Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 417

It was a question with no answer.

Hanley sniffled. "At least… at least I didn't agree when Jared wanted me to sign off on those payments for the outsourcing companies. If I had…"

The thought made him feel even worse. "Why?" he asked again. "Why would he set up shell companies to steal from our own business? The company's money was all of our money, wasn't it?"

"Just go home and rest," Theodore said gently. "Let me sort things out here."

Hanley looked at him, knowing the weight that was now on his shoulders. "I'll get back to work then… Theo…" His eyes reddened again.

Just as Theodore was about to offer a word of comfort, Hanley spoke. "No matter what happens, you still have me. I'm not going to break the promises we made."

A flicker of emotion crossed Theodore's face. He clapped Hanley on the shoulder.

Hanley left the conference room but didn't go home. He threw himself into his work, staying late before finally heading back to his apartment.

Cathie Marshall could tell something was wrong. She pressed him until he finally told her everything.

When she heard what Jared had done, she just scoffed. She'd always known he was no good. Only idiots like Theodore and Hanley would have trusted him for so long.

Hanley was also worried about the future of the company.

Cathie rolled her eyes. "So what? If the company goes bankrupt, you can come work at my family's tea plantation."

They had never been poisoned.

Emma had known something was wrong with Fallon for days. She had finally sat down with her, and Fallon had tearfully confessed everything Cecilia had said to her. Fallon had already been planning to transfer her daughter to a new public school, but somehow, Cecilia had found out.

Emma told her not to be afraid. Since it was still summer vacation, she had Fallon bring her daughter to stay with them. Fallon's only trip outside the house was for groceries, so Emma gave her a digital recorder and told her to record everything if she encountered Cecilia again.

And she did.

The package of "medicine" was now evidence, along with the recording. The story about the poisoning was just a bluff. Her grandmother had been hospitalized, but only because a stomach bug had aggravated a preexisting condition from her previous abuse.