Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 988

The little girl blinked her big, curious eyes as she checked out the man in front of her. Then, out of nowhere, she flashed a huge grin, showing off a few tiny baby teeth. With a bright, clear voice, she shouted, “Papa!”

James froze on the spot. His eyes went red, and for a second, he almost teared up. He was the kind of guy who never cried, not even when he was bleeding, but now his nose was stinging with emotion.

“Oh, wait, not quite,” Teresa said with a laugh, trying to fix it. “Dolly, it’s Daddy, not Papa.”

Dolly tilted her head, totally confused. Then her little face turned bright red. She pointed at her diaper and yelled again, even louder, “Papa!”

“Stinky! Stinky!”

The whole room went silent for a second. Whatever tears James had been holding back instantly disappeared.

Teresa stared, then suddenly burst out laughing. “Oh, you little troublemaker!” She scooped Dolly up and gave her a practiced sniff. “Yep, you really did it. She’s just like when she was a baby. Eat, poop, repeat. No filter at all.”

“She eats and poops so much, that’s definitely your side of the family,” Teresa teased, grinning at James.

James just stood there, rubbing his nose, looking a little embarrassed.

Lorraine came over with Dolly’s brother, now dressed in a cute little pair of denim overalls. She held him out to James. “Mr. Nelson, here, you should hold him.”

James took a deep breath. Honestly, he’d faced bomb squads with more confidence than he felt right now. He reached out and carefully took his son. The little guy felt impossibly light, just this soft, warm bundle. James was terrified he’d break him if he wasn’t careful.

Lorraine smiled at the scene and went to grab Dolly for a change.

James was left holding his son, the two of them staring at each other. The boy looked just like him, even had that naturally cool, serious vibe. But after barely half a minute, the little boy frowned, clearly annoyed. He squirmed in James’s arms, making little grumbling noises and kicking his legs. It was obvious he wasn’t a fan of this stiff, unfamiliar man who didn’t smell like milk.

Her laughter rang out across the yard, bright and clear. She clung tightly to James’s neck, drool soaking into his shirt, but he didn’t care at all. Holding her, he felt the warmth of her little body, the living proof of his and Emmy’s bond. She was his strongest tie to this world, besides Emmy herself.

When it was time for breakfast, Dolly acted like she’d grown roots in James’s arms and refused to get down. In her eyes, this new “giant ride” was the best thing ever—tall, steady, and always ready to take her wherever she wanted to go.

Lorraine came over with a bowl of baby food, coaxing gently. “Dolly, come to Auntie. Let Daddy eat, okay?” She reached out, ready to pick her up.

Dolly’s face turned stubborn. She clung to James’s shirt and buried her head in his chest.

“No! No!” She was not having it.

Lorraine tried again, but Dolly started to panic. She looked up at James, desperate, and shouted, “Daddy! Hold!”