Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 948

A few seconds passed before James opened his eyes. They were soft, dark, impossibly tender. He puffed out his cheeks and blew out the tiny candle, watching the flame flicker out. Emmy had never expected that just baking a cake would move this big, tough man to tears. He wiped the tear away before she could say anything, but she saw it. Something inside her melted, all warm and gentle and impossibly soft.

She looked up at him, her smile bright and full. “Happy birthday, James.”

By then, the maids and chefs who had been hiding out of sight had already slipped away. No one wanted to be the third wheel right now. The living room felt quiet and private, just the two of them left.

James didn’t say anything. He just took the cake from her hands and set it on the side table. Then, in the next instant, he pulled Emmy into his arms and held her tight.

Her cheek pressed against his solid chest. She could feel his heart pounding, wild and strong. His warm breath brushed her ear, and he smelled like everything safe and familiar.

“Babe, I love you.” His voice was low and rough, trembling just a little as he spoke close to her ear.

Emmy froze. Her hands hovered at her sides, unsure, then she lifted them and gently patted his back, like she was comforting a kid who’d had a bad dream.

“Alright, birthday boy, time to cut the cake,” she whispered.

But James just hugged her tighter and didn’t let go. No one could possibly understand what he was feeling. No one knew how much he loved the woman in his arms. She was his light. She was the only hope he wanted to hold onto in the middle of all this darkness. If he could, he’d make this moment last forever. No family messes, no dangerous missions, nothing else. Just the two of them, right here, for the rest of time.

It took a while before James finally let go. He stepped back, eyes a little red, but he managed a small smile.

“Come on, let’s eat cake.”

He picked up the cake, grabbed Emmy’s hand, and led her to the dining room. Emmy followed, smiling at the strong, broad back in front of her. She couldn’t help it.

At the table, James picked up the cake knife and hovered, hesitating for ages. Emmy watched him, confused.

“What’s wrong?”

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