Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 75

“Fallon isn’t here. If you need anything, call for me. Don’t try to tough it out.”

Emma had just stepped into the bathroom when she heard Theodore’s words. Only then did it hit her–did he really think she needed Fallon’s help for something as simple as taking a shower?

The weather was warming up.

She even felt that summer arrived earlier here in the north than it ever did back home

in the south.

After the drama with Theodore that evening, Emma’s gown was practically glued to her skin–tight, sticky, impossible to peel off. The more she struggled, the more she seemed to sweat, and the more the dress clung to her.

After some time without hearing any water running, Theodore called out from the hallway, “Emma? Are you alright in there?”

“I’m fine! Don’t come in!” she called back, a little too quickly.

“Emma! Do you need help?”

“No, no! I said don’t come in!” Her voice rose in panic.

But the more flustered she became, the more convinced Theodore was that

something was wrong. He pushed the door open without another word, catching her mid–battle with her dress.

“Stuck?” He strode right in.

“I-” She started to protest, but before she could finish, his hand was already at the zipper.

“It’s jammed,” he said, tugging at it.

Then there was a long silence. Emma waited, growing anxious, unsure what he was doing. “Are you done yet? If not, just get out–I’ll handle it myself.”

He reached out, holding something in his palm right in front of her eyes–a broken zipper pull.

“This dress is terrible quality,” he muttered. “There’s no way–I’ll have to rip it.”

Before she could react, there was a sharp tearing sound, and the dress split open down the back.

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A chill hit her bare skin. She spun around, clutching the torn halves of the dress to her

chest. “Get out! Now!”

He raised an eyebrow, looking like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Room service.

He turned and left.

After her shower, Emma felt human again. She didn’t bother with her hair, just wrapped it in a towel and slipped into pajamas before heading out.

The suite had two bathrooms. When she came out, Theodore had already showered too. He sat by the window, a spread of food and wine set out before him.

“Emma,” he called. “Come eat with me.”

“I’m not hungry.” She’d been dragged here against her will; the least she could do was scroll through her phone in peace.

“I need to talk to you,” he said.

“If it’s just more nonsense, there’s no need. I know fairy tales don’t come true, and I’m not destined for a billionaire romance. Even if I did meet one, he’d already belong to

someone else.”

He regarded her for a long moment. “It’s not that.”

What else could it be?

“Come look at the view over here,” he said, raising his glass and taking a long drink. “The city looks beautiful at night.”

Emma glanced at her phone and was surprised to see a new email in her inbox. It was from the school–her 1-20 form had arrived!

She could schedule her visa appointment–she was finally moving forward with her plans to study abroad!

She pored over the email, so absorbed that she didn’t even hear Theodore until his voice sounded behind her. “Why is this art school emailing you?”

Startled, Emma fumbled her phone, nearly dropping it. “It’s nothing,” she replied quickly, locking her screen. “An old professor of mine moved overseas. She’s in Capital City now. We just reconnected.”

Hoping to shift his attention away from the email, Emma quickly stood up. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

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“I said I need to talk to you. Come over here,” Theodore finally let the subject drop.

Emma let out a sigh of relief. “Alright, let me do something with my hair first. I’ll be right there.”

Chapter 76