Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 899

Something was off. Really off.

Emmy had always been sensitive to anything mechanical. Even though the man on stage moved with perfect precision, the moment he took a step, Emmy noticed the tiniest, almost invisible stiffness. His walk was smooth, but it didn’t have those tiny flaws you’d expect from a real person, the kind that come from tired muscles or shifting your weight without thinking.

It was too perfect—like someone had programmed every move.

Emmy rose on her toes, holding her hat in place so it wouldn't fall. She stared hard at the “man” waving to the crowd. As soon as she caught a clear glimpse of his eyes, her suspicion turned into certainty. His gaze never shifted focus. Those weren’t real pupils. They were high-end optical lenses, just simulating the real thing.

He was a robot.

Emmy sucked in a breath. The shock hit so hard she couldn’t even describe it. This level of bionic tech—so lifelike, so flexible, even the tiny facial expressions were close to perfect. It was almost as advanced as what she’d seen in the future. Who was this Mr. Nelson, anyway? How could he build something so real it could fool anyone?

Down in the crowd, the real James was hiding among the masses. He wore a black knit cap pulled low and a black mask covering most of his face. He hadn’t bothered to change out of his old black jacket. With an overstuffed, worn backpack slung over his shoulders, he blended right in with the backpackers drifting all over the island.

Only his eyes gave him away—sharp, focused, scanning the crowds inch by inch. James hadn’t stopped for a second these past days. To throw the mercenaries off his trail, he’d asked his assistant to remodel a Mini robot to look just like him. That robot had shown up at fancy parties, even handled international business meetings on his behalf. Five of the robots had already been destroyed, and a whole squad of his best bodyguards and assistants had ended up hurt.

Now, James stood at the entrance to Section A, quickly sizing up everyone passing by. The crowd was getting thicker, the air heavy with sweat and perfume, the noise level climbing to a headache-inducing pitch. On stage, the Mini robot had started introducing the exhibits, its voice booming through the speakers and making James’ ears throb.

He scanned the crowd one last time, disappointment flickering in his eyes. Still nothing. He clenched his fists, ready to head out and check the beach yet again.

Just then, a commotion broke out by the entrance to Section C, straight across from where he stood.

Even with all the people and the thick, stuffy air between them, James froze. His breath caught. The next second, his eyes went wide, pure joy crashing through him.

He found her.

It was her. It really was her. Emmy—the woman he’d been searching for, almost to the point of madness.

My wife.

The words nearly burst out of him. Without thinking, James shoved past the people blocking his way and pushed against the current of the crowd, racing with everything he had toward the little seashell vendor.