Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 389

“Don’t tell me you’re feeling hard done by, being with me?” Jared’s smile twisted into something sly. “Face it, you couldn’t handle Theo yourself—so you ended up with me. At least you’re not going to starve or freeze, right?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cecilia stared him down. “What do you mean, ‘with you’?”

He raised an eyebrow. “What do you think I mean? Don’t tell me you want to be Mrs. Marsh?”

“No way!” Cecilia flung her cup aside, her voice trembling with anger. “I would never marry a jerk like you!”

No one knew just how messy Jared’s love life was better than Cecilia. His conquests ranged from college students to cocktail waitresses—he made no distinction at all. How could she ever consider marrying someone like him?

Jared’s mood soured at her words. “I’m not the one who should be picky here, Cecilia. You think you can just walk out of this restaurant and someone else will protect you? Theo, who can’t even fend for himself? Or maybe Rossi, who’d sooner see you dead?”

Fuming, Cecilia had no choice but to sit back down, glaring at him in mute frustration.

Jared lazily poured himself some tea. “Well, since we’re here, might as well get things over with sooner rather than later.”

“What the hell are you planning? Don’t tell me you’re going after Theo?” Cecilia shot him a wary look.

He glanced at her, cold and dismissive. “Your precious Theo—always so hung up on love and romance. He’s never been cut out for anything big.”

“You… you’re insane!” Cecilia’s voice trembled with shock. “But aren’t you two supposed to be friends?”

“Friends?” Jared burst out laughing. “Would a real friend trick him into raising someone else’s kid?”

Cecilia sat frozen in her chair, as if seeing Jared for the first time in her life.

“What’s wrong?” Jared sneered. “Don’t tell me you think you’re some kind of innocent angel. Still fancy yourself Theo’s one and only, his pure ‘first love’?”

Cecilia was stunned into silence.

“Don’t be stupid. Theo never loved you that much. He just couldn’t let go.” Jared ladled out a bowl of soup and pushed it across to her. “Eat. Don’t do anything foolish. I’m the only one who really gets you. We’re the same, you and I. Like it or not, your fate’s tied to mine.”

Tears welled in Cecilia’s eyes. “So, are you getting a divorce?”

Jared smirked. “Of course I am. Now eat up. I’ve got things to do after this, meetings tonight.”

“I’m coming with you.” Cecilia’s voice trembled, wet with tears, as she looked at him pleadingly.

He rolled his eyes, annoyed. “You’re pregnant—why are you following me around? What’s with that look? You’re staring at me just like my wife does. What, you think I’m off to meet some woman?”

“Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing?” Cecilia’s composure finally cracked. She was at her wit’s end, regret gnawing at her. How had things come to this? There really was no way out now—she was stuck with Jared, as much as she hated it. But this was never how she pictured her life; all she wanted was to be with Theodore. How could Jared, a shameless philanderer, ever compare to him?