She had loved him - truly , deeply loved him . He'd said the same words at their wedding . Back then , she'd thought , maybe this wasn't a confession of love , but at least it was a promise . He had promised her a lifetime . A lifetime sounded so long . Surely , somewhere along the way , they would learn to really love each other . And if , in the end , he never loved her back , it would be okay - her love alone would be enough . " Theodore ," she suddenly blurted out , a question she couldn't hold back . " Yeah ? " His breath , thick with the smell of whiskey , drifted warm across her ear . " But your Cici is back now , isn't she ? If you're with me , what about her ? " " Cici ? Cici ... " He repeated the name , his voice breaking . " Cici , I'll never forget . I haven't forgotten what I promised you - l never will ... " Emma felt like she'd plunged into icy water . Was he so drunk he thought she was Cecilia ? " What did you promise her ? " she asked numbly . " Everything . All of it , Cici ... " Suddenly , his arms tightened around her . Emma felt herself lifted off the ground . Then he pushed her down onto the bed , his breath - heavy with alcohol - spilling across her face , her nose , her chin . He tried to find her lips , but she kept turning away . The stench of liquor made her want to retch . When his hands yanked at her nightgown , her resistance only grew fiercer . " Cici , be good , please . Don't make this difficult ... " He was still calling her Cici . 1/2 11:50 Chapter 26 With a surge of desperation , Emma managed to free a hand and slapped him hard across the face . The sound cracked through the night . " Theodore ! Look at me ! I'm not your Cici ! " she screamed , her voice hoarse , trembling in the dark . He froze for a split second . Seizing her chance , she shoved him off with all her strength . He fell onto the bed , still drunk , mumbling , " Cici , I'm sorry , I have to go home . I promised her I'd take care of her forever ... I owe her ... " Emma clamped her hands over her ears . That phrase- " I owe her " -had haunted her for five years , echoing in her mind like a curse .. She stared at him , sprawled on his back , tears burning behind her eyes . Pressing her palms tighter to her head , she shouted , " I don't want you to owe me ! Do you hear me , Theodore ? I don't want your debt ! I just want you to let me go ! " At that moment , Theodore's phone buzzed to life . Emma turned . The caller ID flashed : " Baby Cici . " Baby Cici . In Theodore's contacts , she was just " Emma . " Back when they'd just gotten married , she used to daydream that one day Theodore would call her Emmie , or Em , or maybe some special nickname , just for her . Maybe even just " honey " or " love . " She'd even considered asking him to change her name in his phone - on WhatsApp , in his contacts - something a little more intimate . But it never happened . In conversation , in his phone , she was always just Emma . To make peace with it , she'd told herself that was just the way he was - not sentimental , a bit stiff , a man who kept his distance . But she'd been wrong . The words " Baby Cici " glared at her from the screen . Her heart twisted as she hovered between answering and letting it ring . Then , steeling herself , she grabbed the phone and swiped the green button . She didn't say a word . On the other end , Cecilia spoke first . 2/2