Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 457

It's strange how paths cross.

Theodore's bakery could have been there for months without Emma ever knowing, but after that first encounter, she started seeing him sporadically.

Sometimes she'd spot him and Anna grocery shopping; other times she'd see him making a delivery. Each time, Theodore would offer nothing more than a faint nod, if he even saw her at all.

He was keeping his promise. When they met, it was as if they were strangers passing on the street.

Even his appearance had changed drastically. He used to be perpetually in formal suits, hair perfectly coiffed, every strand in place. That suit and hairstyle were like armor, creating an aura of detached coolness that made him unapproachable, his gaze sharp and cold.

Now, he had shed that armor. He wore simple white t-shirts, adding a thin cashmere cardigan when the weather turned cool and rainy. Even with the buttons done up to his chin, he seemed softer. He let his short hair fall naturally across his forehead, and his eyes, once so piercing, were now gentle and calm.

Who could connect this man—as gentle as a sunbeam filtering through a London mist—with the formidable Mr. Whitman who used to stride through the skyscrapers of Cresthaven's business district?

That evening, her dance troupe premiered a chapter of her ballet, *Bestiary*, at the university theater. The piece was titled "Forest Lullaby." She had choreographed it herself, with Sebastian as the male lead. She danced a small, peripheral role.

The performance was a resounding success, earning them countless bouquets of flowers.

During the curtain call, Emma spotted several familiar faces in the audience. Many of the staff from the wellness center were there, along with fellow patients she'd met, neighbors, and, to her surprise, Theodore and Anna.

When the show ended, the medical staff and patients rushed forward to congratulate her and Sebastian. But Theodore and Anna simply rose with the rest of the audience and filed out of the theater. As they left, Theodore turned back to take Anna's hand.

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