Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1248

James walked out in his black velvet pajamas. The fabric looked expensive, hanging smoothly over his broad shoulders and tapering perfectly at his waist. Under the light, the velvet shimmered with a quiet glow, drawing attention to the deep V of the open collar and the defined muscles of his chest.

Emmy's mouth suddenly felt dry. She swallowed without even thinking, quickly looked away, and set her phone aside.

“Turn off the light and sleep,” she said, not meeting his eyes. She pulled the covers over herself and turned to lie on her side with her back to the bathroom.

James, still toweling off his hair, stopped for a moment. He walked over, switched off the ceiling light, and left only the bedside lamp on. A warm, hazy glow spread through the room.

He finished drying his hair, slipped in beside her, and lifted the comforter to slide under it. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close until his chest was pressed snugly against her back.

He leaned in, his voice rough and low in her ear. “Babe, have you forgiven me yet?”

Emmy let out a cold little huff. “No.”

The misunderstanding was over, but all the messy feelings Mercedes had stirred up weren’t going to just disappear in a second. She wasn't about to let him off the hook because of a few tender hugs.

James heard her answer and sighed softly, sounding helpless. He tightened his hold, burying his nose in her neck and breathing her in. Even if she said she hadn’t forgiven him, she wasn’t moving away from his arms. To James, as long as he could hold her like this, even if nothing else happened at all, it was enough to fill up his heart.

The room went quiet. Neither of them said anything for a long time.

Eventually, just when James thought she’d drifted off to sleep, Emmy suddenly shifted in his arms. Her voice broke the silence. “Do you ever wonder if Dean might still be alive?”

James had been content, soaking up the softness of her, but now his whole body went tense. He let go of her waist and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling.

That did it. Emmy’s temper flared. She kicked him under the covers, turning away in a huff. “Forget it. Go to sleep.”

The kick snapped James out of his sulk a little. He scooted closer behind her and wrapped his arm around her again, his voice noticeably softer. “Okay, fine. Tell me. What makes you think Dean is still alive?”

Emmy lay silent for a moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was almost a whisper. “Abyss.”

At the name, James’s frown deepened, his expression instantly more guarded.

Emmy kept talking, her tone cool and thoughtful, like she was piecing everything together out loud. “He sent me flowers… the exact type I like, right down to the smallest detail. No one but someone who really knows me could get that right.” She hesitated, her voice turning softer. “And then, in the few times we’ve talked, he’s got these little habits. They remind me so much of Dean.”

She paused, sounding suddenly uncertain. “Do you think… maybe they’re the same person?”