Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 151

Abriella kept her face carefully blank. “I really can’t talk about it. But if the old lady calls you over, just go. Seriously, don’t drag me with you.”

Emmy looked even more confused. “Why do you seem so against her? You really don’t like her?”

“It’s not that I don’t like her. I’m just scared of her, okay?” Abriella shot back, not missing a beat. “You’re the brave one here, chatting with her like it’s nothing.”

Emmy frowned. “She’s always been so nice to me. Every time we talk, I end up learning something new. If it wasn’t for her advice last week, I never would’ve solved that Dr. Pepper problem.”

“That’s because you don’t know half the things she’s done. Anyway, I’m keeping my distance. Next time we come to the nursing home, you’re on your own with her.”

*

Back home, Emmy got ready for bed and flopped onto her soft mattress.

She grabbed her phone, thinking she should explain what happened at the hospital to James. She hesitated for ages before finally biting the bullet and calling him.

Ring… ring…

After just two rings, he picked up.

Emmy barely had time to sigh in relief before his cold, deep voice came through the line.

“What is it? I’m busy.”

He sounded irritated and totally impatient.

Emmy froze, all her explanations stuck in her throat. She stammered, “Uh… Should I wait until you’re not busy?”

There was a short pause.

Then came the sound of the call disconnecting.

He actually hung up on her.

Emmy buried her face in her pillow, feeling equal parts angry, frustrated, and miserable. She grabbed her pillow and gave it a good punch.

Her first instinct was to message Abriella and complain, but she stopped herself mid-swipe. Suddenly, she got a different idea. She opened her beauty camera, took her time finding the best angle, and snapped a photo with just the right combo of innocence and heartbreak, her eyes shining with a touch of tears.

She hopped onto her social network, set the post so only James could see it, and uploaded the pic.

Caption: [I know I messed up. If someone doesn’t forgive me soon, this heart is going to break into a million pieces. 💔💔]

Send.

She remembered how, back when she and Dean used to fight, all it took was a soft, sad selfie. No matter how mad he was, he’d always cave right away.

James’s breath caught. His throat tightened as he stared at the picture for way too long, then finally glanced at her caption.

“So childish.”

He snorted, though he couldn’t stop the smile tugging at his lips. He tossed his phone aside.

A minute later, he picked it back up, pressed on her photo, and saved it anyway.

*

Early the next morning, as Emmy was getting ready to head to the nursing home, her phone buzzed.

[Hey brat! Any news on the search-and-rescue drone? I just got back from my trip and brought you a rare book on the subject. Get over here and pick it up!]

Emmy couldn’t help but shake her head, half annoyed and half amused. She changed her route, heading to Dr. Pepper’s private place first.

Meanwhile, at the nursing home—

Mrs. Hawthorne had been up early, dressed perfectly and sitting by the glass doors, peering outside in anticipation.

The front gate swung open, but instead of Emmy, a tall, broad-shouldered figure stepped in.