Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 80

Her hoarse cries meant nothing to Theodore. If anything, her resistance only made him rougher, more relentless. Soon, there was barely anything left covering her. She could only guess that Theodore was just as bare; she could feel his skin pressed slick and hot against hers, a sensation that made her want to recoil in fear.

A cold, desperate terror settled over her.

Maybe tonight, she really couldn’t hold onto anything–not even herself.

“Theodore, if you don’t stop, I’ll hate you!” Her voice shook with raw honesty. She meant it. She was supposed to start a new life, to look forward to the future. Was he going to drag her back into hell, all over again?

After that surge of despair, a strange calmness washed over her.

She simply didn’t have the strength to fight a man gone mad.

If this was truly happening, she had to think about what to do next–how to survive, not collapse.

First: whatever happened, she couldn’t let herself get sucked back into his darkness.

Tomorrow, she’d have to buy emergency contraception–that was non–negotiable. She couldn’t let this incident derail her plans to leave. After tonight, there would only be twenty days left before she could finally walk away from Theodore for good.

Five years had already passed. What were twenty days, really? They would fly by–just twenty more days…

As soon as she stopped struggling, Theodore’s movements softened. He even leaned in to whisper in her ear, voice low and almost gentle, “There, that’s better. Isn’t it nicer when you behave? Why do you always have to make things difficult?”

She squeezed her eyes shut, but tears still slipped out, silent and uncontrollable.

“Don’t cry, I’ll be gentle, it’ll only hurt for a moment… I’m here…”

She felt his fingers brush her cheek, then cover her eyes.

She didn’t know why he covered her eyes–maybe, with her face hidden, he could pretend she was Cecilia.

Ding–dong-

The doorbell rang, sharp and sudden.

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Theodore didn’t move.

“The doorbell’s ringing. That’s room service coming to clear the dishes–if you don’t open up, they’ll just come in!” Emma clung to this last, desperate hope.

“Who’d dare come in if I don’t let them?” His grip only tightened, rougher than before.

She could feel real pain now. The bell rang again, and this time she heard voices outside–one of them, she thought, was a woman calling, “Theo…”

“Cecilia! That’s Cecilia!” she blurted out, grasping at anything that might make him

stop.

At last, the pain faded. Theodore paused, but he still didn’t move away from her.

“Cici’s here–does that make you happy?” he demanded, breath ragged, voice rough

with accusation.

Emma had no idea how to answer, no idea what would keep him from snapping again. He was still pressed up against her, and she knew one wrong word could send him spiraling.

“No… it’s not that… I just thought… you’d be happy to see her…” Her mind was a broken jumble, words tumbling out without sense.

“Theo…” The doorbell rang again. This time, the woman’s voice was clear, trembling,

on the edge of tears.

He hesitated, then finally pulled away.

Emma moved fast, wrapping herself in the sheets, covering every inch of skin. Theodore dressed quickly and headed to the door.

It really was Cecilia.

Emma exhaled in relief. Was this salvation? Should she thank Cecilia? The thought was bitterly ironic, but it made sense.

As the door opened, Cecilia’s voice carried through, high–pitched and trembling, every word thick with tears.

“Theo… I’m sorry, did I… did I interrupt you?”

“No, I wasn’t asleep yet,” Theodore replied, his voice suddenly gentle–a different man entirely from the one just moments ago. “What’s wrong?”

“Theo… I’m scared… I had a nightmare. I dreamed I was back overseas… I–I…” Her words broke into gasps before dissolving into quiet sobs.

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Chapter 81

Chapter 81