Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 52

Back in high school, she’d had a crush on him. But she’d never had the courage to actually approach him with a question–if she ever did, it must have been some rare, desperate circumstance.

He seemed to find the whole idea amusing. “Do you remember? When did you ever come ask me for help? I recall you being so quiet back then–seriously shy.”

“I don’t remember,” she replied, completely uninterested in reminiscing.

What was the point of looking back on teenage crushes, now that their marriage was in such a mess?

Theodore, is nostalgia really your thing? Isn’t one Cecilia enough for you

to moon over?

“I could tutor you, if you want,” he said, flipping through her book. “Even though it’s been ages since I last touched any of this, I’m sure I could still help you.”

He snapped the book closed.

Emma noticed that as he turned the pages, the silver ring that usually sat on his left ring finger had vanished.

As for whether he could actually teach her now?

She highly doubted it.

“No thanks. I won’t need it anyway. I’m just doing this to kill time–just so I can watch shows in the original language,” she said, starting to push his hand away.

“Fair. You barely leave the house these days, anyway…” As he dropped his hand, it suddenly dawned on him that their current posture was a little strange–Emma was still trying to shove him off.

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Chapter 52

His brow furrowed, and he caught her hand in his.

“What are you doing? It’s late–I’m going to bed!” Emma struggled, trying to wriggle free.

With one hand, Theodore kept hold of her; with the other, he reached into his pajama pocket and pulled out a ring, sliding it back onto her finger by force.

It was the jade wedding band she’d taken off in the car earlier.

His face was impossible to read–was he angry or upset? Either way, he didn’t look happy. “Don’t overthink it. There’s nothing going on between Cici and me. I’ve told you a thousand times–no one could ever change the fact that you’re Mrs. Whitman. But that guy you were dancing with–l didn’t know about him. I just give you a hug and you act like I’m the enemy, but him spinning you around all night is just fine?”

“Don’t project your filthy imagination on us!” Emma shot back, unable to hold it in.

“Us? You and who, exactly? Him?” His irritation was crystal clear. “Don’t forget who your husband is.”

“I honestly don’t know anymore–whose husband are you, anyway?” So, the word “us” bothered him, too? Yet when he and his precious Cici used it, it was fine?

She stood up sharply, her damp hair whipping across his face, making him wince.

“How are you supposed to sleep with wet hair?” He wiped his face, his hand coming away wet. “Let Fallon come in and dry your hair.”

When Fallon arrived, Theodore didn’t leave. He picked up her IELTS workbook and started leafing through it, pausing on one page and staring at it for a long, silent moment.

Then he looked up, watching her in the vanity mirror as Fallon carefully dried her hair.

Chapter 52

Even Fallon looked uncomfortable in the tense atmosphere; the moment Emma’s hair was dry, she practically fled the room, closing the door behind her.

“Time for bed. Are you sleeping in here tonight?” Theodore stood up.

“Sure, whatever.” Emma lay down without another word.

Her freshly dried hair felt warm and soft, and the shampoo she’d used–one her grandmother made from camellia seeds–left a faint, comforting scent of tea in the air. It wasn’t something you could buy in stores; her grandmother and the women in the village made it

themselves, and Emma always brought some back whenever she visited. Theodore lay down, too.

Emma thought back to the past few days–how he’d asked her to move back to the master bedroom, only to then tell her to sleep in the guest room, and he’d ended up in the guest room, too…

Forget it. She shut her eyes, determined to sleep. She didn’t have the energy to fight anymore. Besides, there were more than a few IELTS books in the master bedroom; if he happened to find the exercises she’d done recently–or worse, her test scores–that would be a whole new

headache.

Chapter 53