Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1621

1621 /1625

"Cadence is absolutely right. To be honest, I have always felt incredibly guilty about this," Emmy said, looking directly into Jared's stern eyes. Her voice carried an unshakable resolve. "Because of certain events in the past, I missed out on a crucial part of their early lives. The time I spent with them was simply too little. Children grow up so fast. Before you know it, they are running and jumping everywhere. When they get a bit older and start building their own little worlds, the time they will actually need my company is only going to decrease. Father, I do not want them to learn the cold logic of weighing pros and cons at such a young age. I just want them to grow up in a home overflowing with love. Because only children who are raised in love will be able to hold onto their moral bottom lines and genuinely care for those around them after they eventually witness the cruelty and complexity of the real world."

James reached out and grasped Emmy's hand where it rested on her knee, turning to look at her with eyes full of melting tenderness. But the moment he shifted his gaze back to Jared, the aura surrounding him instantly sharpened into a terrifying edge.

"Father, Emmy's decision is my decision," James stated, his deep voice carrying an immense, oppressive weight. "My children do not need to walk the same old path I was forced to walk. That kind of accelerated, elite education produces nothing but cold, emotionless monsters. It will not give them the life they actually want. Whether my son and daughter want to live as ordinary people or rise up to conquer the world, I will personally guide them." He tightened his grip on Emmy's hand, staring Jared down without flinching. "They are staying right here with us. In this family, nobody gets to step over Emmy and me to dictate their futures."

Jared's face went completely dark. All the speeches he had prepared about family duty and elite training were entirely choked off by his son's absolute, unyielding stance.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room froze solid.

Seeing this, Cadence knew the timing was perfect. She needed to give the father and son some space so James could talk him down privately. She firmly believed that with Emmy's gentle but firm stance, paired with James's aggressive defense, Jared's obsession with taking the children away would inevitably crumble.

She stood up gracefully, smoothing out her skirt. "Emmy," she called out, her tone light and natural. "Why don't you take me for a walk outside? Come to think of it, I have not been to Cloudrest Peak in years. I wonder if the scenery out there has changed at all."

Emmy instantly caught on. As she stood up, she squeezed James's hand behind her back, giving him a look that clearly said she was leaving the rest to him. James squeezed back, his deep eyes reassuring her that he had everything under control. Pulling her hand away, Emmy led Cadence toward the door.