Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 548

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife, and Emmy knew she was the most awkward third wheel alive. Discretion was the better part of valor, so she quietly grabbed her purse.

“Um… Mr. Nelson, maybe I’ll just give you two some privacy? I’ll wait outside,” she offered, inching toward the door.

She barely made it a step before James snapped the pendant case shut with a decisive click.

“No need,” he said, barely glancing her way before turning his attention to Isabel, whose face was frozen in disbelief.

He closed his fist around the necklace. “I’m taking this back.”

His tone was icy, matter-of-fact. “There’s nothing between us. There never will be.”

“And for the record, I’m married.”

“It’s time to face reality and move on with your life.”

“You can leave now.”

Isabel went pale, her shock painful to watch. Her voice shook. “But… that was my coming-of-age gift. Jamie, how can you do this to me?”

James’s patience snapped, his brow furrowed in annoyance.

“I’d rather not have security escort you out,” he said coldly. “Ms. Summer, try to have some dignity.”

Isabel bit her lip so hard it nearly bled. She stared at James for a few seconds, then turned her glare on Emmy, eyes burning with jealousy and resentment.

Without another word, she grabbed her bag and stormed out.

Emmy frowned. She didn’t look at Isabel, but she could feel the daggers being stared into her back. Fantastic. Now she was involved whether she wanted to be or not.

She glanced helplessly at James, who had already reclaimed his seat, and couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Nelson, Ms. Summer really did care about you. Weren’t you… a little too harsh just now?”

James’s dark eyes behind his glasses gave nothing away. “I don’t have time for women like her.”

The truth was, Jamie had never loved Isabel. Back when they were younger, she was just a way for him to get under the skin of the girl he actually liked.

Emmy jolted, quickly replacing her expression with a bright, eager smile. “I just meant, you absolutely did the right thing! With someone like that, you have to be direct—no room for misunderstandings!”

James watched her switch gears with lightning speed, and for a split second, a ghost of a smile flickered in his eyes.

“When you cut someone off, you do it completely. Any so-called mercy just turns into a weapon against you later.”

“Leaving people an out is just setting traps for yourself.”

“Don’t you agree, Ms. Lincoln?”

His eyes, dark and unreadable behind his glasses, locked onto hers.

Emmy’s heart skipped a beat. For a second, it felt like he wasn’t just talking about Isabel—he was warning her, too.

James slipped the necklace into his suit pocket and picked up the menu, every move smooth and elegant.

Emmy tried to regain her composure, but couldn’t help herself. She asked, almost in a whisper, “Mr. Nelson, are you really sure… you don’t know James?”