Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 344

The car pulled over next to a fruit stand across from the hospital.

James unbuckled his seatbelt. “I’m going to grab some fruit. You two wait here.”

“Okay.”

Emmy watched his tall figure disappear beneath the twinkling lights of the fruit stand, then turned to Ollie. “Want to go get a hot chocolate?”

Ollie’s eyes lit up and he nodded right away.

She took his little hand and walked him into the coffee shop next door.

They had just picked up their drinks when Emmy stopped in her tracks.

There, by the window, sat a familiar, refined-looking man.

Andrew.

In front of him was a cup of coffee that had gone cold long ago. He just sat there, staring out the window toward the hospital, his eyes full of a quiet, heavy sadness.

Emmy froze.

Ever since her mom had been moved to a regular ward, Mr. Aldridge hadn’t shown up once. She thought maybe he’d moved on. She never expected to run into him here, like this.

The barista noticed her staring and leaned in. “That guy comes in every weekend and on holidays. He’s here from when we open until close. Barely says a word, just sits there looking across the street. He’s kind of a mystery.”

Emmy could hardly believe it.

Had she kept Mr. Aldridge away too, just because she hadn’t let anyone visit her mom?

She squeezed Ollie’s hand and walked over.

“Mr. Aldridge.”

Andrew looked startled, like a bird caught off guard. When he saw her, guilt flashed across his face.

He stood up quickly, his voice a little shaky. “Emmy… I was just sitting here. I’ll leave now.”

Emmy stopped him. “Mr. Aldridge, if you want to see my mom, just come in with us.”

Emmy’s curiosity won out. Her mom probably wouldn’t tell her the truth, but for her mom’s sake, Emmy needed to find out.

She called Abriella.

The phone barely rang before Abriella picked up, her voice full of energy. “Emmy! I was just about to call you! The court date is set, and your scumbag dad’s already been served. Just wait—he is so done for this time!”

Emmy finally relaxed a little and got straight to the point. “Abriella, is Steve around? Do you think he could help me find out what happened between my mom and Mr. Aldridge all those years ago?”

Abriella’s excitement kicked up a notch. “Dig up your mom’s old love story? I don’t care how busy Steve is, I’ll make him do it! Hang on, I’ll get him on it right now!”

Steve worked fast—almost suspiciously fast. Or maybe in their circle, this old story was never really a secret. Emmy was just the last to know.

That night, while Emmy and James watched cartoons with Ollie, Abriella called back.

But this time, her voice was shaky and thick with tears—not the lively tone from earlier.

“Emmy…”

“Your mom… she was really, really hurt by that jerk you call a father.”