Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1002

James leaned in close, his lips nearly brushing her ear. “I can’t stop thinking about you. Not for a single second.” His voice was low and rough, sending a shiver straight through her, right to her heart. Emmy’s pulse skipped, a warm sweetness blooming in her chest.

Not that she’d let him know that. She kept her eyes closed and let out a little huff. “Liar. Just because I’m not around doesn’t mean I don’t know what you’ve been up to lately.”

“You’re always rushing around, busy with a million things. When would you ever have time to miss me?”

James only smiled, the amusement in his eyes deepening. “You’re right, honey. I was being sloppy with my words.” He paused, his breath warm on her neck, voice soft and a little playful, but with a tenderness that wrapped around her. “Whenever I’m not working, every single moment is spent thinking of you.”

Emmy felt her whole body go weak. Since when did he get so good at saying these things? With that serious, almost cold face, he managed to say something that made her cheeks burn and her heart race. Who could possibly stay calm hearing that?

She tried to steady herself, her nerves slowly unknotting as James’s gentle hands massaged her shoulders. Her eyelids grew heavy, the exhaustion catching up with her. Before she knew it, she drifted off to sleep.

When she woke up, the sky outside was pitch black. Only a small lamp glowed in the bedroom. The space next to her was empty. James must have left at some point. But this was the best sleep she’d had in ages.

Life in Boston had been more than just busy. Surrounded by brilliant minds, she always felt under pressure, like a string pulled tight and ready to snap. Real, restful sleep had become a luxury she barely remembered.

Now, somehow, it felt like she’d finally caught up on all those lost hours. She stretched, feeling a rare sense of energy and calm. The night air was cool, carrying the faint, comforting scent of osmanthus from the old house. Emmy breathed in deeply, glancing around the courtyard. The house lights looked a little lonely in the darkness, but under the streetlights, she could see signs of change everywhere. New wooden window frames, freshly laid stone paths, even the ancient trees had been carefully pruned. Her mother must have been living here for a while now.

She didn’t really know what had happened between her parents. Her mom never brought it up, and Emmy never asked. But after all this time without seeing her dad, and suddenly finding herself the owner of his shares in Starlight Corporation… She could guess at what might have happened. She didn’t want to think about it too much.

“Emmy, you’re up?”

Not long after she left, James came back, still in yesterday’s shirt, now wrinkled from a long night. The kids had struggled to settle in the new place, especially the little girl, who cried no matter who tried to comfort her. He’d spent the night holding her, pacing the room until she finally calmed down.

James walked straight to their bedroom, but when he opened the door, it was empty. His brow furrowed as he headed for the living room.

“Mom, where’s Emmy?”

Teresa was sipping her morning tea. She looked up at him, a little worried. “She left early. Said she was going to visit her mentor, Dr. Pepper. She hasn’t been back in so long, it’s good for her to go see him.”

James nodded, didn’t say anything, and turned to go.