Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 22

Emmy checked with the receptionist, then asked around in admin. Finally, she found her encrypted metal briefcase shoved in a storage closet. Inside were all the years of research she’d poured her heart into.

In her last life, she’d sold that briefcase for a decent chunk of money, telling herself it was time to let go of her dreams and focus on her life with Dean. Every cent went into fertility treatments.

She could still feel the sting of those needles, the cold fear on the operating table, the way Dean lied to her with such gentle eyes.

Now, running her fingers over the briefcase she thought she’d never see again, Emmy felt her eyes burn and her chest tighten. All the bitterness and frustration she’d buried for so long suddenly broke free.

She couldn’t hold it back. Hugging the case to her chest, she slowly crouched down on the floor. Tears slid down her cheeks, splashing onto the cold metal in fat, dark drops.

She heard footsteps and muffled voices outside the storage room.

Almost instantly, Emmy wiped her face and stood back up. Except for the faint redness at the corners of her eyes, she looked as calm as ever—like that breakdown had never happened.

She glanced down, planning to check the contents of the case, but something made her pause. The lock had clearly been messed with.

This lock was custom. Three wrong tries and it would lock up tight.

Emmy’s eyes went cold. She grabbed the case and walked out.

She’d barely made it down the hall when a young admin assistant hurried after her.

“Ms. Lincoln, do you still want those plants?”

Emmy didn’t even slow down. “No. Toss them.”

All those plants were gifts from Dean. She didn’t want him, so why keep anything from him?

*

Emmy went straight to Forward Technology.

So, on Thursday, Emmy bought a fully furnished apartment near work. After tossing everything from Dean, all her stuff fit into one suitcase.

That night, she moved in.

It wasn’t fancy, but every inch of that apartment felt like real freedom. Emmy felt lighter and safer than she had in years.

She was just about to drift off to sleep when a heavy thumping started upstairs.

She rolled over, pulled the covers over her head, but the noise only got worse.

Finally, she’d had enough. Emmy tossed off the blanket, marched upstairs, and knocked hard on the door.

A few seconds later, the door swung open.

The man standing there made Emmy freeze on the spot.