Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 215

They only heard about it because Pattie spilled the news.

When Pattie shared the update in the family group chat, she called it a “once-in-a-lifetime miracle”—as if everyone should be celebrating. Honestly, Pattie had it even rougher than the rest of them lately.

Somehow, she’d pissed off Mr. Nelson, and to score points with him, her rich husband didn’t just divorce her—he actually handed her over to some creep with freaky tastes. After that, Pattie basically lost it.

Every day, she’d camp outside the firehouse, waiting for James. She even followed him all the way to Pine Peak a few times. When the gunshots exploded inside, she was probably the first one there.

The second she heard someone had died, Pattie started spreading the word: it was James, Captain of the South Bay Fire Station.

Emmy had no clue about any of this.

But when even Rose said James was dead, Emmy just froze. It was like every sound dropped out of the world. She started doubting herself—had she imagined seeing James in that Bentley? Was it someone else?

Her heart twisted so tight it hurt to breathe.

It was all because of her.

If she hadn’t rushed into a marriage with James, would Claudia and Dean have ever noticed him? Would those criminals have come after him at all?

She wanted revenge. The urge flared up wild and fierce, drowning out every rational thought.

A surge of adrenaline hit her, and Emmy started fighting like her life depended on it.

“Damn, she’s strong! We can’t hold her!” one guy yelled, arms shaking from the struggle.

Rose heard the chaos, spun around, and shrieked, “Someone’s coming! Knock her out—now!”

Emmy was still thrashing when a sharp pain slammed into the back of her head. The world went black. Her body crumpled, limp and useless.

Just before everything faded, she thought she saw him—a tall, broad-shouldered figure sprinting toward her.

She hadn’t imagined it.

James was really there.

The second he appeared, cold and furious, everyone in the room froze like they’d seen a ghost.

“You—you’re alive?!”

James didn’t waste a second. He strode in and kicked the guy next to Emmy so hard the man went flying. The other barely had time to react before James grabbed him by the throat and flung him aside like trash.

He caught Emmy as she collapsed, pulling her into his arms and holding her tight.

When he saw the red marks and bruises on her wrists, his eyes went dark with rage and something that looked a lot like pain.

He glared up, and the look in his eyes was enough to shut up everyone else, even the ones groaning on the floor.

“The second I got out, I asked Abriella to let you know. Didn’t she tell you?”

Emmy couldn’t stop a couple of tears from sliding down her cheeks. Embarrassed, she wiped them away and shoved James back a little so she could get a good look at him.

“Why didn’t you call me the moment you could? I thought something had happened to you. I was ready to go to Pine Peak to find you.”

“I kept thinking—even if I had to bring your body home, I’d do it. I just wanted you back.” Her voice shook, eyes rimmed red.

James’s heart clenched. He cupped her face, his thumb brushing away the tears on her cheeks.

“I came here as soon as I got out. Didn’t even stop to charge my phone. I ran into Abriella and Steve on their way to Pine Peak and told her to let you know.”

Suddenly, Emmy remembered what Abriella had said in the elevator—something weird about a silver lining and a medal of honor.

Her gaze sharpened. She grabbed James’s wrist and started checking him over. “Are you hurt?”

When her hand touched his right chest, James flinched back a little.

Emmy’s heart stuttered.

She carefully pulled back his collar and peered inside, her eyes going wide in shock.