Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 255

“I…” Theodore faltered, but it was clear no one was listening to him anymore.

In the end, the police had to get involved. After checking his ID, they confirmed Theodore really was Emma’s husband. Still, the hotel staff refused to give him the key. Their reasoning? “Who knows if you two are even still married?”

Theodore could only bite his tongue, unable to defend himself. He finally gave up on the room key and just pleaded to get his keychain back.

“Can you at least tell me what city my wife and her friends went to after checking out?” Theodore clutched the keychain as he asked the receptionist.

She rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you her husband? Shouldn’t a husband know where his wife’s gone?”

It was obvious Theodore would get nothing more from her.

Night was falling over the city of canals. Lights shimmered on the water, and pigeons wheeled above St. Mark’s Square. A blonde woman in a crimson dress was singing soprano, her voice soaring with the violin’s accompaniment.

Emma, Sebastian, Serena, and another girl from their group had just finished a gondola ride and were stepping ashore.

Emma was still favoring her injured foot, so after Sebastian hopped onto the dock, he turned back to help her up.

Just then, the gondola rocked unexpectedly. Emma lost her balance, and Sebastian had to practically lift her out. To anyone watching, it looked as if Emma had tumbled right into his arms.

As soon as Emma regained her footing, she caught sight of a familiar figure in the dusk—Theodore.

What was he doing here, all the way in Europe?

Theodore’s eyes were dark and stormy as he strode toward her.

Serena and the other girl spotted him too, exchanging uneasy glances.

Sebastian finally noticed something was off; when he turned around, he was met with a fist swinging straight at his face.

“Are you insane, Theodore?!” Emma shouted, shoving Sebastian aside just in time—the punch nearly landed on her head.

But Theodore wasn’t finished. He lunged after Sebastian, intent on getting in another hit.

Sebastian’s temper flared. He cracked his knuckles, furious. “Theodore Whitman, I’ve wanted to punch you for ages! Bring it on!”

Theodore didn’t say a word, just glared with a murderous look, throwing punch after punch at Sebastian.

Emma was frantic.

This can’t happen! Sebastian has performances coming up—what if he gets hurt? Even a bruise on his face would be a disaster!

But Theodore was out of his mind. No matter how loudly Emma shouted, he didn’t hear a thing.

The two men were practically wrestling now.

Emma was out of options. She wedged herself between them and turned to Sebastian, who still had a thread of self-control left. “Go back. Now!”

“Theodore,” Emma’s voice was frigid. “If you flew all the way to Europe just because I blocked you on WhatsApp and you couldn’t fight with me online anymore, you can save yourself the trouble and go home.”

“I’m not here to fight with you!” Theodore’s eyes burned. “I came to take you home. Come home with me!”

He reached for her.

Emma didn’t move. “Theodore, I’m not going back.”

Her calm was unshakeable, as if nothing had ever happened between them—as if they were strangers, with neither love nor hate left between them.

Theodore’s eyes widened, shock flashing across his face before it was replaced by a deeper rage. “Do you even know what you’re saying? Do you think you can just do whatever you want because I came here? No wonder Jared and the others say I spoil you—you really don’t know when to quit!”

If leaving him counted as being willful, then so be it.

“Say whatever you want, Theodore. These days have been the happiest I’ve had in over twenty years. Please, let me go—and let yourself go, too.” Go back and play house with your Cici, for all I care!

Theodore’s face turned from pale to red, then green with fury. Suddenly, he jabbed a finger in Sebastian’s direction and all but shouted, “Happy? You’ve only known that pretty boy for a few days and that’s happier than the last twenty years? What about all the money I’ve given you? Would you even be here without me? And what about Grandma? Does all she’s done for you mean nothing compared to him?”

Emma looked at him, utterly unmoved. “Theodore, not everyone’s obsessed with romance, you know. And Grandma’s doing just fine. You don’t need to worry about us—you’re not family anymore.”

“Not family?” Theodore shot back. “I’m not family?”

“What else would you call it? Are you a Bennett?”