Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 681

“I didn’t!” James gripped the steering wheel, his voice cracking with desperation.

“I never thought you were stupid. Honestly, I always thought you were the smartest person I know.”

“You figured it out more than once. I was the one who kept you from finding out the rest.”

He hadn’t wanted to tell her at first. It just seemed unnecessary. James the firefighter and James the heir—those were two completely different lives and he kept them separate, always.

Then his grandmother’s shares started hanging over him like a threat. He needed a child, an heir. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about keeping things simple anymore. He started making choices that felt cold and selfish.

He kept quiet because he was scared. Scared she’d run away. Scared he’d see fear and suspicion in her eyes instead of trust.

But he’d misjudged everything.

He never expected to fall for her, and definitely never expected it to be this deep. Once he started craving that easy, warm life they had together, the less he could bring himself to tell the truth.

Being Mr. Nelson was a gilded prison, filled with family expectations and endless schemes. He was terrified he’d drag her into all that, that the ugliness would touch her and weigh her down.

Lately, the only thing left keeping him silent was pure fear. The fear of moments like this. The fear of seeing her look at him the way she was right now, so disappointed, like she’d pulled all her love away.

In the end, it was all his fault. From the very start.

Emmy turned away, staring out the window, refusing to look at him. Anger burned inside her, fierce and hot.

She could feel the twins moving in her belly, restless, like they could sense her mood.

She took a long breath, trying to calm herself. She couldn’t let herself get worked up now. She had to keep it together for the babies.

The car ride back to Applewood Estate was silent and heavy. When she walked into the empty living room, Emmy suddenly missed Ivy so much it hurt. If Ivy were here, she’d have someone to talk to, someone who’d understand how upset she was.

She didn’t say a word. She headed straight to the master bedroom.

James followed right behind her. As she reached for the doorknob, he tried to grab her hand.

She was faster. She slipped inside, turned back, and stared at him, her eyes cold as ice.

“I don’t want to sleep with you tonight.”

She slammed the door and locked it. The click of the lock echoed in the hallway.

James just stood there, frozen, his big frame looking lost and awkward in front of the door.

He lifted his hand and knocked softly. “Babe, let me in. Let me put on your stretch mark oil, please?”

She opened the chat. The last time they’d talked was that afternoon, when he’d sent her a whole row of kissy emojis.

It was hard to reconcile. The man who sent her flirty texts, who could never get enough of her in bed, who acted so shameless and silly—was he really the cold, untouchable Mr. Nelson?

The difference made her feel like she didn’t know him at all.

She didn’t reply.

Just as she was about to turn off her phone, Abriella’s picture popped up.

[What are you doing? Why aren’t you answering me? Where are you?]

Emmy stared at the message. She’d seen Abriella’s texts earlier, but she’d been too upset to answer.

Now, just thinking about how Abriella and James had kept her in the dark made her angrier.

With a blank face, she sent back a single emoji. A perfect, deadpan smile.

A second later, as if that one emoji was enough to scare her, Abriella immediately started a voice call.