Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 669

The soft whir of the wheelchair faded as the office door clicked shut.

James stayed exactly where he was, staring at his phone, lost in his own world.

The screen dimmed. He pressed it awake again, almost on autopilot.

His lock screen was a quirky little anime drawing of a couple. The boy had wild silver hair, looking smug but somehow completely smitten with the girl in his arms. The girl, playful as a kitten, nuzzled his cheek, her smile so bright it made her dimples look like they were filled with sunlight.

No one would ever guess that the drawing was actually him and Emmy.

He’d had their photo turned into a cartoon, just to keep it private. Only he knew which moment it captured.

James brushed his thumb across the drawing, right over the girl’s laughing face. He could still feel the softness of her cheek, the sweet scent of her hair from that day. It was all so painfully clear in his memory.

He wondered what would happen when Emmy learned the truth at dinner. That he was Mr. Nelson. Would she be shocked? Angry? Would she feel like he’d lied to her about everything?

For the first time, James realized he was scared. Really, honestly scared.

But he couldn’t avoid it any longer. His grandmother was getting weaker every day.

This was something he had to do. There was no other way.

…

The next day, Emmy got the grand tour of the town. The officials welcomed her, showing off the old-fashioned streets and the only two schools they had.

The town was poor. That much was obvious.

The kids didn’t have matching uniforms. The schoolyard was rough and full of potholes. The walls were faded, and the children’s clothes looked like they’d been washed a thousand times. Emmy was shocked by how little they had.

One of the town leaders sighed. “A lot of these kids live way up in the mountains. Used to be, they couldn’t go to school at all.”

“It’s thanks to Mr. Nelson. He came here and made the decision himself to build hope schools even in the most remote spots. In a few days, more volunteer teachers will be arriving.”

There was real gratitude on the official’s face. “Our town is going to keep getting better. I really believe it.”

On the way back, the RV rolled smoothly down the road.

Emmy watched the scenery fly past, then remembered something.

She asked the driver, “How far are we from Moonlight Gully?”

That was Ivy’s hometown.

The driver thought for a moment. “Not far, Ms. Eincoln, but if we go there before heading back to the Capital, we’ll be on the road about four hours longer.”

Emmy’s fingers played with the edge of her scarf.

If she didn’t give James the scarf she’d knitted for him soon, it would be too warm to wear it.

“That’s fine, let’s go,” she said.

No one was in a hurry. They decided to take their time, stopping when they wanted, treating the whole thing like a road trip.