Save Her Lose Us (Evangeline and Soren) novel Chapter 408

Before Finn or Soren could say anything, Theresa stepped forward and wrapped Evangeline in a hug.

Her own eyes were red.

Theresa understood Evangeline’s pain all too well.

She felt it, too.

These few days with Evangeline had been a joy, like stepping back in time to their youth, before everything went wrong.

When she and Evangeline would burst out laughing in their room, she half-expected Julian to walk in, just like he used to, and ask with a smile, “What’s so funny?”

Kearney hadn’t allowed her to get too close to any men, so Theresa had often used “visiting Evangeline” as an excuse to meet Julian. He would take them to newly opened cafes and charming French restaurants.

Even though Victor always found some excuse to tag along, those happy, carefree moments were still something she often reminisced about over the years.

But after the memories faded, Julian would not appear.

Just as they, too, had drifted further and further apart.

Theresa reluctantly let her go. “Evangeline, you and I are different.”

“You have a much brighter future ahead of you, and a career you haven't finished building. If you stay here, you’ll regret leaving all that behind.”

“You do, too,” Evangeline replied.

She wanted to tell Theresa to move forward, to find her own faith in the future again. But thinking of the long years of pain Theresa had endured, she swallowed the words.

Kearney was a pragmatist who would try to exploit Theresa's value the moment she returned. And Victor was a master manipulator who would use every trick in the book to keep her there. After her first escape, getting away a second time would be even harder.

She couldn't go back to Serenity City.

As reason returned, Evangeline dug her nails into her palm, choking back sobs.

Theresa took her hand and said earnestly, “Evangeline, I will come back.”

At one point, even Leo almost got lost. After walking in a circle, he stopped, closed his eyes, and led them out based on pure instinct.

“It’s often hard to find your direction at sea, too,” he said proudly. “When that happens, I rely on my gut. And my gut is right nine times out of ten.”

They chatted idly as they walked.

After nearly a full day of travel, they finally ran into the rescue party.

Before they even saw anyone, the four of them heard faint shouts echoing through the forest, calling the names of the three missing people.

Leo held up a hand, gesturing toward a tree. “Follow the line of this tree straight ahead, and you’ll get out. You can walk the rest of the way on your own. I’m heading back now.”

The three thanked him and didn’t try to make him stay. They all knew, without saying it, that Leo’s disappearance was the best way to protect Theresa and avoid any complications.

After watching Leo walk away, they finally called out in response to the rescue team.

The forest they were being rescued from was much larger and more complex than they had imagined. Arabella Lockridge had been leading the rescue team for nearly a week straight, and she was starting to feel dazed from exhaustion.