Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 138

Pattie’s eyes shifted in a heartbeat, all that nosy curiosity flipping to pure, open envy. She grabbed Emmy’s arm and shook it, her voice shooting up an octave.

“Oh my god, are all firefighters this fit? Can you ask if any of his coworkers want a sugar mama? I’ll pay fifty grand a month!”

Emmy just stared at her, lost for words.

Pattie took her silence the wrong way and leaned in even closer. “How much do you give him every month? I’ll match it, okay? Seriously, fifty thousand is a lot—most people don’t even make that in a year!”

Emmy’s smile disappeared in an instant. She yanked her arm away, her eyes colder than ice.

“Pattie, he’s my husband. We’re married, for real. This isn’t some kind of deal. If I hear you say anything like that again, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

She spun around and strode straight to the dining room.

Somehow, James had already noticed her. He looked up, those deep eyes on her, and when she got close, he gave her a half-smile.

“Hey, babe. Over here.”

Emmy paused, then pasted on a syrupy-sweet grin and practically skipped over to him.

“Coming, honey!”

Behind her, Pattie’s face turned as dark as storm clouds. Arms crossed, she muttered under her breath, “So what if he’s hot and fit? Big deal. At the end of the day, he’s just a pretty boy mooching off her.”

Emmy had already reached James’s side. She caught the not-so-subtle looks from her two cousins who’d been drooling over him, their faces now looking a little awkward.

Without missing a beat, Emmy threw her arms around James for a big bear hug. Then she held his face and planted a loud kiss on each cheek.

“Honey, you were so amazing last night, I actually overslept!”

The two cousins looked like they’d swallowed a lemon. Even the uncles and brothers-in-law nearby suddenly went quiet, their faces not looking too happy either.

Normally, Emmy would never say something that embarrassing in front of everyone. But with these relatives around, she wanted them to know just how solid she and James were. Let them try to break them up now.

James froze for a second, then slid his arm around her waist, his hand warm and steady.

“Babe, you must be starving. Let’s eat.”

His touch sent a jolt through her, but Emmy just nudged him away gently and sat down next to him.

The rest of the family wasted no time whispering among themselves.

“The Lincolns spent all that money on her, but I’ve never heard of Emmy winning anything.”

“You can’t really compare them. They don’t even have the same mom. Of course their brains are different.”

“No wonder Mr. Sparrow left her for Evelina. Honestly, if I were a man, I’d pick someone like Evelina too.”

Clang.

Emmy slammed her fork onto the table, her stare cold enough to freeze the whole room.

“Eat if you’re hungry. If you’re not, then leave.”

Emmy was usually gentle, just like Teresa. But push her too far and she could silence a room in a heartbeat.

Every bit of gossip died instantly.