Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Watching Theodore’s face go rigid, Emma remained strikingly calm. “Theodore, Assistant Laurent swore up and down she gave me passionfruit lemonade. So how did it turn into mango juice? Did she tamper with it, or did someone else swap the drinks? And, Theodore, just who exactly did you tell about my mango allergy?”

Cecilia’s face drained of color.

Emma didn’t give her a chance to speak. “Who locked the door from the outside? Your company has security cameras–one look at the footage and it’ll be clear. Unless, of course, the cameras are suddenly broken or the footage has been wiped. In that case, I’ll have to ask the police to investigate. Either way, I’m filing a police report.”

Cecilia and Theodore both looked desperate to interject, but Emma cut them off. “Someone tried to kill me. I have to call the police. Anyone who stands in my way has something to hide.”

Cecilia went sheet white.

“Theodore! Your wife was almost burned alive in that conference room, and you won’t call the police? Are you really trying to cover for someone?” Her eyes blazed as she

stared him down.

“No, Emma…” Theodore squeezed his eyes shut. “Are you accusing Cici?”

Emma’s jaw tightened. “I’m not accusing anyone. I just want the truth. No one is stopping me from reporting this.”

“Theo, I–how could I ever hurt Emma?” Cecilia’s voice cracked as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Theodore reached for Emma’s shoulder. “Exactly. Cici would never-

“Then what are you afraid of?” Emma cut him off. “If she’s innocent, the police will only prove it.”

“Emma-”

“Stop calling my name, Theodore. Anyone with a conscience knows what matters more–someone’s life or all this messy drama. If you choose to protect someone instead of doing what’s right, there’s nothing left for me to say. But calling the police is a matter of my safety, not about who you are to me, or who she is to you. If, after all these years, I end up paying with my life for saving someone, then not only would I never forgive myself, neither would justice itself.” Emma didn’t want to hear another

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Chapter 96

word of their pathetic excuses. She snatched up her phone, unlocked it, and prepared to call the police. She needed answers.

“Emma…” Cecilia broke down, sobbing. “Theo… please… don’t let her call the police…”

Theodore looked stunned by her outburst, his face twisting in shock. “Cici… was it really you?”

Cecilia rushed forward, clinging to his arm. “I’m sorry, Theo! I didn’t mean to… I just–l just wanted to play a joke on Emma!”

“A joke?” Emma let out a cold laugh. “Funny, your kind always loves their little jokes. I’ve been alive over twenty years and never knew that some people’s idea of fun is playing with someone’s life.”

“No, no, that’s not it,” Cecilia shook her head violently. “Theo, listen, I never wanted to hurt Emma. I can’t even bring myself to kill a chicken or a fish, how could I possibly hurt a person? I just–I just wanted to mess with Emma a little. She doesn’t like us, she doesn’t like Jared or Hanley. I wanted to stand up for them, embarrass her at work. So I asked Assistant Laurent to give her the mango juice. I just wanted her to show up in front of everyone with an allergic reaction.”

Chapter 97