Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 116

Chapter 116

Emma’s bag was locked away in the storage closet. Not only did she have no idea whether he’d tried to call her again–honestly, even if she’d known, she wouldn’t have picked up.

He was unraveling.

She’d known him since she was fifteen, and there was only one thing that could ever

leave him this shaken.

Even when his family tried to buy him back with piles of money and he’d cut all ties with them, he’d been cold, almost serene. When his grandmother died, he’d been shattered, but all he’d said to her was a quiet, “My grandmother passed away.”

Only Cecilia had the power to make him lose control, to knock him off balance.

Five years ago, when Cecilia left, he’d wandered around like a ghost, drinking himself senseless night after night. And now, five years later, after Cecilia was questioned by the police, that same storm of rage and desperation had returned.

Emma sat on the floor, quietly watching him approach.

He yanked her up and dumped her unceremoniously onto a chair.

Her back slammed into the wooden frame so hard her whole body trembled. She bit down on her lip, forcing herself not to cry out.

“Why didn’t you answer your phone? Did you know the police came by to investigate the fire?” he shouted.

She stared straight ahead, her eyes settling on his waist–on the leather belt he wore, the limited–edition one she’d picked out for him years ago. It matched every pair of pants he owned. Her gaze lingered on the designer emblem as she replied, voice calm, “Of course I knew. I’m the one who called them–how could I not know?”

“You-” His anger spiked. He jabbed a shaking finger at her. “Why did you report it? Cici admitted she made a mistake. We’re willing to pay you, whatever you want. Why did you have to go to the police?”

“We?” Emma let out a short, humorless laugh. “Who’s ‘we,‘ exactly?”

Theodore faltered, then quickly regained his bluster. “Cici and I.”

Emma’s laughter grew–real laughter this time, bubbling out until she couldn’t stop, until her eyes stung with tears.

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Theodore’s temper flared. “Are you done laughing yet?”

“Not even close,” she said, her voice rough. “I’m laughing at myself, actually. Of course–you two, you’re the real family. I’m just the outsider, the wife who never belonged. So when someone tries to burn me alive, somehow it’s still my fault, right? It’s always my fault. I shouldn’t have saved you, shouldn’t have said yes to your proposal, shouldn’t have still been living in your house when Cici came back, shouldn’t have failed to die properly when the fire started. That’s it, isn’t it? If I’d just burned to death, then you two could finally have your happy ending. Isn’t that right?”

Theodore stared at her, speechless.

“But Theodore, I told you before–I’m willing to let you go. As long as you divorce me, you and Cici are free. You can finally be together with nothing in your way. Why won’t you do it?” Her voice rose, raw with pain. “Or do you really need me dead before you’ll finally feel free?”

Theodore’s anger crumbled. Under the harsh lights of the recovery room, something flickered in his eyes.

He crouched in front of her. “Emma, that’s not what I meant. You have to believe me–no one in the world wants you to be okay more than I do.”

Emma didn’t answer. Her heart ached so badly she could barely breathe.

Of course he wanted her to be “okay.” Because only then could he live with himself. Only if she survived–untouched, unbroken–could he be free of guilt. If she’d saved him and walked away unscathed, there never would have been this marriage.

But Theodore, don’t you see? You’re the only one in the world who can truly hurt me

like this.

Her eyes burned. She turned her head away and spoke through clenched teeth. “What does ‘okay‘ mean to you? Dying in your company’s conference room? Or maybe in the drainpipe at home?”

“Emma!” Theodore cut her off, pain twisting his features. “Don’t do this. Cici just wanted to scare you, that’s all. She’s the kind of person who stops at crosswalks to let ants pass–how could she possibly want to hurt you?”

Emma had nothing left to say. One of the hardest things in the world is trying to change someone’s mind.

“Theodore,” she said quietly, “I know nothing I say will convince you–just like nothing you say will change my mind. So don’t waste your time here. Go talk to the police.”

Chapter 116

“Emma!” His brow furrowed. “Tell me what you want–what will it take for you to withdraw the report?”

“Theodore, let me be clear. I will never drop the charges.”

“Fine…” He stared at her, disappointment etched deep into his face. “Fine, Emma. Now I finally see what kind of person you really are. I never imagined jealousy could turn a woman into someone so… frightening.”

“Frightening?” Emma blinked in disbelief. How could someone twist the truth so completely? “Theodore, who exactly do you think is frightening here? Cecilia?”

She couldn’t wrap her head around it. How, in the story of a fire in the conference room, was she the villain?

“Alright, Emma,” he said coldly. “You can hold onto your ‘Mrs. Whitman‘ title for as long as you want. As for Cici, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.”

Emma stared at him, speechless.

What are you even talking about? she wanted to shout. I never wanted to be Mrs. Whitman–I just want to be free!

But she never got the words out. He stormed out of the room, leaving her in silence.

Chapter 117