Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 352

Cathie watched the spectacle unfold, a cold smirk tugging at her lips as she silently dared Cecilia to keep up the act.

Hanley was getting anxious. He’d just managed to keep the peace, and now, here they were, stirring up trouble with Cathie again. Why did these people always provoke her? She was a force of nature—best left undisturbed.

Cecilia hadn’t expected Cathie to ignore her, but it didn’t stop her from putting on an even grander performance. Her eyes grew even redder as she choked out, “I know I can be reckless. The three of them have sheltered me so much that I never learned how to handle things, so I keep offending people. Cathie, if I’ve ever done anything to upset you, please forgive me. Hanley, could you say something to her for me? If I’ve messed up, I’m sorry—I’ll do better.”

Hanley, eager to smooth things over, turned to Cathie. “Cathie, Cici, she—” But before he could finish, Cathie cut him off with a sharp bark.

This time, instead of slapping him, she grabbed his ear and yanked. “What, is this ear just for decoration? Or has your brain turned to mush? Can’t you hear or just can’t you remember? Didn’t I tell you not to speak for her in front of me?”

“N-no, honey, I swear, I wasn’t going to. I really wasn’t…” Hanley’s heart hammered in his chest. That was way too close.

Cathie turned her attention to Cecilia, her voice dripping with scorn. “You want me to forgive you? Why should I? You used this little act to break up Theodore and Emma—what, now you’re hoping to break up Hanley and me too?”

Cecilia’s face went ghostly pale. “No… that’s not what I meant… not at all…”

“Save it!” Cathie snapped. “I may not have seen much of the world, but my family’s been growing tea for generations. If there’s one thing I know, it’s how to tell the real thing from the fake. So get lost!”

Cecilia had been humiliated by them more times than she could count, and now the tears began to stream down her cheeks.

Jared couldn’t take it anymore. “Cathie, don’t you think you’re going a bit too far—”

“Jared.” Cathie’s voice was ice. “I just said this two-faced snake ruined things for Emma and Theodore. You think that’s the only thing she’s broken up?”

Jared was momentarily thrown. Even Hanley was confused. “What are you talking about, honey?”

“You want to know?” Cathie sneered. “Jared, don’t act like you care. I’ve got no interest in meddling with other people’s marriages, but whether you’re still even a husband is up for debate.”

Jared frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“How long has Nita been gone? Have you even noticed?” Cathie shot him a cold look. “Figures. You haven’t been home in ages, have you?”

All of them—worthless men.

Jared’s expression hardened. “Cathie, if you have something to say, just spit it out!”

Cathie’s eyes stung, but she forced herself to keep her voice steady. “Nita’s mother passed away.”

It was as if a bomb went off in Jared’s head. He suddenly remembered the message Nita had sent—her mom’s health was failing, she’d asked him to come to the hospital…

Hanley was just as stunned. “Cathie, that’s huge. Why didn’t you tell me?”

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