Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 260

Hearing Theodore say that, Cecilia’s face lit up with a satisfied smile. But when she glanced up at him, she realized his gaze was fixed somewhere far away—he was speaking to her, but his mind was clearly elsewhere.

“Theo, why don’t we leave this place tomorrow?” she suggested.

Theodore didn’t answer for a long while.

“Did you hear me? Theo!”

Slowly, Theodore’s attention returned to her. “Yeah, I heard you.”

By now, Emma had disappeared from view, along with her three friends.

Sebastian hadn’t said a word the entire walk back.

Though the streets of the old city were crowded as ever, the air had grown thick and stifling, as if everyone was holding their breath.

When the four of them reached the hotel, Sebastian escorted the three girls to the elevator. He gave them a lopsided smile. “You all head up. I just remembered I forgot to pick something up—I’ll be back in a bit.”

“What are you buying?” Serena asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Guy stuff,” he replied, waving her off.

The elevator doors slid shut, and Sebastian was gone.

Serena’s roommate frowned, then asked, “What do guys even need that’s so special? It’s not like they have that time of the month.”

Serena burst out laughing, the tension in the air finally breaking. She collected herself and said, “Actually, I need to pick up a few things too. I’ll head back down in a bit. Emma, you two go on ahead.”

When the elevator reached their floor, Emma and Serena’s roommate stepped out, leaving Serena to ride back down alone.

Emma’s route to her room took her past the hotel’s inner corridor, with a view into the garden below.

Peering down, she spotted Sebastian—not out shopping, but sitting on a garden bench, lost in thought with a drink cradled in his hands.

His voice wavered, almost breaking.

“Sebastian, don’t—Emma would feel even worse if she knew you were this upset,” Serena said gently, trying to calm him.

“That’s exactly why I needed to get out by myself!” Sebastian snapped. “You know what really pisses me off?”

“Is it… Theodore Whitman letting Emma down?” Serena guessed.

“Of course that pisses me off!” Sebastian’s voice cracked. “But what drives me insane is that he stood by and let others mock Emma’s foot! Do you know why her foot’s ruined? For him! She got hurt saving his life! If it weren’t for that, Emma would still be shining on every stage. And yet, he stands there with those trashy women, laughing at her. If Emma hadn’t held me back today, I’d have broken his leg and called it even!”

“Sebastian, don’t do anything rash!” Serena pleaded.

“Rash? I hate that I’m not rash enough! Why am I always so damn reasonable? If I’d just lost it a little, back then—”

He cut himself off, downing the rest of his drink in one go, his words growing thick and heavy. “I thought… I really thought she’d be happy. She saved his life. How could he not give her happiness in return…”