Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 437

Emma looked at him and couldn't help but laugh. "Well, are you getting in the car or not? Are you just going to stand out there and freeze?"

"Huh?" Sebastian was so surprised he could only stare at her, looking even more lost.

"Are you planning on spending Christmas Eve all by yourself in the cold?" Emma asked, giving him a playful glare.

"No… I… wait… really? I…" He paced back and forth a few times, completely flustered. "Oh! Right! Wait here, I have to go get the gifts!"

He had, of course, imagined this exact scenario, daydreaming that Emma would invite him to her family's Christmas. He had even bought gifts, just in case.

But as he ran out of his house, presents in hand, he saw someone else standing by the car: Theodore.

He'd been gone for over a week. Why was he back now?

Surely he wasn't trying to come along? Larson would never allow that.

Theodore was there to give Emma a Christmas present. He knew she wouldn't be spending the holiday alone and that he would never be allowed into Larson's home, so he had come to give her the gift on Christmas Eve.

He just hadn't expected to run into Larson himself.

"Emma." Braving Larson's ice-cold stare, Theodore forced a smile and held out a gift box. "Merry Christmas."

Emma didn't take it. "Theodore, I don't know if this is the right thing to say, but a decent ex should act like they're dead, not pop up like a ghost every now and then."

Theodore's face went pale. "I just wanted to wish you well…"

"I don't need gifts, and I certainly don't need your well-wishes," Emma said sharply. "The best gift you could give me is to disappear. Do you understand?"

Theodore's hand dropped to his side, the light in his eyes dimming.

"Think about it. Why are you here, giving me gifts and declaring your feelings? Is it really for my sake? No. It's to make yourself feel better. You feel guilty, so you keep apologizing, hoping I'll forgive you. Cecilia betrayed you, and now you realize you loved the wrong person all these years, so you've come running back to what you think you lost. But Theodore, I don't love you anymore. Your constant presence isn't romantic; it's a burden. Can't you understand that?"

Having said her piece, Emma looked up and saw Sebastian standing a short distance away.

"Sebastian!" she called out. "Hurry up, we're waiting for you!"

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