Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54

The first page of the notebook was titled: *100 Little Things About Cici.*

The very first entry read: *Cici’s birthday is May 16th.*

Emma’s hand slackened, and the notebook slipped from her grasp, landing on the floor.

The code for the lock at her house was 52516.

The code for this safe was 0516.

So, all this time–five years, in fact–she’d been living in Theodore and Cecilia’s house…

Suddenly, the air in the room seemed to thin, her chest tightening as she pressed a hand to her heart, struggling to catch her breath.

‘Ma’am.”

Fallon’s voice at the door finally broke through the haze.

What is it?” Emma crouched to retrieve the notebook, glimpsing the next ine: *Owns one or more homes with Cici that she likes; the code is her >irthday.*

She couldn’t bring herself to read any further. Shutting the notebook, Emma placed it back in the safe and restored everything to how it was.

Fallon waited for her in the doorway. “Mr. Bennett had the driver bring over some fresh crab. How would you like it prepared?”

‘Make it spicy,” Emma replied absently, her voice flat and her mind elsewhere.

“Ma’am, it’s king-” Fallon started to say it was king crab, and that it might be a shame to drown it in spice, but Emma wasn’t listening. She grabbed her things and walked past Fallon out the door.

Day 26 in the countdown to leaving Theodore: He remembers a hundred

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little things about Cecilia. I sold my wedding ring, and I’m marking off the days.

Emma arrived at the secondhand boutique right on time to meet Vivian, her appointment already set. She handed over the wedding bands for Vivian to look at.

Vivian greeted her warmly, poured her a cup of tea, and invited her to sit.

But then, Emma felt a sudden discomfort–a warm trickle running down her leg.

She shot to her feet. “Vivian, do you have any sanitary pads?”

Her period had come early.

“There are some in the cabinet in the restroom. You’ll see them as soon as you go in,” Vivian said, pointing out the restroom.

Of course.

After Emma cleaned herself up, she stepped back into the shop–just as voices drifted in from the front.

One of them sounded all too familiar.

She peeked out and, sure enough, it was Cecilia.

Is there anywhere I *won’t* run into her? Emma thought.

While she debated whether to slip out unnoticed, someone else appeared at the entrance–Theodore.

Morning, prime meeting time at the office, and he’s got time for this…

“Theo, look–this shop has so many of this model! There’s a limited edition with a constellation motif, made only for our city. It’s already sold out everywhere else…” Cecilia pointed excitedly at a watch in the case.

From a distance, Emma recognized it. If she wasn’t mistaken, that was one of the watches she’d just sold.

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Vivian immediately took it out for Cecilia. “You have a good eye! This piece just came in recently, and you won’t find it anywhere else on the market.”

Theodore frowned as he examined the watch. “It’s really that rare?”

“Yes,” Vivian replied. “If I remember correctly, it was released as a limited series three years ago–constellation edition, much pricier than the regular model. Our Cresthaven boutique only received ten of them.”

Cecilia held the watch, clearly enamored, but still skeptical. “Are you sure it’s not a fake? These days, forgers can even fake certificates.”

Vivian smiled reassuringly. “All our items are authentic. Not only does this one come with a certificate and anti–counterfeit tags, it even has the original receipt.”

“You got all ten at the same time?” Theodore, who’d been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up.

“Yes,” Vivian confirmed, nodding. “They all came from the same client.”

“Show me the receipt,” Theodore demanded, his tone turning cold.

“Of course.” Vivian, a little taken aback by his intensity, fetched the paperwork and handed it over.

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