The over - the - top performance had everyone inside the room howling with laughter . Cecilia , seated right beside Theodore , was laughing so hard she nearly fell against his shoulder . And yet , Theodore simply sat there , silent . Jared turned around , grinning . " Hey , Theo , is it really- ? " He didn't even get the last word out before he caught sight of Emma standing in the doorway . His smile froze . " S - Sister - in - law ... " All eyes snapped to the entrance . The room fell into stunned silence . Cecilia lifted herself off Theodore's shoulder and beamed . " Oh , so you're the famous Mrs. Theo ? Nice to meet you ! Come in , I'm an old friend of Theo's . " Emma looked at the crowd - as if the room had dropped ten degrees . The chill settled right into her bones . At last , Theodore stood up and walked over . " Emma , what are you doing here ? They're just joking - don't take it to heart . " She stared at him , feeling as if she were facing a complete stranger . Never had he seemed so unfamiliar . So when others mocked his wife , he chose to stand with them ? " Yeah , s - sorry , sis , it was just a joke . Don't be mad , " Jared apologized , putting down his glass . " Theo , what's wrong ? " Cecilia pouted and shot Jared a glare . " You made Theo's wife upset , and you're still not apologizing ? You think everyone's like me - thick - skinned enough to take your jokes ? " Emma's lips curled into a cold , silent sneer . What a performance - so sweet , so insincere . But obviously , none of the men caught her meaning . They seemed to lap it up . Jared protested , " I did apologize ! How was I supposed to know she'd just show up ? I was only kidding , really . " " A joke is only a joke if the person it's aimed at finds it funny , " Emma said , her voice 1/2 11:47 Chapter 5 trembling . It took every ounce of courage she had to get the words out . She was disabled , not good enough for Theodore - at least , that's what she'd been telling herself for five years . Every time someone questioned her , looked down on her , she shrank further into her shell , like a wounded animal hiding away to nurse its wounds . Jared grumbled , " But I already said sorry ... " " I - I don't accept it ... " Emma was shaking now , but for the first time , she stood her ground . " What do you want from me , then ? " Jared muttered . Emma didn't even know the answer herself . She only shook her head , refusing to accept it - refusing to accept her husband's friends mocking her , refusing to accept that her husband would take their side . " That's enough . Everyone , quiet . " Theodore stepped forward , positioning himself between her and Jared . He was the leader of this group . After college , he'd been the one to rally them , building the company from the ground up with his brilliant mind and relentless drive . With him in charge , no one dared say another word . " Emma , " Theodore said , his voice as calm as ever - so different from the warmth she'd seen in his eyes when talking to Cecilia on video . " These are my oldest friends . They didn't mean any harm ; it was just a bit of fun . For my sake , could you forgive them ? I'll have the driver take you home , all right ? " 2/2