Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1257

The door closed with a quiet click.

Mercedes stayed put on the sofa, watching as Emmy set herself up for breakfast. Something heavy pressed against her chest. She was supposed to be here to remind Emmy just how much she mattered to Nico. Not to sit and watch them flaunt their happy couple routine.

Taking a breath, Mercedes buried the bitter taste in her mouth and pulled on her usual gentle smile.

“Nico is always so thoughtful,” she said, leaning back like she was reminiscing. Her voice went soft and nostalgic. “It was the same back then. Whenever I was drowning in work, he’d always make breakfast for me ahead of time.”

“All these years, that habit hasn’t changed at all.”

Her meaning couldn’t have been clearer. She might as well have said, The way he treats you is just leftover from the way he used to take care of me.

But Emmy didn’t even blink. Her hand kept moving, guiding her fork through her food, and she didn’t bother looking up or reacting, like the words had passed straight through her.

Glancing at the table full of breakfast, she turned to Penny, who was standing nearby. “Penny, come sit and eat with me.”

“There’s no way I can finish all this alone.”

Penny didn’t hesitate. After all these months, she was used to eating with Emmy and knew she didn’t have to act formal or keep her distance.

“Yes, ma’am,” she replied, and then pulled out a chair, settled in, and grabbed a custard bun for herself.

So the two of them just sat there, enjoying breakfast, carrying on like Mercedes didn’t even exist.

Mercedes felt her patience snap.

“Emmy!” Her voice cut through the room, sharp and angry. “My time is valuable. If you don’t want to talk, just say so. There’s no reason for me to sit here and watch you eat.”

Only then did Emmy bother to finish her mouthful of congee and calmly dab the corner of her mouth with a napkin. She looked up at Mercedes with wide eyes, all fake surprise.

“I just thought you were feeling pretty free today, Mercedes. That’s why you dropped by to have a chat with me.”

“But may I ask, what position are you coming from to lecture me, his wife?”

Mercedes’s expression faltered for a split second, but she steadied herself quickly, voice cold. “As his sister, obviously.”

“Sister?”

Emmy arched a brow, her lips curving into a bigger smile, but her eyes were icy.

“That’s a little odd.”

“If I remember right, Mercedes, you’re famous for protecting your reputation. Ten years now, and you haven’t let the tiniest rumor touch your name.”

Her tone suddenly sharpened. “But at the last gala, when people wouldn’t shut up about you and my husband, you were nothing like your usual self. You didn’t even try to clear things up. You just let the rumors grow.”

“Actually, you had your assistant dropping hints and spreading vague stories backstage. That really was something.”