Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 126

Emmy’s mind went fuzzy, her father’s voice from that phone call ringing loud and clear in her head.

“I’m freezing your cards, right now! Let’s see how you keep taking care of that freeloader you call a boyfriend!”

She’d thought he was just blowing off steam. Turns out, he actually went through with it.

Steve saw the way her face fell, and after everything he’d uncovered, it all made sense.

“Don’t worry about the money,” he said. “James is my friend. Pay me back when you can.”

He checked his watch. “It’s late. I’m gonna head out. Hold on to those documents, okay?”

Emmy walked him to the door. When she came back, her face looked like she’d seen a ghost.

Refusing to accept it, she grabbed her little card reader and tried every single card in her wallet, one by one.

Each relentless “transaction failed” was like a sharp jab straight to her heart.

James watched her growing frustration, and finally crossed the room to her.

His hand was warm and steady as he gently stopped her trembling wrist.

“Besides Steve, do you need money for anything else right now?”

Emmy nodded, her voice tight with anger she was barely holding in. “Forward Tech’s payroll is already overdue. I promised everyone they’d get paid tomorrow. But now, my dad has frozen everything!”

She looked up, eyes shimmering with tears she refused to let fall.

“He wants to destroy me. I never thought he’d actually go this far. I can’t believe he’d be so ruthless.”

“My granddad left me a trust fund before he died. It’s supposed to hit my account every quarter, like clockwork. But ever since the last board meeting, nothing’s come through. Now that the cards are frozen… I know my dad took the money.”

James’s dark eyes grew even more serious as he listened.

“How much?” he asked, voice low and steady.

Emmy hesitated. For James, this might sound like an insane amount. For rich families, maybe it was just another Tuesday. Would telling him make him feel bad? But when she met his deep, unwavering gaze, she took a breath and just said it.

“Thirty million.”

“From now on, bring a spare set of clothes to work.”

Emmy blinked. “Why?”

In one smooth move, he pulled her into his arms. His hand squeezed her shoulder and her waist, just enough to make her wince.

“Ow! That hurts! Be gentle!”

“You’re too fragile,” James said, his breath warm against her ear. “Starting tomorrow, you’re running to work with me. Gotta build up your strength so you don’t get sick all the time.”

But Emmy couldn’t help but remember the firefighters’ teasing laughter—

“With that tiny frame, is she really a match for James’s silent stamina?”

Was he implying…?!

Her cheeks went up in flames. She blurted, “We’ll talk about it later, I’m seriously about to pass out from exhaustion!”

Before he could say anything else, she mustered all her strength and pushed him toward the door, afraid that if she hesitated even a second, he’d have her pinned right up against the wall.