James finished reading the news and turned his eyes to Emmy.
Her profile was tight, fragile, like she might shatter if anyone touched her.
He didn’t say anything. He just watched her quietly.
When the storm in her eyes finally faded, he spoke, his voice calm and steady, the kind that made you feel safe just listening to it.
“Life’s like riding down a river. You’ll meet all kinds of people—some will go with the flow right beside you, some will fight against the current, and others will just pass by, splashing you as they go.”
“So don’t worry about where the tide is heading. Just remember, the ones who truly move with you, even if it’s only for a moment, are the ones worth holding onto.”
Emmy glanced up from her phone, a little startled.
For a second, the hard lines of his face seemed softer, almost wise. It reminded her of that mysterious old lady from the nursing home—the one who always knew exactly what to say when Emmy was lost, pulling her out of the mud with just a few words.
A smile tugged at Emmy’s lips. “Thank you. I think I get it now.”
She added, “You’ve got to look ahead, but you also have to notice the people right next to you. The ones who really care about you? They’re your whole world. Everyone else is just passing dust. If it gets in your eyes, you blink it away. When the wind blows on, you just let it go.”
James raised his brows, a crooked grin playing at the corners of his mouth.
“No need to thank me next time. If you really want to show your gratitude, maybe try something a little more... hands-on. That’s more my style.”
Emmy’s cheeks flamed. This guy couldn’t stay serious for more than three seconds.
She decided to ignore him. “I’m going to check on Mom.”
In the next room, Teresa was glued to her phone, scrolling through news updates.
She stopped cold at Cooper’s apology letter, where he took all the blame on himself. The words ripped right through her. The pain was so sharp, it was hard to breathe.
She opened her messages with Cooper.
The last one from him was still there, sent that morning.
Teresa, could you ask Emmy to let me in to see you? I know I messed up. I really miss you...
Teresa stared at it, feeling nothing but bitter irony.
More than twenty years of marriage, all his schemes behind her back, all the things he’d done to her and their daughter—and now, for the sake of his illegitimate child, he was playing the victim.
But Teresa grabbed her hand, hesitated, then asked, “How’s the divorce coming along?”
Emmy squeezed her mother’s hand in comfort. “Almost done. The one-month cooling-off period is nearly over. When it’s finalized, I’ll make sure he walks away with nothing.”
But Emmy wasn’t going to stop there.
She lowered her eyes, a cold determination flickering inside them.
She was going to send Cooper to prison with her own hands.
Teresa seemed to remember something and squeezed Emmy’s hand tightly. “He’s still got shares in Starlight Corporation. If you want him out for good, you need to get those back first.”
“I know, Mom. This scandal is the perfect chance. With everything blowing up like this, if he wants a way out, he’ll have to pay for it.”
Teresa finally let out a shaky breath, relief and sadness fighting in her eyes as tears started falling again.
Emmy’s chest ached. She quickly reached out to wipe the tears from her mother’s cheeks.
“Don’t cry for someone like him, Mom. He’s not worth it. Our good days are still ahead.”

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO
Please update...