Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 240

James shot Dean a look as cold as ice. “What’s the deal, Mr. Sparrow? You run out of people to interrogate?”

A sharp, throbbing pain stabbed through Dean’s ribs, beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. He went pale, but still forced out a dry, mocking laugh.

“Just a firefighter, huh? No offense, but I doubt you’ve got any real ties to Mr. Nelson.”

“So who are you, really?”

He couldn’t shake how much this guy looked like Mr. Nelson, but the vibe was completely different. Nelson was all smooth power and strategy. James, on the other hand, had this dangerous, rough-around-the-edges energy.

Dean knew there was no way this man was just a regular firefighter.

He remembered trying to dig into James’s background before, only to get a mysterious warning from higher up the chain.

Someone who could get the military to take out a group of mercenaries and come out on top—with a medal, no less—had to be more than he seemed. Maybe even military.

A soldier? If that was true, then Emmy’s whirlwind marriage… Did she just marry into the armed forces?

The thought hit Dean like a lightning bolt, a wave of panic crashing over him. He glared at James, wishing he could tear him apart on the spot.

James caught all of it, his lips curling into a smirk.

“I thought you were supposed to be clever, Mr. Sparrow. Can’t even figure out who I am. Guess I gave you too much credit.”

With that, he turned, reached for Emmy’s hand, and his tone softened instantly.

“All done here?”

She nodded. “Yeah, it’s settled.”

James hummed in approval, slipping an arm around her waist, his hand resting right on her curves. He leaned down, his words a low, teasing whisper—just loud enough for Dean to hear.

“Ready to go home and finish what we started?”

There was no mistaking his meaning. Emmy’s neck still showed the faintest red marks, and her eyes had that hazy, just-kissed look when she’d left the pharmacy.

Dean’s eyes went wide. He tried to follow them, but a fresh wave of pain shot through his ribs, stealing his breath and nearly knocking him off his feet.

All he could do was watch as James led Emmy away, his arm tight around her waist.

Dean pressed himself against the wall for support and slowly made his way down the hall to call a doctor.

The next time Emmy heard any news about Dean, he was back in the hospital.

The comments section blew up.

“No way. He stole his daughter’s work just to help his mistress’s kid get ahead? What kind of dad does that?”

“I can’t even. Poor Emmy. Talk about drawing the short straw when it comes to family.”

Emmy stared at her phone, in disbelief.

Her father had gone to these lengths to clear Evelina’s name.

He’d never been much of a father to her. But for Evelina, he’d done everything a dad should.

Emmy didn’t even know what she was feeling anymore.

Disappointment? She’d run out of that a long time ago.

But there was still this cold, empty ache inside her, like she’d swallowed winter itself.

After all, who doesn’t dream of having a real family? A dad who loves you, fights for you, puts you first—no matter what.