Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 129

Hanley was beside himself with grief. “Look, Emma, just look! Even now, Cici is still thinking about you. If you had even half her kindness and generosity, none of this would have happened!”

Jared grabbed his arm, stopping him from saying more. “Enough. What’s the point of talking to a woman like her? She’ll never understand us. Theo, do you see now what true friendship and family mean? This–this is it! Take a good look at that venomous woman of yours–after everything you’ve done for her, all the sacrifices you’ve made, and this is what you get in return!”

Emma raised her eyebrows. Here we go again, the same tired script. Wasn’t this exhausting for them? She was certainly tired of hearing it. Apparently, they were the devoted brothers, and she was the wicked woman ruining Theodore’s life.

But if that’s all it took to be called “wicked,” then they hadn’t seen anything

yet.

Emma handed her phone to the officer. “Officer, do you need the evidence on my phone? I’ve said everything I needed to say, and just like they told you, I won’t be dropping the charges. If there’s nothing else, may I go now? If you need me to cooperate further, I’m always available.”

The officer asked her to sign a form and then gave her permission to

leave.

Emma gathered her things and slowly made her way out of the station.

Her body felt utterly drained.

The afternoon’s physical therapy had left her exhausted, and the aches from yesterday’s session still lingered, making every step a struggle. After the confrontation in the police station, even her spirit felt depleted.

Outside, the sun was blinding, almost making her dizzy.

She sighed inwardly. What a waste, both physically and emotionally, to

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keep fighting with these people. The thought had barely crossed her mind when the world went black and she collapsed.

“Hey! Miss, are you alright?” She heard someone shouting behind her, felt. a pair of arms catch her. Through the haze, she recognized the voice of the female officer from earlier.

But before she could answer, she lost consciousness, slumping into the

officer’s arms.

Emma felt bone–tired, as if she’d been asleep for ages.

When she finally came to, she was groggy and disoriented. The surroundings looked familiar, but she quickly realized she wasn’t at her grandmother’s—she was back in the house she shared with Theodore, lying in their bedroom.

She coughed, her throat raw.

“Ma’am!” Fallon’s voice called from outside the door, instantly alert. “You’re awake? Do you want some water? I’ll bring you some.”

“Come in,” Emma rasped.

Fallon entered with a glass of warm water, gently helping Emma sit up and holding the cup for her to drink.

“How did I end up here?” Emma’s memory was hazy. She remembered the showdown at the police station, and then fainting at the door.

“Mr. Theodore brought you home,” Fallon explained. “He said you weren’t feeling well and called the doctor to check on you. The doctor said you’re fine, just exhausted. Mr. Theodore told me to let you rest–he had something to take care of, so he left.”

Emma nodded.

She really was exhausted–physically and emotionally.

“Oh, your grandmother called earlier,” Fallon added. “Mr. Theodore answered, but he didn’t mention you were unwell–probably didn’t want her to worry. He just said you were tired today and sleeping at home, so

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you wouldn’t be visiting.”

Emma nodded again. “Could you hand me my phone, please?”

Fallon brought her bag over.

Thankfully, it didn’t look like anyone had rummaged through it. Theodore must have been too busy at the station to bother.

Emma pulled out her phone and called her grandmother.

“You’re awake, Emma? I tried calling earlier but couldn’t reach you, I was worried your appointment went badly,” her grandmother said, her voice full of concern.

“Oh, Grandma, the phone was in my locker during therapy, so I missed your calls,” Emma lied smoothly.

“I figured!” Her grandmother’s tone softened. “I called Theodore–he said you were tired from therapy and sleeping at home. He even video–called me so I could see you resting.”

Emma smiled faintly.

Theodore, that coward, always scared her grandmother would find out about his misdeeds. Still, sparing her grandmother worry was exactly

what she wanted too.

After chatting for a while, her grandmother urged her to rest, and they hung up.

Emma noticed a new message on WhatsApp from Vivian–a single “?”

She replied with an “OK” emoji.

They didn’t need more words. They both understood.

Emma felt certain she’d won this round, though it felt like a hollow victory. This ordeal made her realize just how powerless she was. In five years, she’d shrunk her world into this tiny, lonely box.

When Theodore said he’d stop at nothing, she knew he meant it. He had

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money, he had connections–while she, with her injured leg and years of isolation, had nothing to stand against his “whatever it takes.”