Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 533

The chill in Emmy’s eyes hit James like a punch to the gut.

Panic flared inside him.

“No, it’s not like that!” he rushed out, his voice shaky. “I’m happy—I really love them, I swear!”

“Love?” Emmy shot back, her laugh sharp. “Then why are you so afraid to find out if they’re boys or girls? What are you so scared of?”

Without realizing, his grip on her arm loosened.

What was he scared of, really?

The nightmares that clung to him every night. The fear that fate would play the same cruel trick again.

He couldn’t bring himself to speak about the past. He didn’t even know how.

All he could do was try, awkwardly, to reassure her.

“Babe, please. They’re my kids—our kids. I’ll protect them, no matter what. I’d stake my life on it.”

But Emmy just gave a cold, bitter smile.

Stake your life? Sure.

In the end, he still believed in those old, ridiculous superstitions.

Why?

Why did her kids have to carry this burden before they were even born?

She wasn’t going to let it slide. She’d fight for her babies, no matter what.

“I want to know about your family,” she said flatly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

James frowned hard. “Why does it matter so much? Even my family never cared about that stuff. It’s not like we’re royalty or something.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face, frustration written all over him. “It’s just me. I don’t have anyone else.”

“That’s impossible,” Emmy insisted. “You didn’t just appear out of thin air. You have parents.”

James looked at her, then seemed to come to a decision. His voice was low and serious. “Wait here.”

He went into the study and came back with a deep red booklet.

“This is my household register,” he said, handing it to her.

Emmy took it and flipped it open.

The first page had his name: James. She turned the rest of the pages—blank.

The whole booklet really just had him, and him alone.

She had no idea what he’d gone through to hurt this badly.

But he was a soldier. How could a soldier end up believing in superstitions?

She just couldn’t wrap her head around it.

Suddenly, James’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He closed his eyes, let her go, and answered.

After listening for a second, he replied quietly, “Yeah. I’ll be there right away.”

He hung up, pulled Emmy into a tight hug, and kissed her hard, like he was afraid to let go.

“Don’t overthink it. I love our kids. And I love you even more.”

“It’s the end of the year. Work’s busy, but once things settle down, I’ll make it up to you. We’ll spend New Year’s together, just us.”

With that, he strode out the door.

Emmy stood there alone for a long time before finally wandering to the window, sinking into the big chair by the glass.

Outside, the river sparkled under the city’s neon lights—cold, chaotic, beautiful.

She laid her hand on her belly, eyes full of confusion.

After a while, she picked up the little charm she always kept close.