Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 16

hapter 16

Chapter 16

Theodore actually bent down and gently blew on her wound. “We’ll put something on it in a bit, so it doesn’t scar.”

Emma had never seen that look in Theodore’s eyes before.

Even when she’d been in the car accident–her body battered, one leg ruined, scars everywhere–Theodore had never shown her this kind of instinctive, bone–deep

tenderness.

He’d asked her gently if she was in pain. Told her it was okay to cry if it hurt.

But that hadn’t been out of love. It was guilt.

He’d never once cradled her injuries with genuine care. Faced with her scars, he had always chosen to avoid them, to look away, to pretend he didn’t see.

“I’m really fine, it doesn’t even hurt!” Cecilia chimed in, her voice sweet and bright.

“Emma.” Theodore looked up at her. “Look how mature Cici is. Don’t you think you owe her an apology?”

“Why should I apologize to her?” At some point, pain had welled up in Emma’s eyes, blurring her vision. She could barely make out Theodore’s face anymore. “Because she claims to be my husband’s wife? And I’m supposed to say sorry for that?”

“Emma! What’s gotten into you–why are you being so bitter?” Theodore’s voice rose, frustration clear. “Cici already explained, didn’t she? Mr. Warren misunderstood, and for the sake of the business deal, we just went along with it! Why can’t you let this go?”

He was angry again.

Every time she “offended” his precious Cici, anger was always his first response.

Emma just shook her head with a hollow smile. “No, Theodore, you’ve got it wrong. I don’t want to hold on to anything. I didn’t even call you out in front of everyone. This Mrs. Whitman role–you can give it to whoever wants it. I already told you I wanted a divorce, so why don’t you just agree? Then everything will be clear for everyone.”

She hadn’t exposed them right away because there was no point.

She was determined to leave anyway; why bother making things even messier for herself? Did she really want to spend the rest of her life explaining to friends and colleagues what had happened between her and these two? It just wasn’t worth it.

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11:49

Chapter 16

“Emma! Your temper is getting more and more outrageous!” Theodore’s anger flared. “There’s a limit to these tantrums. Apologize to Cici, right now!”

“I won’t!” Emma spun on her heel, intending to leave.

“Stop!” Theodore lunged forward and grabbed her arm. “Where do you think you’re going? You shoved Cici, she cut her arm, and you won’t even apologize? Where do you think you’re going?”

Emma stared at the hand clamped around her wrist. Despair washed over her, swelling like a tide.

She looked into his eyes and replied, each word biting, “That’s right. I only lost the use of a leg, but she–she got a scratch on her hand.”

She saw a sharp flash of pain in Theodore’s eyes. His grip loosened. He stumbled back two steps.

The moment she was free, Emma turned and ran for the elevator.

She was running–no matter how pitiful she looked, she didn’t care.

She could not, would not, let Theodore see the tears streaming down her face.

From the moment she’d been injured, through the wedding, through five years of marriage, this was the first time she’d ever used her leg against him as a weapon.

Before, she’d always tiptoed around his feelings, careful with every word and action, terrified of making him feel guilty, worried he’d blame himself, anxious that he might actually care. She never mentioned her leg, never brought up that accident five years ago, not even when she was the subject of cruel gossip and cold stares. She swallowed it all, buried it deep inside, and carried on alone.

All she’d ever wanted was to give him a warm, loving, peaceful home.

All she’d ever hoped for was that, with time, her love for him would finally blossom into something beautiful.

How foolish she’d been…

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