Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 332

“Theo! Theo!” Cecilia and Jared rushed after him, but Theodore had already vanished.

Back inside the banquet hall, the slideshow had ended. Latham stepped out to offer apologies, though nobody seemed to care much about the interruption; after all, tonight’s real star was Mr. Rossi, and everyone was here for him.

Emma stood near the entrance, gazing out at the empty corridor. Turning to her brother Larson, she murmured, “Some people just can’t help taking what doesn’t belong to them. Someone’s got to make them give it back, right?”

Larson nodded. “Absolutely.”

The dinner resumed, lively and bright, but outside the ballroom, Jared and Cecilia found themselves unable to rejoin the festivities. They hesitated in the shadows, watching the light and laughter spill through the doors they could no longer cross.

Cecilia’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Jared, I really had too much to drink that night. The more I think about it, the more I can’t let it go…”

“I know,” Jared replied. “You just want to get back with Theo. We all want that for you. But Emma—she’s just a greedy woman who won’t give up her spot.”

Cecilia could only sob harder.

Just then, Jared’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen: it was his wife, Nita. He scowled—she hadn’t replied to any of his messages earlier, but now she was calling him?

He ignored the call and let it ring out.

Nita called again, but Jared didn’t pick up. Meanwhile, Cecilia was crying so hard her eyes were nearly swollen shut.

“Come on, let’s go home,” Jared said, his voice low. “There’s nothing left for us at this stupid party.”

As he pulled the car out of the parking lot, a new message from Nita appeared: Jared, could you come to the hospital? My mom isn’t doing well.

Jared gave a bitter laugh. So much for being independent—you still come crawling back to me when you need something.

He didn’t reply.

They headed toward Cecilia’s apartment.

At that, Jared rolled down the window a crack. “What the hell are you talking about? When did she ever scam you?”

The women sneered. “Oh, please. She lied about being an alumna of Young Rossi, acted like she was your company’s executive assistant, and promised us favors if a deal went through. She took our gifts—bags, lipstick, even treated her to dinner! If that’s not a con artist, what is?”

“She can cough up everything she took from us—including the food!”

Jared’s face darkened as he glanced back at Cecilia’s guilty expression. He realized, with a sinking feeling, that they were telling the truth.

“Jared…I really thought the business deal would happen. Isn’t networking normal?” Cecilia whispered, her voice barely audible.

“You call lying to your friends ‘networking’? Get out of the car! If you don’t, I’m smashing your window!” One of the women slapped the glass, making it shake under her palm.

Cecilia hesitantly lowered the window a few inches, but that was all it took—an arm shot through the gap, grabbing Cecilia by the hair.

Cecilia screamed in pain.