Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 12

“It’s a new business partner I just met recently. I’ll go say hello.” Theodore gave her a gentle reminder. “Why don’t you look around on your own for a bit? I’ll come find you

later.”

She didn’t know any of Theodore’s clients anyway. Watching him shake hands with a man not far away, she stood alone, surrounded by the opulence of the mall–yet nothing here really tempted her to buy.

“Miss, it’s your turn,” a sales associate prompted her.

Only then did she realize she’d absentmindedly ended up standing in line at a luxury boutique.

“Oh, no, thank you,” she said quickly, stepping away in embarrassment.

She wandered aimlessly through the gleaming corridors, her thoughts scattered–until a familiar figure at a high–end watch counter caught her eye. Cecilia.

Emma’s gaze drifted to the name of the watch brand and something heavy settled in her chest. Almost without thinking, she moved closer to the counter.

Cecilia wasn’t alone; Jared was there too, and as Emma drew nearer, their conversation drifted clearly to her ears.

“If you like it, you should buy it,” Jared was saying.

Cecilia hesitated. “I don’t know, this is just too expensive. Even though Theo gave me a secondary card and told me to use it whenever I want, I’d feel guilty spending so

much!”

Emma froze, her feet suddenly too heavy to move. Her heart felt just as weighted.

A secondary card…

His secondary card…

“If Theo gave it to you, he meant for you to use it. He’s not one to say one thing and mean another–trust me, I’ve known him for years. If he gave you that card, he wanted you to use it.” Jared’s voice was reassuring.

“I suppose you’re right…” Cecilia started turning her wrist this way and that, showing off the watch to Jared.

Emma could see it too.

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“What do you think, Jared? Isn’t it gorgeous? I’ve loved this model since college. Back then, Theo promised he’d buy it for me when I graduated, but then…”

But then?

A bitter, mocking smile flickered across Emma’s lips.

Every year, on her birthday and their anniversary, Theodore had given her this exact

watch.

She’d always thought that even if Theodore didn’t love her, at least he remembered her birthday, their anniversary–at least the gifts were thoughtful, or at the very least, expensive.

Now she saw the truth. It wasn’t that he didn’t care, or that he wasn’t thoughtful. He cared too much, put in so much effort–just not for her.

“All things considered, Theo’s finally making good on his promise,” Jared encouraged. “Whatever you want now, you can have. If you like it, he’ll buy it.”

“So I should just go for it?” Cecilia’s excitement was almost visible.

Meanwhile, Theodore had finished exchanging pleasantries with his business contact, who was also here to pick up his wife. When he heard Theodore was shopping with his own wife, he suggested they go say hello.

Emma saw Theodore heading her way and quickly ducked behind a marble column.

But Cecilia had already spotted him. She waved and called out, “Theo! I’m over here–come join us!”

From her hiding spot, Emma watched as Theodore and his associate walked right

over to Cecilia.

Cecilia looped her arm through Theodore’s and bounced eagerly. “Theo, I want this watch–can I get it?”

“Of course.” Theodore’s eyes were so soft, his whole face coming alive in a way Emma had never seen at home, where he was always so distant.

“Thank you, Theo! I’m going to go pay for it now!” Cecilia flashed the secondary card with a delighted grin.

The business contact, witnessing the scene, smiled and said, “Mr. Whitman, Mrs. Whitman–you two make such a lovely couple. It’s truly touching.”

Mr. Whitman? Mrs. Whitman?

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Both Theodore and Cecilia looked startled for a moment, but neither corrected him.

Chapter 13