Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 857

Her skin, once smooth and taut, now felt a little loose, with a few faint, silvery lines tracing across her stomach. Emmy had no idea how they got there. When she asked the doctor, he just said it was a side effect of her illness. He came by every day to massage her abdomen, and she had to admit, her stomach was much firmer now than when she first woke up. Still, she couldn’t help thinking it looked kind of ugly.

She squeezed into her swimsuit and joined the kids racing down to the beach. Emmy could swim and dive, and she was actually pretty good at both. The kids had their own little wooden boat. They skimmed over the clear, glassy water, and Emmy followed, gliding through the coral like she was finally free again. It felt so good to move, to let the water lift her up and wash everything else away.

They drifted along the shoreline, not really paying attention to where they were going, until they ended up on the far side of the island. Emmy popped her head above water and wiped her face, then spotted another, much bigger island off in the distance.

She pointed. “What’s over there?”

One of the kids puffed out his chest. “That’s where my dad works! There are so many beautiful crystals on that island.”

Another kid piped up, “You don’t know, ma’am? That’s the owner’s other island! My dad said they just found some huge golden crystals there a few days ago.”

Emmy stared at the distant island for a long time, lost in thought.

It was almost dark when they finally headed back. Emmy managed to catch two massive lobsters on the way, but she didn’t feel as cheerful as before. Back at the villa, she asked the maid to cook the lobsters simply. She only ate half of one before her appetite disappeared.

She went back to her room, locked the door, and immediately reached under her pillow for her phone. Her finger hovered over the app she used to get online...

Someone knocked at the door.

Dean’s voice came through. “Heard you went diving today?”

Emmy’s heart jumped. She quickly shoved her phone back under her pillow and pulled the blanket up over it, trying to act normal.

“Yeah,” she replied, keeping her voice steady. “I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep early.”

Dean knocked again. “Come out. I’ve got something for you.”

She hesitated, then grabbed a sheer shawl from the hanger and draped it over her shoulders before opening the door.

Dean smiled when he saw her, reaching out for her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. Emmy frowned a little and gently pulled her hand away.

A flicker of something dark passed through Dean’s eyes, but he let it go. He didn’t seem bothered. They had all the time in the world. Even if she didn’t forgive him now, he’d find a way to make her forget eventually.

He slid his hand into his pocket and headed downstairs, talking like it was any normal evening.

Hearing that, Dean seemed to relax. He liked that she was starting to treat this place like home.

He looked like he was about to say something else, but Emmy suddenly looked up at him.

“Can you take me to your Crystal Island? I want to see it.”

Dean’s smile faded. “Maybe later.”

There was no way he’d let her go right now. That island had just produced a legendary crystal. News like that traveled fast, and plenty of buyers and experts would be showing up soon. He wasn’t about to let Emmy near any outsiders. Not even one.

When she didn’t respond, Dean softened his tone. “Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll take you diving in the cove. If we’re lucky, we might spot the pink dolphins.”

Emmy just nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

She stood there for a while longer, gazing at the crystal sphere, then quietly headed upstairs.