Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 84

“I agree with Jared on this one. Women use tricks like this all the time–it’s no different from her suddenly getting close to Mr. Grant’s son. Think about it: the Grants are loaded, and their son was born into a fortune. He’s seen every type of girl you can imagine–movie stars probably line up for him. Why would someone like him give Emma the time of day?”

“You guys are too much… Don’t talk about Theo’s wife like that. You know it’ll hurt his feelings!” Cecilia scolded, though there was affection in her voice. “But… Theo, Hanley doesn’t mean to insult Emma. It’s just… honestly, it’s kind of true. I mean, I’m a girl too, I understand how it works. Sometimes, you just want the guy to notice you. I’ve even done it myself…”

Theodore’s voice finally cut through, putting an end to their morning farce. “I know what’s going on with Emma. She’s my responsibility and my business. From the day I married her, I never planned to drag you all into it. But I guess I failed, and now you’re all caught up in this mess too.”

“Oh, come on, man. We’re friends–we don’t need that formal talk.”

“Exactly, Theo. We’re just worried about you. We just want to make sure you’re okay…”

Emma stepped out of the dining room, their voices fading behind her.

The bitterness of her morning coffee lingered on her tongue all the way down to her stomach, leaving her hollow and aching.

To Theodore, the only people who seemed to suffer through all of this were Jared, Hanley, and Cici…

Still, it wasn’t too late.

At least, she hadn’t wasted these five years.

She didn’t dare think about what would have happened if she’d just drifted through life, doing nothing. How desperate and helpless would she feel right now?

She went upstairs, didn’t pause when she got to her room, and grabbed her suitcase. Without a backward glance, she headed straight for the airport.

She hadn’t eaten much at breakfast, so after checking in, she grabbed a bite to eat in the lounge–just enough to take the edge off her hunger before boarding.

Her flight was on a plane with a business class layout: single seats by the windows

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Chapter 84

and pairs in the middle.

She’d picked a window seat.

After settling in, she turned off her phone and, as the aircraft prepared for takeoff, pulled an English novel from her bag. This had become a ritual over the past five years–reading a few pages or chapters every day, no matter how busy she was.

She was deep into her book when she heard a chorus of familiar voices.

“Theo, my seat’s in the middle. Where’s yours?”

“Theo, I’m sitting with Cici. If you want, we can switch and you can take the middle

seat.”

“Sure.”

And just like that, two all–too–familiar figures–Theodore and Cecilia–sat down in the seats beside her.

Emma was almost convinced the three of them must have some unfinished business

from a past life.

How else could they end up on the same flight, in the same row, flying back together?

The cabin air suddenly felt heavy, but she just closed her eyes for a moment, pressed a hand to her chest, and returned to her book.

“Hey, Emma?” Cecilia called across the aisle.

Emma looked up and smiled politely. “What a coincidence! You’re on this flight too?”

She spoke as though she were bumping into a neighbor or a distant.

acquaintance–barely glancing at Theodore, catching only the briefest flicker of something in his expression from the corner of her eye.

Surely, he knew she’d be on this flight. He’d seen her travel plans, after all.

Cecilia beamed. “Yeah, it’s crazy, right?”

A flight attendant came by to take meal and drink orders. Cecilia handed back the airline blanket. “I don’t need this, could you please take it away?”

“Of course, the attendant replied.

As soon as the blanket was gone, Cecilia leaned toward Theodore and whispered, “Theo, that blanket looked kind of dirty. I just couldn’t use it…”

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