Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1193

James watched as she sobbed, her whole body shaking. For a second, his cold heart felt like it was being squeezed tight by something he couldn’t see. It wasn’t for Mercedes’s pain. It was because she’d mentioned Jamie’s last words, those desperate, heartbreaking wishes he’d left behind.

James, please… take care of her. It’s the only thing I’m asking of you.

James closed his eyes for a moment, pushing away the pain that flashed across his face before anyone could see it. When he looked at her again, his voice was still cool, but some of the sharpness had faded.

“He didn’t lie to you.”

If there had ever been someone who truly loved Mercedes, who would have given up everything for her, it was Jamie. Hardly anyone knew how Jamie felt, not even the older members of the Nelson family. Back then, Jamie was the center of attention, the future of the family, and Mercedes was a nobody, just a trainee trying to make it. Their worlds couldn’t have been farther apart. But whenever Jamie called James, or when they met up, he always talked about Mercedes. Every small thing mattered to him—whether she learned a new dance, or just ate an extra piece of cake.

The way Jamie talked about her, the look in his eyes… James had never seen him so gentle. From start to finish, Jamie had loved only one woman. He’d kept their relationship a secret just to protect her, always standing in the shadows, shielding her from everything. Even when he was dying, he couldn’t let her go. She was his biggest worry.

Now, seeing Mercedes in front of him, face crumpled and red from crying, the same face Jamie had loved so much, James couldn’t stay cold. Or maybe it was just his guilt over Jamie that left him no choice. He frowned and let out a long sigh.

“Fine. I’ll have breakfast with you.”

Mercedes looked up, eyes red and wet, surprised and almost hopeful. James didn’t look at her. His voice dropped even colder.

“James, women’s intuition is almost always right. Mercedes didn’t come back just to say hi—she has her own agenda. You might think you don’t care about her, but Emmy might see things differently. Don’t forget what Emmy’s been through. Dean broke her heart, betrayed her in the worst way. She’s sensitive, she’s never felt really safe in a relationship. On the outside, she might seem calm and reasonable, but no woman wants her husband to have weird ties to another woman. Even if you and Mercedes are just eating together, even if you’re completely innocent, it’ll remind Emmy of all her old heartbreak and betrayals. James, if you really want a good life with Emmy, you need to keep your distance from Mercedes.”

He’d listened to every word. He’d meant to do exactly that. That was why, when he’d first seen Mercedes in his room, his instinct was to ask her to leave, to avoid being alone with her. He knew nothing would ever happen between them. He was just worried Emmy would get the wrong idea. He was even more afraid Emmy, who always hid her feelings behind a tough front, would get quietly hurt because of this.

But now, with Mercedes crying and bringing up Jamie over and over, James realized something that made him ache. Even after all these years, he still couldn’t let go of what he owed Jamie. He just couldn’t watch the woman Jamie had loved so deeply question Jamie’s love because of his own coldness. He couldn’t let Jamie’s memory be ruined, not in Mercedes’s heart. That was the last thing he could do for Jamie, the last bit of dignity he could protect.

James sighed inside. He would just have to explain everything to Emmy later.