Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 271

It was like a gentle breeze, brushing past her ear before she even noticed. By the time Emma turned, he was already gone—just a distant figure melting into the bustling crowds of the city on water, lost from sight.

“Emma!” Sebastian called to her from the boat.

“Coming!” Relief washed over her. This time, she was sure Theodore understood. He wouldn’t insist on looking after her forever anymore.

She boarded the boat, joining the touring company as they prepared to set off for the next city.

What Emma didn’t see was that Theodore hadn’t gone far. After she boarded, he appeared on the third-floor balcony of a riverside hotel, watching her boat draw away.

Behind him, Cecilia approached and followed his gaze, catching sight of the same boat.

“Theo,” she said softly, “she’s gone.”

Theodore said nothing.

“Theo, you still have us.” Cecilia moved to stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder. “I’m not leaving again, I promise. We’ll always be here for you.”

Every day in the city, boats came and went. In the blink of an eye, Emma’s boat disappeared among a dozen identical vessels drifting on the water—impossible to tell which one was hers.

Theodore let out a quiet, rueful laugh. “Really, I should be happy, shouldn’t I? She’s found her own path, and isn’t that what I wanted for her?”

“Exactly, Theo. You wouldn’t really want to spend your whole life with someone who doesn’t love you, would you?”

“All my life?” Theodore’s eyes drifted to the horizon.

Cecilia’s own gaze darkened at his words, but she quickly forced a melancholy smile. “Honestly, Emma just doesn’t know how good she had it. Any other girl would be over the moon to have a husband like you—so generous, so devoted. You’d be her everything.”

Theodore gave a bittersweet smile.

Cecilia frowned but quickly replaced it with another smile. “Let her go, Theo. Find someone who truly loves you. You deserve to be happy.”

At last, Theodore looked away from the water and met her eyes.

“Theo…” Cecilia smiled at him hopefully.

“Let’s head back,” Theodore said. “I’ve been away from the office too long. It’s making me uneasy.”

“Oh…” Cecilia blinked, caught off guard, but quickly recovered. “Sure, that’s fine. Actually, I’ve been missing Jared and the others anyway.”

“Mm.” Without hesitation, Theodore started booking flights. “Where are you headed?”

Cecilia hesitated, surprised. “I… Of course, I’m flying with you. Aren’t you going back to Cresthaven?”

Theodore glanced down as he selected his ticket. “I want to stop in Capital City first.”

“You… Why are you going to Capital City?”

Three hours versus more than ten—who would get there first?

Meanwhile, Emma felt unburdened, as if she’d finally broken free from invisible chains. In the next city, she met her aunt.

The tour wasn’t scheduled to go through the city where her aunt lived, but Emma had stayed in touch, and they’d arranged to meet here.

The moment she arrived at the hotel, she spotted her aunt in the lobby.

Emma hadn’t seen her aunt many times before, but recognized her instantly—they shared the same features as Grandma. Her aunt, sipping coffee, looked up and, seeing a crowd of familiar faces, immediately recognized Emma as well.

“Emmie!” Her aunt wrapped her in a tight hug. “You’ve grown so much!”

It was true. The last time Emma saw her aunt, she’d been just a little girl.

Their first day in the new city, there was no performance that night. Everyone had a chance to rest, so Emma went out alone with her aunt.

Her aunt already knew about her injury, but seeing Emma in person made her heart ache even more.

Emma tried to reassure her. She could tell the difference between genuine concern and hidden motives, and her aunt truly cared.

She and her aunt were the two people Grandma worried about most. So the first thing they did was video call Grandma, letting her see the two people she loved most finally reunited.