Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 88

The room buzzed with gossip, the murmurs growing louder by the second.

“Isn’t that Mr. Sparrow from Sparrow Group? What’s he doing squaring off with Mr. Nelson’s people?”

“You haven’t heard? Sparrow Group’s been on fire lately. They’ve stolen a bunch of big deals right out from under Nelson Corporation. People say the Sparrow family’s about to become the next Nelson family in the capital.”

“No way. Are they seriously about to go to war? What’s the fight even about? I heard it’s all for some woman.”

“Apparently, it’s that Miss Lincoln—the one he just broke off the engagement with. He says he’s over her, but it doesn’t look like it.”

Evelina’s face darkened as she caught the whispers. She suddenly raised her voice, calling out toward the doors. “Mr. Nelson, Emmy is Dean’s sister. That makes her my sister too. What exactly are you trying to do, locking her up alone like that?”

Teresa’s face went completely pale. Forgetting about manners, she grabbed her dress and rushed forward.

Suddenly, the ballroom was plunged into darkness.

A wave of panic rippled through the guests.

“What’s going on?”

“Did the power go out?”

But after just a few seconds, the soft lights flickered back on. Everyone looked around in confusion, realizing the hallway had changed.

The bodyguards who’d been posted outside the VIP lounge had vanished. The door that had been firmly shut was now left ajar.

Dean reacted first, shoving the door open and rushing inside.

“Emmy!”

The lounge was empty.

Evelina hurried in right after, scanning the room. She didn’t see what she’d expected and frowned. Then she knelt down, picking up a pair of gold-rimmed glasses from the carpet.

“Dean, look…”

“These are Mr. Nelson’s glasses. He’s always so put-together—he’d never just lose them. Does this mean he and Emmy…?”

“No way!” Dean snapped, his voice sharp. “Jamie hates women. Anyone who’s ever tried to get close to him ended up miserable. Last time, he just married some random college girl to piss off his family. Never heard anything about an heir. I doubt Nelson’s any more capable than his older brother in the wheelchair.”

“If Emmy tried to get close to him now… She might be in way more danger than we thought.”

Dean spun around, his voice raw and frantic now. “Search the whole hotel! I don’t care what it takes—find her and bring her back to me!”

His jaw tightened, eyes darkening, every muscle in his body strung tight.

Finally, he couldn’t hold back anymore. In one sharp motion, he ripped off his tie.

But instead of giving in, he suddenly rolled away, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her straight into the bathroom.

Ice-cold water poured down over them both.

“Ah!”

The freezing shock jolted Emmy, clearing her mind for a brief, shivering moment.

She looked up, water streaming down her face, struggling to focus. Slowly, her vision sharpened and she finally saw who was holding her.

It wasn’t the cold, distant Mr. Nelson with his gold-rimmed glasses.

It was—

“James… is that you?”

“I feel so awful. Please… help me, okay?”