Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 172

"Theo, do you really like that wooden pendant so much?" Cecilia’s voice trembled with hurt, as if Theodore had somehow betrayed her.

Theodore stayed silent.

Up front, Emma let out a soft laugh. “That pendant’s made from imperial rosewood, carved into a cross. It’s meant to keep Theodore safe, you know!”

"Imperial rosewood..." Cecilia murmured, her eyes growing wide. "Is... is that expensive? Theo... I’m sorry..."

Always the same—red-rimmed eyes, tears threatening to spill. No matter what happened, Cecilia always managed to look like the most wronged person in the room.

She turned to Emma and apologized again. “Emma, I’m really sorry. I didn’t know it was valuable—I thought it was just an ordinary piece of wood…”

Emma watched her with an amused smile. “Oh? Didn’t you just say that money doesn’t matter, and it’s the thought that counts? So what’s wrong with a piece of wood now? Isn’t that thoughtful enough? Especially since it was hand-carved, every notch and line.”

Cecilia’s face crumpled further, as if she might break apart. “Emma, I swear I didn’t know you made it yourself. If I had, I never would’ve taken it down. Theo didn’t say anything when I did—I thought it was just some random wood, I’m sorry…”

Emma turned to Theodore. “Come on, our CEO Whitman? You think he’d hang a random hunk of wood somewhere he sees every day? Of course it means something.” She smirked, catching Theodore’s scowl.

“All right, that’s enough,” Theodore said, voice tight with annoyance.

Emma had no interest in continuing this conversation—but Cecilia was relentless, determined to keep dragging Emma in.

“Theo, don’t tell me…was that a gift from Emma? For your anniversary?” Cecilia’s tone wobbled with fresh guilt. “Then I really messed up, taking down my own thing and hanging that up instead. I’m so sorry, Emma, I had no idea it was so important to you…”

“Cici, stop.” Theodore cut her off, but her words kept coming.

Emma smiled calmly, meeting his glare.

He pressed his lips together, swallowing whatever he’d been about to say. “From now on, until this is all over, neither of you is to say another word.”

Emma smiled faintly, but her mind drifted to the past.

She had once been just like Cecilia—so eager to hang her own blessing in his car, hoping it would keep him safe on his way into the world. She’d carefully chosen a jade amulet, wanting to hang it beside the cross.

But it had never occurred to her to take down what was already there. She’d only wanted hers to hang alongside his. Still, Theodore had refused.

He’d said, “I don’t need any other charms in my car. I want it to be my own space. And my grandmother is the most important person to me—I don’t want anyone else’s things next to hers.”