Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 185

Faced with this impossible choice, Julian hesitated.

Jonathan grew increasingly desperate as he watched his father dither. “Dad, you can’t just stand there! You can’t abandon me! I don’t want to go to jail! Please, Dad, you have to help me!”

Julian looked helplessly at Emma and Theodore, then turned to Jonathan with a pained expression. “Son, begging me won’t do you any good. You’d be better off asking your sister and her husband. I don’t have the power or the money—what can I possibly do?”

Jonathan had always been Gabriella’s favorite. The moment she heard Julian’s words, she shot him a furious glare. “Why don’t you just sign the waiver already? Just admit you’re willing to give it up!”

Julian rolled his eyes. “But I’m not willing. Who said I’m willing? I never agreed to that!”

“He’s your son! You’re just going to stand there and watch him go to prison?” Gabriella screamed, her anger boiling over.

Julian had always ruled the house with an iron fist, and he wasn’t about to let Gabriella yell at him without fighting back. Whatever guilt he’d felt a moment ago evaporated as his temper flared. “So what if he goes to prison? It’s just a few years! Do you have any idea how much the settlement money is worth? He couldn’t earn that much in a lifetime!”

Jonathan was on the verge of a breakdown. “Dad, I thought I was the one you loved most…”

“What good is loving you if you can’t bring me millions?”

“Julian! You miserable old cheat! I’ll kill you!” Gabriella, wild with rage, brandished a pair of scissors she’d grabbed from who-knows-where and lunged at Julian.

“You’ve lost your mind!” Julian tried to make a run for it, but his heavy frame betrayed him and he crashed to the floor.

Emma saw everything clearly: Julian hadn’t fallen on his own. Jonathan, in his panic, had stuck out a foot and tripped him. The next moment, Gabriella was on top of Julian, pinning him down, scissors pressed to his throat. “Julian! Are you going to sign or not?”

She knew Gabriella never really cared for her; she knew her brother was a deadbeat; and she knew exactly what kind of man her father was.

But Gabriella’s display today had stunned her. She hadn’t realized just how fierce Gabriella’s love for her son really was—so fierce she’d risk everything, even her own life. And yet, Emma had never known even a sliver of that love.

Theodore took her hand and helped her up. He gave his men a quiet order, “Stay here and make sure everything’s completed. Get the paperwork notarized and let me know when it’s done. We’re leaving.”

He turned to Emma as he spoke the last words, then gently led her out.

There was one more silent observer in the room—Amanda. As she watched Theodore’s arm slip protectively around Emma’s shoulders, she found herself lost in thought.