Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1120

Mercedes hurried over, pulled open the car door, and slid into the passenger seat. As she buckled her seatbelt, she glanced over at James, taking in the paleness of his face. He didn’t look great, but he was alert, and that was enough to settle some of the worry that had been eating at her.

James kept his eyes on the road, his voice low and steady. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

Mercedes looked at his profile, sharp and distant. “I was worried about you. Ever since we cleared up that mess between us, I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”

“I know I probably shouldn’t add to your problems, but Nico…”

She hesitated, her voice softening. “Even if it’s just for Jamie’s sake, you have to be okay.”

“Jamie’s gone. If anything happens to you now, I honestly don’t know what I’d do.”

As soon as she mentioned Jamie, James’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. He didn’t say anything, just picked up his phone from the center console and sent out his location. “Someone will come to tow the car and get it fixed. Once it’s ready, you need to leave. Don’t stay around here.”

The car sped up, bouncing over the rough road. Mercedes instinctively reached for the handle above her head as they hit another bump. She looked at James, his expression cold and unreadable, and tried to keep her voice casual.

“Nico, did your wife come see you?”

James barely spared her a glance. “No.”

Mercedes blinked. “She didn’t? Why not? You got hurt pretty badly this time…”

James cut her off, his voice cool. “She has things to do.”

Mercedes frowned, her tone turning sharp. “What could be more important than you?”

“Nico, you nearly died out here for your country. If I were your wife, I’d be on the first flight to see you.”

“Nothing should matter more than you right now.”

She was getting more worked up, her voice rising. “Even I was worried enough to come, but she can’t be bothered to show up? Nico, does she even care about you?”

James frowned, but his voice was gentle, almost protective. “When things calm down, I’ll go find her.”

Ten minutes later, the SUV braked hard at the airport exit. Abriella was pacing in the cold, her breath fogging in the air. As soon as she saw the car, she rushed over.

“James!”

She automatically reached for the passenger door, but just as her hand touched the handle, she spotted someone already inside. She froze, then quickly opened the back door and climbed in, not even looking at who was up front.

She blurted out, “How’s Will?” before she’d even settled into her seat.

James gave her a quick update, and she let out a relieved breath. Only then did she lean forward, curiosity getting the best of her, trying to see who was bundled up in the passenger seat.

That frame, that faint hint of expensive perfume… Abriella’s guard went up. “James, who is this?”

Mercedes was pulling her scarf higher, but it was too late. Abriella had already gotten a good look at her eyes. Even with most of her face covered, there was no mistaking her.

Abriella’s eyes went wide. “Mercedes? What are you doing here?”