Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 368

Grandma's hand shot out, striking Theodore hard across the face.

A bright red imprint of her fingers immediately bloomed on his cheek.

She pointed at him, shaking with anger so fierce she couldn't find her words.

"Grandma!" Theodore stayed on his knees, the mark burning on his face, his voice thick with emotion. "This is all my fault. Please, don't be upset. Don't get so worked up… I—I won't be able to look after you anymore. Please, promise me you'll take care of yourself."

Emma wrapped her arms around Grandma, terrified she might collapse. She shot Theodore a scathing glare. "My grandma is perfectly fine! As long as you don't show your sorry face around her again, she'll live to be a hundred!"

Theodore's heart clenched at her words. He clung desperately to Grandma's hand. "Grandma… I know you've always loved me best, I—"

His voice broke; he couldn't go on.

Grandma yanked her hand free, so furious her whole arm trembled as she pointed at him. "Don't you call me Grandma again! From this day forward, our family has nothing to do with you! We don't ever want to see you again. Emmie, let's go!"

She grabbed Emma's arm and marched toward the door.

Behind them, Cecilia yanked at Theodore's sleeve. "Theo, stop it! Stop blaming yourself. No matter how much you do for them, they'll never appreciate it. Why are you still kneeling to that old hag? You're the CEO, for God's sake! You don't owe them anything—I feel bad for you!"

Grandma, already at the door, suddenly froze. She turned, her eyes sharp as knives. "Say that again. Say ‘old hag' one more time."

Emma, livid at Cecilia's insult, started forward, but Grandma held her back with surprising strength. "Let her speak."

Thinking she'd hit a nerve, Cecilia sneered and deliberately repeated it, louder each time—"Old hag! Old hag! Old hag!"

She kept at it, hurling the words like stones.

No. No one could ever find out the truth—that she was the one behind Grandma's abuse.

If Theodore ever learned the truth, whatever was left of her image in his eyes would be destroyed. And if Mr. Rossi found out… she couldn't even imagine the consequences.

"Grandma, what did you just say?" Cecilia hurried after them, pretending to be remorseful. "Grandma, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I just—I just lost my temper. Please don't go, let me apologize…"

She chased after them, glancing anxiously around the store.

Then, feigning a stumble as her dress caught on a display, she lunged forward—right into a store clerk, who staggered back and crashed into Grandma.

Grandma toppled to the floor, hitting the shelving hard. A heavy iron ornament shook loose from the shelf above—hurtling down, straight toward Grandma's head.