Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 365

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Those were Tyler’s parting words before he turned and walked away down the hallway.

He paused for a moment in front of Emilia’s door, his gaze lingering on the closed door, then dropped his eyes and stepped into the elevator.

Silence settled in the corridor, leaving only Theodore standing there.

The soft green glow from the emergency exit sign flickered across his face, casting shifting patches of light and shadow.

He watched Tyler leave, then bent down to pick up the handkerchief Tyler had thrown to the ground, tossing it into the trash on his way out.

Taking a moment to steady his nerves, he walked over to Emilia’s door.

Knock, knock. He rapped gently.

After a moment, the door opened and Emilia appeared, her expression wary but composed.

Theodore offered her a gentle smile. “It’s taken care of. He won’t be coming around anymore.”

Emilia glanced past him down the hallway, her eyes flicking to the elevator as it descended. After a moment, she nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. “Alright.”

“Try to get some rest,” Theodore said softly, doing his best to hide the longing in his voice. “Good night.”

“You too,” Emilia replied. “Good night.”

She hesitated a second, then lowered her eyes. “And… thank you. I know I’ve said it a dozen times, but—thank you.”

This time, Theodore’s smile came from somewhere deep inside. “Oh, come on. Don’t thank me. You don’t have to.”

Emilia looked up at him, standing there in the warm glow of the hallway lights, smiling at her—and for a moment, her heart felt strange and light.

“You should head home,” she said quietly. “Drive safe.”

He nodded, gave her one last look, and finally turned away.

Emilia watched as he stepped into the elevator, standing there alone for a moment while her thoughts drifted.

After about a minute, she drew a breath, closed the door, and retreated into her apartment, sealing herself off from the night.

He didn’t even realize he’d driven clear out to the edge of town until the lights faded behind him and the world fell silent, except for the hum of insects in the grass.

He slammed on the brakes, the car lurching to a halt on the empty country road.

In the hush, he pressed his forehead to the steering wheel, a single tear sliding down his face, tracing the lines of his jaw.

His face bumped the horn.

A long, desperate blare shattered the night.

It sounded like someone howling into the void, or maybe like someone grieving loud enough to split their soul in two.

“She’ll come back. She’ll understand.”

He could only whisper the words over and over, as if saying them might make them true.

“She hasn’t said yes to him. She’ll come back to me.”