Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 207

“Emma, these guys are my closest friends, and you’re my wife. If you’re at each other’s throats, it puts me in a really tough spot. Honestly, they all want to get along with you—especially Cici. She feels terrible about what happened this morning and wants to make it right. Do me a favor and just sit through this dinner, okay? Accept their goodwill, for my sake.”

As Emma listened to him, she couldn’t help but find the whole thing absurd. She pressed him, “So, Theodore, your friends talk behind my back, call me a cripple, laugh at me—and that’s supposed to be goodwill? I’m the one rejecting their kindness? This is my fault?”

“Emma…” Theodore frowned, exasperated. “Didn’t they already apologize? Why can’t you just let it go?”

She laughed, a sound that came out more from disbelief than amusement.

So that’s how it works. As long as they apologize, everything’s fine.

“Oh, so Cecilia sleeping naked next to you was also an act of goodwill? I guess I’m just not generous enough—”

Before Emma could finish, Theodore slammed his hand down on the table with a loud bang, glaring at her. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Emma just smiled wordlessly.

She’d hit another one of CEO Whitman’s sore spots.

After his outburst, Theodore seemed to remember why he’d come here in the first place. He let out a long sigh. “Emma, why do you always have to push my buttons? Fine, I shouldn’t have lost my temper just now, but you can’t keep being so petty, either.”

Right. It’s always her being petty. Her husband can sleep with another woman, and somehow she’s the unreasonable one.

The truth was, Emma had spoken out of turn today. She’d known all along how Theodore would react, had promised herself not to waste any more energy on him—or anyone else in his circle. Yet she still couldn’t quite keep her cool.

She got to her feet.

Theodore grabbed her arm and held her down. “Where are you going? They’re almost here.”

Cecilia must have finished checking the menu, because her tone was positively delighted. “Wow, these are all my favorites! Theo, you really are the one who knows me best in the whole world!”

Theodore laughed loudly, basking in her praise.

That’s right. Theodore really does know everything about Cecilia. As for his own wife’s preferences? Not a clue.

Emma suddenly felt in no rush to go back out. Eavesdropping, it turned out, could be oddly entertaining.

She heard Cecilia again: “Theo, are you taking some time off the day after tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” Theodore replied, still cheerful. “First real vacation I’ve taken in years.”

“Then let’s go to the beach! Remember? You promised ages ago you’d take me, but you guys were always too busy—every summer, it was just work, work, work. Hmph!” Cecilia’s voice was sweetly petulant, playfully scolding.