Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 934

James had changed into riding clothes too.

But he hadn’t gone for anything fancy. Instead, he wore all black, his riding outfit cut in a sleek, tactical style. The fitted shirt hugged his broad shoulders and narrow waist, showing off that perfect V-shaped physique. With every move, the muscles in his arms strained against the fabric, full of raw energy.

He sat astride a huge, powerful chestnut thoroughbred. The horse looked wild, the kind that would throw off a lesser rider in a second, but under James it was calm and obedient, almost gentle.

A helmet sat on his head, goggles pushed up so his sharp, deep-set eyes were clear and striking. He gripped the reins with one hand, his posture straight as a tree.

He didn’t look like someone out for a casual ride. He looked like a general about to lead an army into battle, or maybe a king surveying his land. There was something fierce and magnetic about him, almost dangerous.

Emmy’s heart skipped a beat. She tightened her hold on the reins, not even realizing she’d done it.

James nudged his horse forward with a gentle squeeze of his legs. The big chestnut snorted and started toward her, each step slow and heavy, completely under his control.

The two of them together were a striking sight. He was tall and dressed in black, she was smaller, dressed in white. It was impossible to look away.

James took in her stunned expression, a smile flickering in his eyes. He lifted his riding crop and pointed into the distance.

“Come on, let’s take a lap around the island.”

That was all it took for Emmy’s competitive streak to flare. Her eyes lit up.

“You’re on!”

Excitement surged through her. She tugged the reins and squeezed her legs.

“Let’s go!”

Snowdrift, her white horse, seemed to know exactly what Emmy wanted. He burst into a gallop, hooves kicking up sand behind them.

James watched her take off, lips curving into a grin.

“Don’t go too fast,” he called, though he was quick to follow. One squeeze and his horse shot after her.

Emmy felt completely at home in the saddle. The rush of wind, the pounding of hooves, the freedom of riding at full speed... it was addictive. Her riding instincts kicked in, and she tore through the forest, breaking out onto a wide stretch of white sand.

She was parched. She took the bottle and gulped down a big mouthful. A bead of water slid down her neck and disappeared beneath her collar. James’s eyes flickered darker for a second before he looked away, gazing out at the distant hills.

“It’s pretty big,” he said, his voice casual. “Just the land alone is almost four thousand square kilometers. That’s not even counting the sea around it.”

Emmy nearly choked on her water. She coughed, eyes wide, staring at him in disbelief.

“You’re kidding. It’s that big?”

James’s lips twitched at her reaction, then he started telling her about the island’s past.

“This place used to be just a nameless stretch of land, nothing special. It was found a little over a hundred years ago, and for decades, people lived here without realizing what was under their feet.”

“Then, about thirty years ago, my grandmother came by. She loved exploring. By chance, she found this huge gold nugget in a stream.” He nodded toward the rocks near their feet.

“My grandmother was sharp. She bought the whole island right away, secured all the private development and mining rights. Everyone thought she was out of her mind, buying a deserted island.”

“But in the very first year they started digging, they struck gold. Tons of it.”