Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 173

Back then, those two words—"someone else"—did hurt her.

But at the time, she was good at rationalizing things to herself.

She told herself, Of course he hasn’t fallen for me yet; it’s normal he sees me as just another person. Things will get better eventually…

Naively, she believed that his private world consisted only of himself and memories of his grandmother.

Turns out, she was wrong.

There was someone else in his private world—someone who wasn’t even his grandmother. It was Cecilia.

Emma drifted into her thoughts, tuning out whatever Theodore and Cecilia were doing in the front seats, until Theodore’s voice suddenly broke through, “Come on, don’t be like this. I didn’t say anything, and I’m not blaming you. Cheer up, give me a smile, and that’ll make me happy.”

Emma glanced up at the rearview mirror and saw Cecilia’s tearstained face suddenly break into a dazzling grin.

So, Theodore was actually comforting his mistress right in front of his own wife.

Emma could only think: Unbelievable.

Then Cecilia caught her eye in the mirror and flashed a provocative look.

Emma responded with a calm smile of her own, which left Cecilia momentarily stunned.

She couldn’t be bothered with these two any longer and closed her eyes, blocking them out.

Theodore drove all the way to the police station. When they arrived, Emma got out, ignoring Cecilia’s shrill cry, “Theo, help Emma! Her leg’s still bad!”

The outburst drew curious glances from everyone nearby.

Cecilia, always the drama queen, was just like Theodore’s lapdogs Jared and Hanley—desperate for the whole world to know Emma was a cripple, unworthy of their precious Theo.

Well, if that’s the game, Emma could play along.

She stood her ground, turned, and called out, “Honey, could you hurry up? My leg hurts, come help me.”

If they wanted to harp on her injury, she’d do them one better.

She was certain Theodore would come over—he needed her to drop the case, after all. Only a fool like Cecilia would keep provoking her at a time like this.

Besides, he was, in fact, her husband.

Theodore hesitated, his expression sour, but eventually came over and offered his arm.

“There it is again, that smile,” he said, frowning, a strange turbulence in his usually calm eyes. “Why do you keep smiling like that lately? It’s unsettling.”

“What’s so unsettling about it?” Emma replied lightly. “Would you prefer I screamed and yelled at you instead?”

Theodore fell silent, head bowed in thought. After a long pause, he finally said, “Let’s leave it at that for today. I’ll call you a cab. You can go home on your own. I’ll take care of Cecilia.”

“Oh, that’s fine,” Emma answered. “But I can call my own ride. Don’t trouble yourself.”

“Emma…” He shut his eyes, barely holding his temper. “Can you just… can you please stop acting out like this?”

Emma gave him a puzzled look. “Acting out? How? You said you’d call me a car, but I know you’re busy, so I said I’d do it myself. How is that acting out?”

“Are you sure you’re not sulking? Not being deliberately contrary? Not jealous?” Theodore shot back. “Fine, yes, I was supposed to take you home today, but the driver’s at your place. Cici just went through the ordeal of dropping the charges, she’s upset, she lost her home, all her bags and jewelry are gone—how do you think she feels? Under these circumstances, I’m bringing her to a hotel. And you’re mad about that? Emma, sometimes I wonder if you ever really loved me. If you did, why can’t you accept my friends?”

Emma tilted her head and smiled. “No need to wonder. I didn’t.”

He stared at her, baffled. “Didn’t what?”

“I never loved you,” Emma said, each word clear and deliberate.