Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 225

Emmy gave her mom a quick heads-up and headed out with Will.

As she pressed the elevator button, Evelina showed up, trailing close behind. Her arm was in a thick cast, wrapped in a sling around her neck. She looked pretty rough, but the way she eyed Emmy was all smug confidence.

The elevator doors slid open. Evelina stepped in right after Emmy.

Out of nowhere, Evelina let out a sharp little laugh. “So, ‘the Dome’ is getting pulled, huh?”

She sounded way too satisfied, like she’d been waiting for this.

“Too bad. That’s the only thing you’ve ever made that’s worth anything.”

“I heard the AI competition is going to check everyone’s old projects this year, to weed out the fakes. If you lose ‘the Dome,’ you probably won’t even get to sign up, right?”

Emmy turned to her, eyes landing on Evelina’s cast.

“You’ve already got a broken arm and you’re still trying to push my buttons? Aren’t you worried I might have someone break the other one too?”

She paused, her smile turning cold. “Pretty sure the competition doesn’t want a contestant who can’t use either hand.”

Will stepped forward, flexing his fists until his knuckles cracked.

“Emmy, you don’t have to call anyone. I’ll do it!”

He glared at Evelina like she was something he’d just scraped off his shoe. “She’s got a mouth on her, it’s annoying. You want her right hand broken? I’m on it!”

He reached for Evelina’s right arm.

“No—!” Evelina shrieked, stumbling backwards. Her legs gave out and she landed on the elevator floor, a total mess.

She craned her neck to look up, voice trembling but trying to sound tough. “Emmy! There are cameras in here! If you touch me, Dean’s not going to let you get away with it!”

Will hesitated, glancing at Emmy, waiting for a signal.

Emmy just laughed, dark and amused. “I’m a programmer. You really think I’m scared of a security camera?”

Will’s eyes lit up. He lunged at Evelina’s arm again.

“No, please! Don’t!” Evelina’s mind flashed back to the pain when her left arm snapped. The memory alone had her in tears, shaking.

“Don’t break my hand! I take it all back, okay?”

“I’ll… I’ll talk to Mr. Carter, make sure he doesn’t pull ‘the Dome’ down. We can both enter the competition, alright?”

Dean looked down at Evelina, who was still clinging to him and crying, and a weird irritation twisted in his chest.

For some reason, he suddenly pictured Emmy crying. She’d always been so quiet about it, tears slipping down her face, looking stubborn and hurt all at once. Every time, he’d just want to pull her close and give her the world.

But Evelina…

He used to admire her strength, how independent she was. Lately, though, she cried all the time. That backbone he’d loved didn’t seem half as strong as Emmy’s now.

He’d said so many harsh things to Emmy for Evelina’s sake, but Emmy hadn’t shed a single tear for him since.

The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he felt.

He helped Evelina steady herself, his voice going cold. “Stop crying. Let’s go see your mom.”

Evelina froze, staring up at him. “Dean, have you been super busy? Why are you only here today?”

Dean stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for her floor, his tone unreadable.

“Nelson Corporation is about to launch a game. It’s Mr. Nelson’s biggest mistake and my best shot at taking the company down. I have to be ready.”