Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 685

After she hung up, Emmy picked up the piece of bread she’d barely touched and took another slow bite.

The pain in her tooth only got worse with each chew.

She nudged the spot with her tongue and could feel the swelling in her gums, sharp and throbbing every time she so much as brushed against it.

Yesterday’s slap flashed through her mind.

The force of it had been brutal. Right after, she’d tasted blood in her mouth.

She had no idea where the blood was coming from, but in front of all those people, she’d swallowed it down and forced herself not to show a hint of weakness.

Breakfast finished, Emmy couldn’t fake being okay anymore. She curled up on her side on the bed, hands pressed to her cheek.

The pain was relentless, almost like a bug crawling over her nerves, making her toss and turn. She didn’t even want to check her phone.

And the anger in her chest just kept growing, fueled by every throb of pain.

She couldn’t wrap her head around it. How could James’s mother, the head of the Nelson family, misunderstand her so badly?

Honestly, Emmy hated her. Even if James’s mother showed up tomorrow with a mountain of apology gifts, Emmy knew she’d never forgive her for that slap.

...

On the top floor of Nelson Corporation, in the executive office.

James didn’t go to the fire station. Instead, he headed straight to Nelson Corporation.

Tyler was there, sitting in his wheelchair, flipping through a stack of project proposals from his assistant. He looked up at James, who was practically radiating tension.

“Nelson Corporation has a few billion-dollar projects running at the same time this year. Are you trying to work me into an early grave?”

Last year, Sparrow Group had come out of nowhere, their momentum scary. If it hadn’t been for that media disaster at the end of the year, they might have ended up taking the top spot in the Capital. That whole mess had only made James more determined to win.

James walked over to the desk, tapping his long fingers on a few files. His voice was icy, almost emotionless.

“I’ll take the first three projects.”

Each one was massive, worth billions, and would take up a huge amount of time and energy. By volunteering, James was taking more than half the burden off Tyler’s shoulders.

Tyler didn’t seem grateful. He just noticed the fresh bite marks on the back of James’s hand and raised an eyebrow.

He set the documents down and asked, almost teasing, “So, did you make up with your wife yet?”

He really shouldn’t have brought it up.

The second the words left his mouth, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. James glanced up, his dark eyes filled with bottled-up frustration and anger, and just stared at his brother.

“See, there it is again,” Tyler said, clicking his tongue. “Don’t forget what you promised our brother at his grave before you got married.”

“You had a secret wedding for one reason only. Have a child, get the shares, and get revenge for our brother.”

His tone turned cold.

“She’s five months pregnant. You haven’t gotten her a single share from Grandma. When did you get so inefficient?”

“She’s my wife. I’m supposed to protect her,” James said quietly.

“Fine.” Tyler let it go, switching tactics.

“I don’t care if you love her or not. Just remember why you’re doing this.”

“Fix things with her. Use her to get Grandma’s shares.”

“The twins she’s carrying, one boy and one girl, are our best chance at taking over the Nelson family.”

James went completely still, his hands gripping the edge of the desk, pupils shrinking.

“What did you just say?”

“Twins. She’s having a boy and a girl.”