Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 81

“Don’t be scared. I’ll stay with you. As long as I’m here, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Emma: …Wait, why does it sound like I’m the third wheel here?

“Mmm…” Cecilia let out a lazy, coquettish hum. “Theo, thank you. You’re so sweet…”

“If I’m not sweet to you, who else would I be?” Theodore’s voice was so gentle and full of laughter it seemed to bubble over.

“Theo… There’s something else, but promise me you won’t get mad…” Cecilia

continued to whine and fuss.

Emma was baffled. He’d already called Cecilia out–why weren’t they leaving? Were they planning to have a little lovers‘ quarrel right outside her door for her to listen to?

“Of course I won’t get mad. How could Theo ever be mad at Cici? Theo could never, ever get mad at Cici.”

Suddenly, Emma remembered that notebook-“100 Little Things I Promise Cici“-and one line in particular: “Theo will never be angry with Cici.” Her husband was a man who kept his word, wasn’t he?

Ha. Very impressive.

“Theo…” Cecilia’s voice grew even more tender.

“Yes?”

“Theo…” Now her tone was shy, sticky–sweet, every syllable practically wriggling with embarrassment. Emma could almost picture Cecilia twisting from side to side as she spoke. “I… I don’t like you sleeping in the same room as Emma. Did you… did you two do anything?”

Emma: …

Emma’s perception of reality was being completely upended.

And Theodore’s answer turned her world upside down even more.

“No, I didn’t do anything with her,” he replied calmly. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to your room.”

Finally, the door closed.

Emma breathed a sigh of relief, hopped out of bed, and hurried over to lock the door

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Chapter 81

behind them.

Leaning against the door, she pressed a hand to her chest.

How could it not hurt?

That dull, heavy ache in her chest–like someone pounding her heart with a stone, again and again. But pain… pain was nothing to be afraid of.

Maybe time wouldn’t make someone fall in love with you, but it would definitely heal your wounds.

She let out a long breath, finally able to sleep in peace. Honestly, she didn’t want to do “that” with Theo, either…

A king–sized bed all to herself was actually pretty comfortable. If it weren’t for her alarm, Emma might not have woken up on time.

She’d set her alarm for five in the morning, planning to slip out quietly, head back to her own hotel, and then make her way home to Cresthaven.

But when she opened the door, she found her suitcase sitting right outside.

Who had brought her things here? Theodore?

She suddenly remembered him fiddling with her phone last night–he must have seen

her hotel reservation.

She called the hotel front desk, and the receptionist told her that her “husband” had checked her out and picked up her luggage.

Emma: … How did he pull that off? Did he really convince them they were married? He couldn’t have shown them a marriage certificate, could he?

Still, she wasn’t about to make a fuss. The room was already returned, so she had nowhere else to go. May as well catch another hour of sleep right here.

At six–thirty, she went downstairs for breakfast.

After getting her food, she chose the most secluded spot she could find, hidden behind a column by the window. She just wanted to eat in peace, watch the garden, and not be noticed.

But then, to her surprise, the whole group came down for breakfast as well. They didn’t realize she was tucked away behind the column, and the four of them took the table right in front of her hiding spot.

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