Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1722

It took a long time for Sylvia to accept the reality of the situation. She tentatively moved her leg, but a sharp gasp escaped her lips. The unmistakable soreness deep within her body instantly shattered any lingering illusions she had. Her memory of being pressured to drink at the lounge last night was entirely blank, but the physical ache was undeniable proof. She bit her lower lip, her face shifting from ashen white to crimson red. Regardless of what had happened, her only thought now was to disappear as quickly as possible. Holding her breath, she reached out to move the heavy arm draped across her waist. Just as she managed to lift his hand and let out a sigh of relief, the man behind her shifted. Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest, and she froze in place, too terrified to move a muscle.

After a few agonizing seconds, she realized he had only changed positions. His breathing remained steady, indicating he had fallen back asleep. Only then did she carefully lift the blanket and slip out of bed. The moment her toes touched the carpet, her legs gave out, almost sending her to her knees. She quickly grabbed the edge of the bed to steady herself, knowing her immediate priority was to get dressed and leave. But as she scanned the room, there was no sign of her clothes. Left with no other choice, she padded barefoot toward the bathroom. Pushing the door open, the sight inside made her draw another sharp breath.

The bathroom was littered with suggestive, intimate traces. Her sweater, silk camisole, and underwear were tossed haphazardly on the tiled floor. The vanity was a mess of used bath towels, and the floor was covered in wet splashes. In the massive two-person bathtub nearby, water still filled more than half the tub, with a layer of ambiguous bubbles floating on the surface. Her mind went completely blank, entirely too afraid to imagine the kind of wild night she had experienced. She bent down to pick up her clothes, but they were soaked and impossible to wear. Scanning the room again, her eyes landed on a man's gray shirt hanging behind the door. It belonged to Steve, and thanks to the air vent blowing directly on it, it was the only dry item of clothing left. She grabbed it and hurriedly pulled it over her head.

Steve had a broad frame, making the shirt look like a loose sack on Sylvia. The long hem draped midway down her thighs, barely providing enough coverage. Wearing nothing underneath made her feel uncomfortably exposed, and the friction of the fabric against her sensitive skin sent an unspeakable shiver through her. She stood before the vanity, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a tangled mess, and a faint, lingering flush colored the corners of her eyes. Across her slender neck and collarbone, a dense scattering of red marks of varying shades painted a vivid picture. Those shocking bruises trailed down beneath the shirt, silently declaring the intensity of the previous night. She looked an absolute wreck.

Turning on the faucet, Sylvia splashed cold water onto her face. Taking a deep breath, she silently gave herself a pep talk. She was a mature woman who had weathered plenty of storms, so she needed to treat this like a meaningless accident. Whatever happened last night, she would pretend it never occurred and stay far away from that man in the future. Armed with her mental preparation, she gripped the hem of the shirt and pushed the bathroom door open. But the moment she took a step out, she froze. On the large bed, Steve had woken up at some point. He was leaning lazily against the headboard, the blanket casually draped across his waist to reveal a broad expanse of sexy, well-defined chest muscles. There were even a few distinct scratch marks on his skin, leaving no doubt as to who had left them.

Seeing Sylvia walk out wearing his shirt, her long, fair legs fully exposed, Steve's eyes darkened instantly. They stared at each other from a few paces away, the silence in the room so absolute that a pin drop could have been heard.