Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 396

Dean’s hand trembled at his side.

For a long moment, all he could manage was a rough, broken “Yeah.”

Right then, a knock sounded at the door and Juan’s voice drifted in. “Eve, are you two finished talking?”

Evelina frowned, about to head over, but Dean was quicker. He took the VR headset from her and strode over to open the door. “We’re done.”

Juan shot Evelina a suspicious look, noticing she was still staring at Dean.

That quiet “yeah” had rattled Evelina. Was Dean finally ready to get revenge for his mom? Was he actually going to do something to Teresa and Emmy? The idea sent a rush of satisfaction through her. She turned to Juan. “It’s late. I’m going to bed.”

Juan nodded right away. “We’ll get out of your hair. Rest up.”

The guys headed into the elevator, one after the other.

Juan glanced at the VR headset in Dean’s hand, clearly confused. “You play Fantasy now? I thought you and that company hated each other. Never figured you’d even touch their tech.”

Dean pressed his lips together, silent and tense, the air around him practically vibrating.

Juan just assumed Dean had been totally shot down by Evelina and was feeling sorry for himself. He almost reached out to give Dean a comforting slap on the back, but the sting from the lash marks across his shoulder made him think twice.

“Come on, don’t mope,” Juan said. “I’m in a good mood tonight. Want to grab a drink with me?”

Dean shot him a look. “Aren’t you grounded?”

Juan waved it off. “Small stuff. If I’m out with you, my grandpa won’t say anything. Besides, I’m a grown man. Who’s really going to lock me up?”

He nudged Dean’s shoulder. “Let’s go out. First round’s on me. I’ll call a couple of the guys.”

Juan was practically bouncing with excitement. He was finally about to marry the woman he’d been obsessed with forever. The pain in his back didn’t even seem to register anymore.

After a few shots, Juan slung his arm around Dean’s shoulders, already slurring. “Dean, remember our deal? Whoever gets married first, the other’s the best man…”

He ducked into a quiet private room and hooked up the VR headset to a tablet. A loading screen popped up, asking for a password.

Dean took a shaky breath, fingers trembling as he typed in the long string of numbers and letters Emmy had set.

Access granted.

He put on the headset. The images flickered to life in front of his eyes.

Evelina’s sad voice echoed in his ears, the scenes in front of him shifting between blurry and crystal clear.

He knew the hazy, dreamlike ones were Evelina’s made-up fantasies and lies. The ones that looked sharp and real—those were the memories she’d actually seen.

Holding his breath, Dean focused only on the clearest images.

And finally, he saw it.