Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 99

In truth, when you stop expecting anything from someone, disappointment loses its

grip on you.

Emma slipped on her shoes, ready to head out, when Theodore trailed after her. “Where exactly are you going?” he demanded.

Emma ignored him. Undeterred, Theodore turned to Fallon. “Do you know where she’s headed?”

Fallon just looked confused and shook her head.

Snatching up the car keys, Theodore followed Emma straight into the elevator.

Emma glanced at him and couldn’t help but notice the stubble shadowing his jaw, as if he hadn’t bothered to shave. “Mr. Whitman, don’t you have anything better to do?”

Five years.

In all five years of marriage, he’d never shadowed her this closely. It was so out of character, she could hardly believe it.

“I told you, I’m on vacation,” he replied.

She watched the elevator doors slide shut and asked coolly, “Oh? So, has Cecilia turned herself in yet?”

Theodore’s hand hesitated on the elevator button.

Emma smiled faintly, saying nothing more.

She had expected as much–big talk, little action.

But it didn’t matter. She’d already reported everything to the police herself.

“Emma, doesn’t Gran love the pastries from Delightful Bakery?” Theodore switched topics hastily. “Why don’t we pick up a box on the way? And maybe grab some groceries too–have dinner at her place tonight?”

“Sure,” Emma replied, her tone light and even, not a trace of anger.

Theodore found it hard to believe. But then, Emma had always been gentle and accommodating. Maybe she really was ready to let things go. Or… was it last night’s absence? Did she sense a shift, and now wanted to salvage things?

Jared’s words echoed in his mind: Theo, I’m telling you, you spoil women too much.

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Chapter 99

You give in on everything. Emma loves you so much she’d risk her life for you. You’re

her whole world. She’s the one who should be groveling at your feet, not the other way around! Trust me, disappear for a few nights, give her the cold shoulder, and she’ll come running back–clingier than ever, just like before.

It was true. Emma loved him–he knew that. Loved him deeply, almost desperately.

Back in high school, Jared had once waved a piece of notebook paper in his face, mocking him. The page was filled top to bottom with his name, “Theodore,” scrawled over and over. Jared had teased, “Who the hell is so obsessed with you?”

At the time, Theodore had no idea.

Plenty of girls liked him. A page full of his name didn’t mean much.

But after he married Emma, years later, he’d come home late one night to find her asleep at the dining table, waiting for him. Under her elbow, pressed against the table, was a familiar piece of paper–again, his name written in rows. Only then did it dawn on him: the girl who’d filled that page with his name had been her all along.

No wonder she’d risked everything to save him.

She loved him so much–how could she possibly turn her back on him? How could she not care if he stayed out all night?

“Emma.” He reached out, taking her hand. “That day I borrowed your driver’s license, I actually wanted—”

The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival at the underground garage. The doors slid open.

Emma gently pulled her hand free and stepped out.

Watching her limp away, Theodore frowned and followed, concern flickering across

his face.

True to his word, he drove her to Delightful Bakery first. When he suggested stopping by the store for groceries, Emma refused. “No need. Gran’s fridge is always better stocked than the supermarket.”

She just didn’t want to go.

Years ago, the girl he’d cast aside had taken a terrible fall in that very store–a memory so painful she never wanted to relive it.

“Alright, we’ll skip it then,” Theodore agreed, making no move towards the supermarket.

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Chapter 99

But as the car continued down the road, Emma soon realized they weren’t headed to

Gran’s house at all.