Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 294

“Yes, Theo,” Cecilia said softly. “I don’t want anything, truly. If you want to forget, I’ll pretend nothing ever happened between us. But… if, just like Jared said, you ever find yourself looking for a place to belong in this world, I’ll always be here. Whenever you remember me, just come by—I’ll have a hot meal ready for you, and I’ll listen to you, talk with you, help you carry your worries.”

The only thing echoing in Theodore’s mind was Jared’s words: What’s done is done; there’s no turning back time…

He had no idea how he managed to walk out of Cecilia’s apartment.

After he left, Jared and Cecilia exchanged a look, both finally letting out a long breath.

But Theodore didn’t go to the office, nor did he visit the hospital. Instead, he drove home, mind blank and heavy, running on autopilot.

His clothes still reeked of alcohol. He stripped them off and tossed them straight into the trash, then dropped himself into the bathtub and closed his eyes.

He soaked for well over an hour, completely still, until the shrill ring of his phone—charging in the other room—jerked him back to reality.

It was Jared, again, calling to tell him there was a meeting at the office.

He just couldn’t summon the energy. “You guys go ahead without me.”

“Theo, this is an important one—we’re discussing the partnership with Rossi,” Jared insisted. “You really need to be here.”

“Then postpone it,” Theodore said flatly, and hung up.

He collapsed back onto the bed, his head still pounding with a thousand thoughts.

The phone rang again.

The thunderous noise jolted him awake, the anger draining away, leaving only a sharp clarity.

Standing amidst the wreckage, he almost imagined he could see Emma flitting around the dining room again—bringing him soup, fussing over his meal, always hovering close, always smiling at him like a sunflower turning toward the sun…

He drew a deep breath. At last, he knew what he needed to do: he had to go see his grandmother at the hospital.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Larson was replying to a message from Latham Fairchild.

Latham: After we dropped that woman off last night, Theodore’s company’s VP picked her up—they went to her place together. Later, Theodore showed up too. The three of them stayed all night. Theodore left this morning, and Jared followed an hour later.

Larson: Keep watching them.