Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 506

Soon, only Sebastian and Emma were left in the dressing room as she carefully removed her elaborate headpiece.

Emma was trying to figure out what to say, but Sebastian spoke first.

He stood behind her, his voice low and mournful. "You don't love me at all."

Emma's hand paused as she was taking off an earring. She placed it on the table and continued with the other one.

"I disappeared, and you didn't even care," he went on.

She set the second earring down and turned to face him. "I didn't care? Why don't you check your phone and see how many missed calls you have from me?"

Sebastian looked down. "You were just trying to get me back on stage."

"Sebastian, can we please not be so childish?" she said, her voice firm but weary. "I cannot imagine how someone who claims to love dance could abandon the stage, abandon the hard work of so many people, and just selfishly miss a performance without a single word of explanation. Do you have any idea how irresponsible that is?"

He faced her, his expression still wounded. "I didn't miss it. I was here tonight, the whole time. I waited outside all afternoon. If you had just made one more call—just one—I would have run to you. But you didn't. Our relationship wasn't worth one more phone call to you."

Emma closed her eyes, feeling an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. "During yesterday's final rehearsal, I gave up on you. Without a final rehearsal, how could you possibly have performed?"

"How do you know I didn't rehearse? Faith and I came back last night after everyone had left and we rehearsed on our own! I was preparing for your show the entire time. It was you! You weren't willing to humor me a little longer. You didn't trust that I would be by your side when it mattered most!"

Emma was done. In truth, she had been done for a while. She didn't even have the energy to figure out why he had not only skipped the show himself but had also convinced Faith to do the same.

That single phrase could turn love into resentment.

She had sacrificed so much for Theodore, but not once during their marriage had she ever said to him, *I did this for you…*

Because love wasn't a trap. It wasn't a debt to be collected.

Everything she did for him, she did willingly. Why would she hold her own choices over his head like a weapon?

"Sebastian, I remember asking you about this before. And my answer is the same now as it was then. I can't be responsible for your future. Maybe it's better if you go back and become the heir to your family's fortune."

"You…" he said, looking deeply hurt. "I know why you're doing this. It's because you're back with Theodore, aren't you?"