Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 181

Vivian shook her head quickly. “Of course not! Like I said, we’re just friends. And besides, we also have—”

“Let’s not get into that.” Emma cut her off with a warm smile. “We met, and that’s what matters. It’s fate.”

But truth be told, Vivian had gained from their acquaintance.

Emma had asked Vivian and her boyfriend for help, paying them quite a generous sum. Plus, Vivian’s boyfriend had landed a great new job through Emma’s connections.

“Don’t worry about anything. I’ll be staying at the hotel for the next few days to keep Grandma company. I’ve already booked her plane ticket, so when the time comes, you just need to pick her up from the hotel,” Vivian assured her.

Emma nodded in relief.

“Grandma,” Emma called gently, opening up the takeout she’d bought, “come eat with us.”

After they finished dinner, Vivian pretended she needed to run an errand, leaving Emma and her grandmother some private time to talk.

“Grandma, please don’t worry about staying here. Just three more days—then we’ll head to Capital City together. There wasn’t time to arrange your visa, so you’ll stay there for a month while I get everything sorted. Once the paperwork is done, we’ll finally be able to reunite with Aunt Margaret.”

Emma had already asked Ms. Brown to help her find a short-term rental in Capital City. The plan was to have the apartment ready in three days, so her grandmother could move in as soon as they arrived. That way, her parents wouldn’t be able to find her, nor hurt her any further.

Later that afternoon, after Vivian returned to the hotel, Emma said goodbye to her grandmother for now.

The weight in Emma’s chest wouldn’t lift.

She’d always known she was born into a family that didn’t love her. The warmth and affection other children took for granted had never been hers. Still, she’d never imagined the day would come when she’d have to turn her back on her own parents.

She hadn’t even had time to act on it before her parents and Jonathan barged into Grandma’s life. Well, so be it—now she had a use for what she’d discovered.

It was her first time setting foot in Jonathan’s office. He clearly hadn’t expected her.

Jonathan’s business was small—nothing like Theodore’s sprawling corporation, and far less formal. Emma made her way straight to his office and pushed the door open.

Jonathan was lounging with his girlfriend, lost in flirtation, and never expected anyone to barge in. He whipped around, cursing, “Who the hell do you think you are? Are you blind or—?”

He stopped short when he saw who it was.

“What are you doing here?” Jonathan’s voice dripped with contempt—no surprise, considering their fight at Grandma’s house earlier. The look in his eyes was the same as if he’d just seen his worst enemy walk through the door.