Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 164

By the time Evelina managed to pull herself together after the scare by the dumpster, Dean was nowhere in sight.

She jumped out of the car, her voice tight with worry. “Dean? Where did you go?”

It was deep into the night, the street nearly empty except for the glow of two lonely streetlights. Their pale light stretched across the pavement and landed on a sign just ahead—a stark white “Morgue” that looked almost ghostly in the darkness.

Even though it was the height of summer, a chill crept over Evelina’s skin.

She fumbled for her phone, dialing Dean’s number with shaking hands. Before it could even ring, his ringtone echoed from inside the car.

Dean was gone, but his phone was sitting right there.

A cold wave of dread hit her. She called for him again, louder this time, trying to sound braver than she felt.

But her voice bounced right back at her, the empty parking lot swallowing every sound.

Her heart pounded. She dove back into the car, slammed the door, and hit the gas, tearing out of the hospital lot. Her hands were still trembling as she finally managed to call the police.

Meanwhile, in the fire escape stairwell, Dean could hear Evelina calling for him.

But he couldn’t answer. A rough piece of cloth was shoved in his mouth, cutting off every sound.

He had no idea how long he’d been there. Just as he started to wonder if this was it, if they really meant to kill him, someone ripped the gag out and punched him hard in the stomach. Then, as quickly as they’d appeared, the group melted back into the shadows.

*

On the other side of the hospital, outside the operating room—

With James by her side, Emmy finally started to calm down.

Every time a doctor came out, she was the first to meet them—signing paperwork without hesitation, answering every question clearly, her hands steady in spite of everything.

Hours dragged by. Finally, at four in the morning, the light above the operating room flicked off.

A doctor came out, pulling off his mask, and walked over to Emmy. “You can thank Dr. Hall for tonight,” he said. “Your mother made it through, but as for when she’ll wake up, that’s out of our hands now.”

But Lorelei just waved him off, her eyes landing on James. “No need for introductions. We already know each other.”

The doctor paused, then got the hint and stepped away.

Lorelei tucked her hands into her pockets, her voice light but edged with a teasing smile. “Long time no see, James.”

She cocked her head, looking right at him. “Why didn’t you call me yourself? You sent Steve instead. I thought something had happened to your grandmother—I was breaking speed limits to get here. Turns out it’s someone I’ve never even met. Still, I did what you asked. How are you planning to thank me?”

James ignored her teasing, his attention fixed on the woman in his arms. His voice was low and rough. “Let’s get her somewhere to rest first.”

Lorelei’s gaze finally fell on Emmy, still unconscious.

Her face was pale and impossibly delicate, long lashes resting softly on her cheeks. There were faint tear stains at the corners of her eyes, a hint of red making her look even more fragile and beautiful—like a ripe peach caught in the rain. Held in James’s arms, she looked so tiny, almost like a child who’d fallen asleep and needed to be carried home.

Lorelei raised an eyebrow. “So this is the college girl you married on a whim? I didn’t think sweet and innocent was your type—but she’s got that edge too. Interesting.”