Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1224

Emmy slowed down for a split second, almost so slight that no one would notice.

James stepped out from inside. He looked immaculate, as always, the collar of his black shirt buttoned up to the top, a perfectly tailored suit draped over his shoulders. He stood tall and rigid, a silent warning telling people to stay away.

As soon as he glanced up, his eyes landed on Emmy and John walking together.

He came to a full stop, his already serious expression darkening even more.

Emmy hadn’t expected to see him just then. She caught herself glancing at him, letting her gaze brush over his sharp features and, for a moment, landing on the bruise at the corner of his mouth.

But she didn’t linger. With her face carefully blank, she looked away and kept walking straight for the elevator, not a single step out of pace.

James didn’t move. He didn’t call after her or follow. But it didn’t matter. The chill radiating from him was so intense, it felt like the whole hallway dropped a few degrees.

A few team members hurried past, nearly holding their breath, heads down, doing everything not to catch his attention.

Harlene followed right behind Emmy. Normally, she would have said hi when passing by, but the moment she met James’s cold, shadowed gaze, her stomach clenched. She dropped her eyes immediately and practically dove into the elevator.

Inside, as the doors slid shut, shutting out James’s steely stare, Harlene finally let out a huge exhale. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm down.

“Oh my god, Emmy… your husband’s presence is terrifying. Seriously. He didn’t say a single word, but it felt like a wild animal was eyeing me. My back is soaked with sweat.”

She rubbed her arms, still shivering, and stared at Emmy in disbelief. “How did you two ever get along? Weren’t you scared, living with someone so… intense every single day?”

Emmy looked up at her own reflection in the mirrored elevator doors, her thoughts drifting.

Scared?

She thought about it. Even as a little girl, even knowing everyone called James a living legend—a real special forces king—she’d never been scared of him.

Because, around her, James always seemed to pull back that intimidating aura. With her, he was careful, gentle, and all his protective softness was just for her. It was like a wild animal pulling in its claws, showing her the softest part of itself.

Remembering that made her chest feel tight and sad all over again.

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