Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1235

James held Emmy’s hand a little tighter. His voice was steady but low as he spoke. “These past few months, my wife has been in Boston. Thank you all so much for looking after her and making her feel welcome.”

“Because of special circumstances at work, I haven’t been able to find the time to come here and be with her.” He paused, turning his head toward Emmy. His gaze lingered on her, guilt flickering in his eyes.

“I left her alone in a foreign country, carrying so much pressure by herself. That was my failure as a husband,” he said, a little quieter. “I didn't fulfill my responsibilities. I let her struggle when she shouldn’t have had to.”

After those words, he actually bowed to everyone in the room.

Emmy felt her eyes sting. Only she truly understood what those “special work circumstances” meant. It wasn’t just a busy job. He spent his days navigating danger at the border, going toe-to-toe with desperate criminals, trading his own safety for the peace of others. He was never wrong—not really. Yet here he was, standing in front of everyone, taking all the blame. He did it just to protect her. Just to show his thanks for their kindness.

Her heart felt twisted with a mix of gratitude and ache.

The mood in the room changed after James’s words—tenser, a little quieter. Harlene, always the first to shake things up, shook her head and waved her hand with a laugh. “Emmy’s the heartbeat of our team. Taking care of her is what we do!”

She flashed a look at James, half-joking, half-serious. “Honestly though, Mr. Nelson, you should probably be a little nervous.”

“Emmy’s just that good. She’s smart, talented, and let’s not forget beautiful. People fall for her left and right at the university.” She shot a quick glance over at John.

John’s face had gone a little pale, his eyes lowered to the floor. Harlene sighed to herself. Poor John. He never even had a chance.

With Harlene breaking the tension, the rest of the group relaxed. Suddenly, everyone was chiming in, their voices overlapping.

“Yeah, Mr. Nelson, if you don’t pay attention, you’ll end up with a line of suitors at your door.”

“Emmy’s achieved so much already. She’s going to be a star in AI, no doubt about it. You’ve got to hold on to her tight—don’t let her down.”

“That’s right! And if you ever do anything to make her unhappy, you’ll have a whole department to answer to.”

Even though everyone was teasing, their words came from a place of real affection and protectiveness.

James listened, never annoyed or defensive. He nodded slowly, serious as ever. “Thank you, all of you. She means everything to me. I’ll cherish her and protect her, for the rest of my life. That’s my promise.”

He said it like a vow, every word steady and true.

John, who'd been quiet, finally stepped forward. His voice sounded rough around the edges. “Mr. Nelson, Emmy works harder than anyone I know in the lab.”

The group waved goodbye, drifting out of the lounge one by one.

Harlene lingered a second, then beckoned to the last few. “Come on, let’s head back to the hotel, get changed, and hit the reception before it’s over!”

They left, laughter echoing down the hallway.

John was the last at the door. He hesitated, looked back, and gave Emmy one last, searching look. There was sadness there, sure, but also something akin to hope—a wish for her happiness.

He closed the door softly behind him.

Suddenly, the room was quiet, just the two of them again.

Emmy slowly pulled her hand back and sat on the couch. She had barely settled before James came closer, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her into his arms.

His voice was gentle, barely above a whisper. “Now… can we finally talk?”