding rivers, and winged creatures dancing through the sky.

Theodore, meanwhile, didn’t wait for dawn. With barely an hour left before the last flight out, he bought a ticket, threw his things together, and rushed to the airport.

He hadn’t planned to bring Cecilia, but she insisted on coming with him. Time was tight, and he didn’t have the energy to argue. Together, they hurried back to Cresthaven.

As soon as they arrived, Theodore went straight home, with Cecilia close behind. He couldn’t have explained why he was in such a hurry—there was no one waiting for him at home. But in that moment, the only thing that mattered was getting back. When Cecilia insisted she couldn’t let him go alone, he didn’t waste time trying to change her mind.

At the apartment, Cecilia stepped out of the elevator first. The moment the doors opened, she spotted a paper crane taped to the front door. Her face went pale. She snatched it down, trying to play it cool as she knocked on the door. “Hey, is your housekeeper out or something?”

Theodore followed, unlocking the door with his fingerprint. Inside, everything was exactly as he’d left it—except for one thing: she was gone.

“Theo…” Cecilia quickly slipped the paper crane into her purse, casting a furtive glance around, searching for anything else that might need to be hidden. But there was nothing—just that single paper crane.

She’d loved him since high school, loved him enough to give up a part of herself—how could she not come back?

“Theo, I know you’re hurting right now…” Cecilia said gently. “But maybe you should check if Emma left you anything. An email? A letter, maybe?”

Her words jolted him into action. He searched every room, Cecilia trailing behind, desperate to make sure Emma hadn’t left behind anything that could give away too much.

Finally, Theodore found the divorce papers and a letter from Emma in a drawer.

The letter was heartbreakingly brief—just a few lines. The word that stood out, stark and unmistakable, was “divorce.”