Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 259

Cecilia was in full-blown panic now. On a reckless whim, she’d once posted a photo on her private feed: herself in a semi-sheer nightgown, sitting beside a shirtless, clearly drunk Theodore. His face was right there, unmistakable. She’d deleted it immediately after, but someone must have screenshotted it—who would be so petty?

“What’s wrong? Lost your nerve?” Sebastian pressed, his tone sharp.

“There’s no need to question her.” Theodore stepped forward, shielding Cecilia. “She only posted it with my permission. If she’s done anything wrong, I’ll apologize for her.”

He turned to face Emma, standing tall and unflinching. “About Cici’s… earlier name-calling…”

He faltered, unable to repeat the words, and rephrased. “For her inappropriate way of addressing you, I sincerely apologize on Cici’s behalf. I hope you’ll be generous enough to forgive her…”

Emma felt a chill settle deep in her chest.

It was the first time Theodore had ever apologized for someone mocking her imperfections.

In the five years they’d been together, how many times had Jared and Hanley joked about her limp right in front of him? Too many to count—and he’d never once intervened.

And now, at last, an apology—except it wasn’t really from him. He was apologizing on Cecilia’s behalf, for Cecilia’s insult to his own wife?

What a joke. If she told this story to anyone, they’d need a flowchart to make sense of it.

Emma was about to snap—“Forget it, she doesn’t want to hear it” was on the tip of her tongue—when Theodore pulled out his phone. “For the emotional distress I’ve caused, I’ll compensate you.”

Emma: …?

Well then. She decided not to refuse after all.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She checked it, and there it was: half a million dollars transferred in.

Theodore suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Checking the money already? Emma, you’re becoming a stranger to me.”

Emma gave a polite, exaggerated bow. “That’s exactly what I want. My greatest wish in this life is to become strangers with you. Have a wonderful trip, both of you. Let’s go!”

Theodore muttered, almost to himself, “Right… Grandma didn’t come out today. If I bring her home, Emma will come back to see her.”

Cecilia stared at him in disbelief, her voice trembling. “Theo… did you hear what I said?”

“I heard you,” Theodore replied, his tone flat. “Come on, didn’t you want to go shopping for that doll? Emma’s not mad at you—she’s angry with me.”

“But Theo, everyone’s got the wrong idea about us. It’s already all over the internet; someone was live-streaming earlier.”

“It doesn’t matter. The truth will come out eventually.”

“They’ll call me a manipulative homewrecker—say I’m after you!”

“Let them talk,” Theodore said quietly. “I know who you really are.”