Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 139

Pattie just laughed, completely unfazed. “Come on, Emmy, are you mad because you’re embarrassed? It’s been forever since all that happened. You’ve got a new husband now, so why are you still hung up on Mr. Sparrow?”

She shot Emmy a mocking look. “What’s wrong, can’t handle people saying Evelina’s better than you?”

Right then, Evelina stepped forward, wearing a perfectly practiced worried frown. “Emmy, I’ve been bending over backward hoping you’d forgive me. I’m really exhausted. I’m not even asking you to forgive me anymore, but can you please stop picking on me for no reason? I don’t want anyone else getting caught up in this because of me.”

She glanced over at James, trying to hide the way her eyes lit up when she looked at him.

“Please, sir, don’t take it the wrong way. Emmy’s a good person—she just got caught up in a misunderstanding with me, that’s all. Please don’t blame her…”

Emmy almost laughed out loud, she was so furious.

How could someone be so good at pretending to be sweet and innocent?

Evelina was out here playing the helpless victim in front of everyone, while every word out of her mouth was meant to drive a wedge between Emmy and James.

But before Emmy could say anything, James moved first.

He reached out and pulled her chair closer, so close his solid chest was almost pressed to her back. The protective gesture was clear as day.

“Relax. I know my wife better than anyone. She really is—the best woman in the world.”

Emmy’s heart skipped a beat.

She looked up and got caught in those deep, dark eyes of his.

Evelina’s face froze, and she looked like she was about to argue, but suddenly a furious voice rang out from the staircase.

“Who let her in here?”

Everyone turned to look. Teresa was coming down the stairs, her face stony and cold.

She was wearing a silk gown and not a hint of makeup, but she was still every bit the intimidating matriarch. She had the kind of presence that only comes from being in charge for years. When she was angry, even Cooper kept his head down.

The younger crowd that had been watching the drama immediately went quiet.

Pattie went pale and quickly lowered her head, too scared to admit she’d brought Evelina.

Evelina hurried over, putting on her most concerned smile. “Aunt Teresa, how have you been lately? I’ve really wanted to come see you, but with all the misunderstandings, you and Emmy haven’t wanted to see me. I’ve been really upset about it.”

Gregory’s son Tim stuck out his neck. “Teresa, Cooper isn’t even back yet! Aren’t you worried he’ll be upset if you kick us out before he comes home?”

Teresa smirked. “Even if Cooper is the CEO of Starlight Corporation, the deed to this house still has my name on it. I can throw you out, and I can throw him out too if I want!”

“Brooks, see them out!”

Tim’s face turned bright red. “I’m not leaving! You’re Cooper’s wife, so what’s yours is his, and what’s his is mine!”

James let out a laugh, leaning back in his chair and looking at Emmy with a playful grin.

“Babe, are your relatives always this shameless? Do they just hang around here all the time?”

Emmy almost couldn’t keep it together, but she went along with it.

“Tell me about it,” she sighed, acting all put-upon. “They show up like this every year, like they don’t have homes of their own. Promise me you’ll never be like them.”

James grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief.

“Don’t worry, I could never be that shameless.”