Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 141

James froze, his tall frame going rigid.

He glanced at Emmy without thinking.

She was giving him a desperate look, eyes wide, but her smile was stretched so tight it looked painful.

James swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing, lips pressed together like he was wrestling with himself.

Finally, he spoke, his voice barely more than a rumble.

“…Mom.”

“Yes!” Teresa lit up, her whole face softening, the fine lines around her eyes smoothing out with delight.

“Good boy, just wait a second!” she said, bustling upstairs. She came back down quickly, now holding a beautiful silk box and a thick envelope stamped with gold.

“Here, take these.” She beamed, stuffing both into James’s hands. “I’ve had this gift ready for ages, just waiting for you to call me Mom! And since it’s your first time here, you have to take this envelope too!”

James stood there holding the box and envelope, looking helplessly at Emmy.

She mouthed at him—just take it already.

He took a steady breath and closed his fingers around the gifts. “Thank you, Mom,” he said quietly.

Teresa grinned so wide it seemed her cheeks might split. She pointed at the box. “Open it! Your grandpa picked this out for his future grandson-in-law before he passed.”

James opened the box.

Inside, nestled on red velvet, was a watch.

The platinum case shimmered, the deep blue dial scattered with tiny diamonds like stars, the hands catching the light with a cold, elegant glow.

Emmy sucked in a sharp breath.

“Mom! That’s Grandpa’s one-of-a-kind Patek Philippe! It’s way too valuable!”

That watch had sold at auction for a fortune years ago—now, it was basically priceless.

“Your grandpa left it for his grandson-in-law, not for you,” Teresa teased, shooting her a look.

James stared at the watch, real awe flickering in his eyes.

He closed the box and nodded. “Thank you, Mom. I really like it.”

*

After finally ushering out the last of the relatives and having lunch with her mom, Emmy and James got in the car and left the villa.

“What was that?”

“I said!” Emmy sat up ramrod straight and cleared her throat, “Let me mentally prepare first. Give me a week!”

She’d just checked the weather—rain every day next week. Good luck getting her to run.

James dropped Emmy off at her office and headed back to the fire station.

He was still holding something pretty eye-catching in his big hand.

“James is back!”

“What’s he got there?”

“Is that cash? Who has the guts to try and give James money?”

A bunch of firefighters crowded around.

James walked up, glanced at all the curious faces.

“This?” He shook the envelope, his voice low. “Mother-in-law gave it to me.”