Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 913

They pushed deeper into the forest, the ground slick with moss that made every step treacherous. Emmy watched as James wobbled, his left leg clearly struggling. Instinctively, she kept reaching out to steady him, but the path was too uneven. She could barely keep her own balance, let alone help someone else. More than once, it was James who caught her arm and stopped her from tumbling down.

James led her away from their original trail and ducked into a thick patch of low bushes. After about fifteen minutes, the trees opened up and they found themselves on a wide, stony riverbank. Across from them, a stream rushed past, deep and fast, impossible to judge its true depth.

James pulled a satellite phone from his jacket and sent out a signal. Not long after, the distant rumble of engines echoed through the trees. The sound grew louder, and soon the wind from the helicopter above whipped the branches into a frenzy. Emmy could barely open her eyes, the air was so wild. She raised her arm to shield her face, her hair flying everywhere.

James stood steady in front of her, taking the brunt of the wind so she wouldn’t have to. Above them, a black helicopter hovered, its rotors deafening. The door slid open and a rescue basket was lowered, swinging in the gusts. James grabbed the basket and pulled it to Emmy. With practiced hands, he unclipped a safety harness and buckled it securely around her.

“Hold on tight. Don’t be scared,” he shouted over the roar, helping her into the basket. He checked everything carefully, then stepped onto the edge next to her. Emmy’s heart leapt as she realized James hadn’t fastened a safety line for himself. He just grabbed the steel cable above with one hand.

The helicopter lifted, pulling the basket and both of them into the sky, heading for the coast. Emmy clung to the railing, her heart pounding as she watched James hang there with nothing but his grip keeping him safe.

“You… put on your safety harness!” she yelled, but the wind scattered her voice.

James looked down, meeting her anxious eyes. “Look down!” he shouted. “The view’s incredible!”

Her attention snapped away from her fear. Emmy turned, her hands shaking, and looked down. The world below was an endless expanse of deep green forest, thick and wild. Farther out, the ocean stretched blue and dazzling, waves sparkling all the way to where they touched the sky. Beams of sunlight broke through the clouds, turning the sea gold. For a moment, her fear faded, replaced by awe at the beauty all around her.

“Look over there!” Emmy pointed, her voice trembling with excitement. A massive rainbow arched over the island, not just a half-curve, but a perfect, glowing circle. It shimmered like something from a dream.

“It’s gorgeous! I didn’t know rainbows could be circles!”

Soon, the helicopter set down on a nearby beach. The basket touched the ground, and Emmy saw another, even larger helicopter waiting. Several men in black tactical uniforms stood nearby. The leader rushed over to James, worry etched on his face.

“Boss, are you alright?”

James unwound the strap from his wrist and flexed his hand, his expression calm. “Just a few scrapes. Nothing serious. Let’s head to Star Jewel.”

“Yes, sir!” the man said. Then he turned, catching sight of Emmy standing nearby, muddy and breathless. He froze, eyes wide with shock, then quickly bowed his head in respect.

“Ma’am, you must have been scared. Are you alright?”