Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Disappointment clouded Theodore’s eyes as he looked at Emma. “I never imagined you could be so petty,” he said, his voice heavy with frustration. “Emma, I could forgive you for being jealous–at least jealousy comes from love. But I can’t forgive you for being cruel. You lied and tried to frame someone just because you were jealous! That’s terrifying.”

With those words, Theodore finally spoke, sealing everyone’s judgment about what happened. For them, it was clear: poor little Cici was the innocent angel, pitifully wronged by Emma; Emma, on the other hand, was the jealous villain, willing to do anything to drive Cici away.

Emma felt utterly helpless. How could she possibly make them understand that she had never been jealous of Cecilia?

“Emma!” The police officer called her name.

Jared and the others had been arguing for ages, but Emma hadn’t said a

word.

What was the point? Was she supposed to shout back and get caught in a pointless loop of “Yes you did!” “No I didn’t!“? Or appeal to reason, as if any of these people cared about facts?

“I’m coming,” Emma replied, ignoring the four of them as she stood up and slowly made her way toward the officers.

One of the female officers noticed how unsteady Emma was and came

over to support her.

“Thank you,” Emma murmured, quietly moved by the kindness of a

stranger.

She’d been called in again because, after the receptionist, secretary, and electrician from Theodore’s company had given their statements–which differed in many ways from hers–the police needed further clarification.

Once more, the officers questioned her, and once more, she stood her ground.

1/2

08:56

At that moment, the receptionist, Assistant Laurent, and the electrician

emerged one after another. The electrician, unfamiliar with Emma, simply walked past, but the receptionist and Assistant Laurent went pale when they saw her.

Emma looked at them for only a moment before turning to the police and saying, clear and unyielding, “They’re lying.”

Everyone, led by Theodore, was stunned. Theodore, in particular, looked furious.

Jared couldn’t contain himself. He shot to his feet and yelled, “Who’s lying? You’re the only liar here! You’d slander good people and even set fire to the company just for your own selfish gain. Tell me, why did the conference room suddenly catch fire when you were inside? Was it you who started it? Even if the electrician had cut the wires, the place wouldn’t have gone up in flames unless you did something. How could you be so careless with company property? Do you really deserve to be Theo’s wife?”

Jared’s accusation gave the others fresh ammunition.

Hanley stood up, acting as if he’d just solved a mystery. “I knew something was off! We’re here every day, and nothing ever happens. But the minute you show up, there’s a fire! Theo, I hate to say it, but what were you thinking, marrying someone like her?”

Cecilia’s tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared at Emma, her voice trembling. “I just can’t believe you hate me so much that you’d set fire to the company just to frame me! That’s Theo’s hard work, his life’s work! If you want me gone, just say so–why take it out on Theo? Don’t you care about him at all? Do you know how worried he’s been about you, terrified you might be hurt? And now, to find out it was all just a ploy…”

Jared sneered. “Isn’t playing the victim her specialty? Theo, I bet she faked saving you five years ago too, just to trick you into marrying her! And she went too far and wound up with a limp for her trouble!”

Emma knew Jared’s spiteful nature all too well. She’d lost count of how many times she’d thought she’d seen the lowest of these people, only to

2/3

08:56

Chapter 125

realize she’d underestimated them yet again.

But this–accusing her of staging her own accident five years ago, risking her life just to trick Theodore into marrying her? That was a new low.

There’s a level of anger so profound that it leaves you almost calm. Emma looked at Theodore. She’d learned, again and again, that he would never take her side. But in this moment, she still wanted to ask him–if he really believed what Jared did…

Then it wasn’t just a matter of her misjudging him. She might as well have saved a stray dog that day, instead of him.

“Theodore, come here,” she said, rising to her feet and standing perfectly

still, her gaze unwavering.

Theodore sat beside Cecilia, looking up at her.

“Theo, don’t!” Jared protested, as if he were Cecilia’s personal bodyguard. Theodore met Emma’s eyes across the room. After a moment’s

hesitation, he stood and walked over to her.

Emma looked at the man she’d nearly died for, the man for whom she’d traded one of her legs. Her voice was calm. “Is that what you think too?”

Theodore said nothing.

“Do you really believe,” she pressed, never looking away from his eyes, “that I set fire to your company’s conference room as part of some elaborate act? That five years ago, I saved you from being run over just to manipulate you into marrying me, and that’s how I ended up crippled?” Something flickered in Theodore’s eyes–guilt, doubt, fear–and then he looked away.

3/3