Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 209

She couldn’t stand another second of their petty gossip and spun on her heel to leave.

“Well, look who it is—Emmy. Heard you tried every trick in the book to get Dr. Pepper to take you on, but you didn’t even get to meet him, did you?”

Someone snorted. “Honestly, Dr. Pepper probably got so sick of you bugging him that he put out that announcement just to make you back off.”

“If you want to be Dr. Pepper’s student, better work hard. Maybe you’ll get a gold medal, huh?”

Laughter broke out all around her.

In their eyes, Emmy was just a regular college grad. How could she possibly compete with the golden girl who just got back from MIT?

Emmy stopped, then turned around.

She ignored the smirking faces and locked eyes with Evelina, who was basking in the attention at the center of the group.

Emmy smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”

Evelina’s smile faltered for just a moment.

She stared at Emmy, and those usually cool, distant eyes were now sharp as ice, cutting right through her.

No one else noticed the tension crackling between them.

But Evelina felt it.

Emmy was throwing down the gauntlet.

All for the technology Evelina had stolen—the very thing that helped her climb to the top.

Under Emmy’s gaze, guilt pricked at Evelina and she curled her fingers, but she kept up her perfect, confident façade.

She tilted her chin and said sweetly, “Then you’d better work hard. The competition’s not far off. If you need any help, you know where to find me.”

Emmy’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. She didn’t bother to reply, just turned and walked away.

The snide voices picked up behind her.

“Please, like she’s so high and mighty…”

“Didn’t Mr. Sparrow dump her anyway?”

She knew these voices all too well.

A few months ago, these same girls would link arms with her and promise to be friends for life.

But the second things changed, they tossed her aside for Evelina, just like Dean did.

Emmy had no time for people who switched sides with the wind.

She went straight back to her mom’s hospital room.

“If Evelina’s really as good as you say, then she should face me fair and square.”

“The way you’re freaking out right now just makes me think she’s scared to lose to me, so you’re here running interference.”

Dean fired back right away.

“I’m just giving you friendly advice. If you won’t listen, don’t come crying to me when everyone laughs at you.”

Emmy rolled her eyes.

Cry to him? As if.

She wasn’t that girl who used to fall apart at the first sign of trouble.

James had taught her that tears were useless—strength was what mattered if you wanted to survive.

Funny enough, it was only around Dean that she’d ever gotten into the habit of crying when things went wrong.

Later that night, the hospital halls were quiet.

Emmy helped her mom back from the bathroom. Teresa was getting stronger now, able to walk slowly on her own.

She tucked her mom into bed, making sure the blankets were just right.

Out of the blue, Teresa asked, sounding curious, “What’s James up to tonight?”