Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 160

“No,” James said after a pause, then added quietly, “My mother-in-law’s in the hospital. They’re trying to save her.”

Steve sounded stunned. “Wait, what? What happened?”

James gave him the rundown, keeping it short and to the point. “Can you find out who pushed her down the stairs?”

“Leave it to me.” Steve’s voice dropped as if he couldn’t help himself. “By the way, wanna hear some wild gossip about your wife’s family?”

He wasn’t really supposed to share any of this. But if there was anyone he could trust to keep their mouth shut, it was James.

James stayed silent, but he didn’t hang up either.

That was all the go-ahead Steve needed.

“So, that Evelina? She’s actually Cooper’s illegitimate kid.”

“And get this—she’s a month older than your wife. I did the math based on your mother-in-law’s wedding date. Cooper was already cheating on his honeymoon.”

“It gets even crazier. Evelina’s mom, Claudia, was someone your mother-in-law started sponsoring when she was eight. They’re both from Cooper’s hometown—who knows, maybe childhood friends.”

“Claudia made it through college thanks to your mother-in-law, then managed to get close and become her best friend. She even played matchmaker, setting your mother-in-law up with Cooper.”

“But all along, Claudia was pregnant with Cooper’s baby. She used the money your mother-in-law gave her to study abroad and just… disappeared overseas.”

“All these years, Cooper’s been secretly sending her money, supporting her life outside the country.”

Steve let out a low whistle. “Man, she really played the long game. First, she made sure Cooper couldn’t have any more kids, then shoved your mother-in-law out of the picture to take her place. That’s some next-level scheming.”

Before hanging up, James said, “I need you to take care of one more thing for me.”

He slipped his phone into his pocket and headed toward the operating room.

The hallway was almost empty. Emmy was the only one there, sitting alone on a bench with her shoulders hunched, looking like a lost kitten. The sight of her made James’s heart ache.

He walked over and handed her a packet of tissues.

Emmy jumped, quickly turning away to wipe her tears. Her voice was thick with emotion. “What took you so long?”

“I had to take a call.” James twisted open a bottle of water and offered it to her. “Here, drink some.”

She took it, sipping slowly.

Her eyes were still red as she looked up at him. “Did you see my dad and Claudia in the lounge?”

James thought of the scene he’d walked in on and just let out a low grunt.

Emmy pressed, “Did they give you a hard time?”

Her dad’s impatient voice came through. “I’m in a meeting with Claudia. If this isn’t important, hang up.”

“Mom’s bleeding out. She needs five people to donate blood!” Emmy’s voice was on the verge of breaking.

Her dad only sounded more annoyed. “Neither of us is a match. What do you want me to do? Find someone else. There’s plenty of people at the hospital. If you have to, pay someone.”

The line went dead.

Emmy’s arm froze midair, still holding the phone.

A cold emptiness spread through her, freezing her inside out.

This was her own father.

A man who could just turn his back on his wife’s life like it meant nothing.

She couldn’t understand it. How could he be so heartless?

But she didn’t let herself break down. Emmy dove right back into her contacts, desperate to find help.

Just then, Dean came in from the balcony, drawn by the commotion. “What happened?”