Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 907

Sweat broke out on James’s forehead in an instant. He fumbled in his backpack for his military knife, then held the blade over the fire for a few seconds to sterilize it. There was no anesthetic, nothing to numb the pain.

He grabbed a chunk of wood and bit down hard, his eyes steeling with resolve. Without hesitation, he pressed the tip of the knife into his skin.

A low sound escaped his throat, muffled by the wood. He forced himself to stay silent, every muscle in his body shaking as he worked the blade deeper. Still, his hand never wavered. Even as agony tore through him, the knife moved steady and sure.

He dug into the bloody wound, searching for the bullet. Most people would have passed out from the pain. James didn’t even flinch, though his face was drained of all color.

Then, a tiny metallic clink. The bloody bullet finally dropped to the stone floor.

James let out a ragged breath and reached for a needle and thread. He started stitching himself up, each pass of the needle sending another flash of pain through his body. Still, he didn’t make a sound. Every so often, he looked over at Emmy, fast asleep, terrified he’d wake her up.

As long as she was safe, as long as she was here, this pain was nothing.

After finishing with the wounds on his leg and side, James was completely spent. He barely managed to add more wood to the fire, making sure it would last a while. Then he picked up his jacket, now dry, and gently draped it over Emmy.

That was all he had left. His vision blurred, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

…

Emmy woke up shivering. The fire in the little cave had gone out, and cold wind whipped around her.

She pulled the big jacket tighter around her and sat up, blinking at the faint light of dawn. She looked around and saw James lying on his side a few yards away. He wasn’t moving.

“Hey?” Emmy called softly. No answer.

Her heart skipped a beat. She hurried over and checked if he was breathing.

He was, but his skin was burning up. He was burning with fever. The wounds must have gotten infected.

Emmy poked through the ashes with a stick, finding a few glowing embers buried deep. If she could get more wood, maybe she could revive the fire.

She glanced at James, still unconscious, and tucked the jacket more securely around him.

“Hang in there. I’ll get more firewood,” she whispered, grabbing a handful of branches and carefully making her way down the slippery slope.

Emmy appeared, arms full of branches, breathless from the climb.

Their eyes met.

James’s whole body jolted.

He didn’t think. He just ran to her.

“Ah!” Emmy gasped as he pulled her into a fierce hug, the firewood falling from her arms.

James held her tight, his body trembling, his breath coming fast and uneven.

“Where did you go?” His voice was rough, almost broken. Fear and relief tangled together.

“I told you not to run off. Next time, whatever you’re doing, even if you’re just going to the bathroom, tell me first. Don’t let me lose you again, okay?”