Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 499

Emma spun around. “Sebastian, I’m not mad at you for that. I just believe that everyone is entitled to their own space. We should focus on ourselves and manage our own lives. What Theodore does has been none of my business since the day we divorced. I don’t know how many times I have to say this.”

“He shouldn’t be anywhere near you! He shouldn’t be buzzing around you like a fly!” Sebastian raged. “And you’re fighting with me over him! Who is your boyfriend here?”

“I am not fighting with you! Did I fight with you? Yesterday, you were the one who left without a word. You were the one who started ignoring me for no reason,” Emma said, trying to remain rational. “I was just shocked that you would do something like that. It’s… it’s an invasion of someone else’s space.”

“I invaded *his* space. What does that have to do with you? You just said you have nothing to do with him! So why are you so angry?” he shot back, his face a mask of indignation.

Emma felt a wave of despair. How could she make him understand? It was barely morning, and she was already exhausted.

“Sebastian,” she said, still trying to avoid a full-blown argument. “Everyone deserves their own space. It doesn’t matter if that person is Theodore, or you, or me. A relationship without personal space is just suffocating.”

“I don’t get it,” he said. “You want space from me, fine. But what does Theodore’s space have to do with you?”

Emma didn’t know what else to say. “I’m not saying his space has anything to do with me. Can we please talk about the principle of the matter, not the person?”

“But you *are* making it about the person! You only got angry after his shop closed!”

Emma gave up. “Fine. Let’s just go to practice.”

Ultimately, Sebastian did show up for rehearsal, but not until it was about to start. Emma had been mentally preparing to have the understudy take his place again. At least he still had some sense of priority.

But they had entered a cold war.

After rehearsals, he would leave immediately. He no longer waited for her, no longer picked her up, no longer cooked for her. He didn’t even accompany her to physical therapy anymore.