Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 10

The marriage certificates were sorted out in no time.

James carried her out of the registry office, then smoothly slipped one of the certificates from her hand. He held out his palm. “Gimme your phone.”

Emmy blinked, confused, but handed it over. His fingers flew across the screen, then he passed it back.

“My number’s saved. So’s the code to my apartment. You can stay if you want.”

He pulled a plain bank card from his pocket and handed it over. “My salary card. The password is six nines.”

Emmy glanced at the card, then at his simple clothes. She didn’t reach for it. Just her purse alone probably cost more than he’d make in months.

“This... isn’t necessary. We agreed: separate finances.”

“That’s your rule,” James said, pausing, his voice low. “All the guys on my team hand over their salary.”

Emmy hesitated. Was he just trying to make their marriage look more convincing? Was he worried she’d use it against him later, or did he just want to play the perfect husband by the book?

Whatever. If it made him feel better, she’d take it. It wasn’t like she needed the money.

“Okay. I’ll keep it safe for you.”

She tucked the card away. James seemed satisfied and nodded. “I’ve got things to do at work. See you later.”

He left, and Emmy stood there, staring at the marriage certificate in her hand, her feelings all tangled up.

In her last life, she’d gone through so much just for this little paper. She remembered all those hints, subtle reminders, and indirect pleas. Yet in the end, they’d only gotten married because the doctor had brought it up during a checkup. Dean had been so unwilling.

Who would’ve thought that this time, the marriage certificate would come so easily? Almost ridiculously so.

A wry, self-mocking smile curved her lips. Her eyes stayed icy and cold.

She put the certificate away and was just about to call a ride when a black sedan pulled up next to her.

“Ms. Lincoln?” the driver asked.

Right. Today was the day she was supposed to marry Dean.

He’d booked the city’s fanciest hotel, sent invitations to everyone who mattered, and planned the kind of wedding people would talk about for years.

In her last life, that grand wedding had taken over the headlines for a week. She’d been Dean’s wife, living the fairy-tale dream everyone envied.

That looked like the biggest joke she’d ever heard.

But now Dean had picked Evelina, and she guessed all those big plans would be handed off to his new love.

“Don’t be sad, Emmy,” a distant aunt piped up, her sympathy feeling more fake than real. “Better to find out now than suffer later. Oh, and my neighbor has a son who just got back from overseas—handsome, smart. Want me to set you up?”

Emmy snapped back to herself, letting just enough confusion and vulnerability show on her face.

For a second, she wanted to pull out the marriage certificate and show them she wasn’t unwanted. But seeing the thinly veiled glee in their eyes, she changed her mind.

She just smiled. “That sounds great. Thanks.”