Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 996

For a split second, it felt like someone had hit pause on the whole courtyard. The place that had been buzzing with laughter and chatter went utterly silent. Every single pair of eyes locked onto the girl standing there, smiling like she’d never left.

James jerked his head up as soon as he heard her voice. His gaze found Emmy and his eyes went wide, pupils narrowing. She was really here. Back, just like that, without any warning. So alive, so real, standing right in front of him. He barely even thought before starting toward her, wanting nothing more than to pull her into his arms and tell her how much he’d missed her. But before he could even take another step, someone else beat him to it.

“Emmy!” Abriella’s voice rang out, full of excitement. She ran straight over and hugged Emmy tight.

“Oh my god, you’re finally back! I missed you so much, you know that? You’re so heartless, disappearing for over a year. Do you have any idea how much we all missed you? I thought about you every single day...” Her voice broke as she started to cry, her tears full of joy and relief.

Emmy’s eyes instantly filled with tears too. She hugged Abriella back, warmth spreading through her, tinged with a bittersweet ache. In her last life, things had been so different. Abriella would have already cut her off by now, thanks to all the misunderstandings. Back then, there never would have been a reunion like this, no one hugging her and crying with happiness. This time, Emmy knew she had to cherish it even more. This life felt so much better.

“I’m sorry...” Emmy’s voice was thick, her nose stuffed up from holding back tears. She gently patted Abriella’s back. “It’s my fault. I should have come home sooner. I made you worry, Abriella.”

Abriella finally let her go, wiping at her face, just as a tiny, high-pitched voice piped up from behind her.

Before anyone could react, a little ball of energy squeezed through at their legs. Dolly, in a pink dress with two messy pigtails and a half-eaten teething biscuit in one hand, toddled right over. Her steps were wobbly but determined. She passed right by Abriella and crashed into Emmy, wrapping her chubby arms around Emmy’s leg.

She looked up, her face all round cheeks and bright eyes, a miniature version of Emmy herself. Those eyes sparkled with pure happiness, her grin so wide it showed off a few tiny, new teeth.

“Ma… ma!” Her voice was soft and sweet, sticky-sounding in that way that made your heart melt. “Mama!”

That one word made the whole courtyard freeze all over again. The wind seemed to die. The birds stopped singing. Even Abriella’s sobs cut off instantly. Everyone stared at Emmy, breath held, almost scared to see how she’d react.

The pain grew worse, so sharp she couldn’t stand it. Her vision went black. Clutching her head, she sank to the ground.

Dolly, startled by everything, plopped down and burst into tears. Her cries filled the air.

“Emmy!”

“Emmy!”

Several voices shouted her name at once.