Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1

“I’m sorry. The artificial insemination didn’t work this time, either.”

Emmy Lincoln held the test results in her hands, her fingertips numb with cold. She’d lost track of how many times she’d heard those words.

She’d been married for seven years.. The entire Sparrow family was waiting for her to give them a kid, but her body never showed the slightest sign of hope.

She and her husband Dean Sparrow had tried everything—timed intimacy, strange folk remedies, IVF, surgeries. Nothing ever worked.

She was turning to knock on her doctor’s office door when voices drifted out from inside.

“Poor Mrs. Sparrow… her uterus is so damaged now. She’s just hurting herself at this point.”

“Poor? Please. You know her husband doesn’t even want a kid. She could try a hundred more times, and it’s still pointless.”

The words hit Emmy like a slap. Her hand froze in midair.

Dean… doesn’t want her to get pregnant?

*

On autopilot, Emmy made her way home and curled up on the bed. The early summer sun poured into the room, warm and golden, but she couldn’t stop shivering.

Suddenly, the mattress dipped next to her, the smell of whiskey and cologne washing over her.

Dean slid in behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist. His hand slipped easily under the silk of her nightgown, confident and familiar.

“Miss me?” His lips brushed the back of her neck, voice low and teasing.

His touch could still make her body tremble, but her heart only grew colder.

He knew she’d gone to the hospital today for the results, but he hadn’t even asked.

“I didn’t get pregnant. Again.” Her voice was rough and small.

Dean’s hand paused for a second. After a beat, he spoke, cool and unreadable. “Alright. It’s been hard.”

“I have to go on a two-month business trip. Take care of yourself. Have the housekeeper make you some soup.”

Then he kissed her, deep and demanding, tasting of alcohol and something she couldn’t name.

Emmy tried to resist, but she never stood a chance. She just let him take whatever he wanted.

He was always gentle, never rough with her. Afterwards, he’d carry her to the bathroom, clean her up, bring her back to bed, and hold her until she fell asleep.

It was exactly the same as a thousand nights before—close, tender, perfect on the surface. Anyone looking at them would think they were the happiest couple in the world.

Dean’s breathing soon evened out beside her, but Emmy stared up at the ceiling, wide awake.

Her eyes drifted to the briefcase Dean had tossed on the couch.

In seven years, she’d never once looked through his things. She trusted him that much.

But tonight, watching him sleep, she got up quietly and crossed the room.

A few minutes later, her fingers found something under a pile of urgent documents. It’s a blister pack of white pills.

Birth control.

Emmy stared at it, stunned.

She’d never taken any herself; she was trying so hard to get pregnant, after all. She’d only seen them once at a friend’s house, and her friends had joked she’d never need them, not with how much Dean adored her.

The joke was on her now. Even after all the hints at the hospital, it still felt like her heart had cracked wide open.

A man who’s supposed to be trying for a baby, carrying birth control. What else could that mean?

Was he cheating?

Or...

Suddenly, Emmy remembered how Dean always told the housekeeper to make her soup.

A chill swept over her, head to toe.

Her hands shook as she reached into his bag, and a photo slipped out from an inner pocket. The edges were worn, like someone had held it a thousand times.

In the picture, a young Dean was smiling, sunlight in his eyes, his arm around a girl pressed close to his side.

“What are you doing?”

Suddenly, the door crashed open with a bang.

Smoke poured into the hallway. A tall, broad-shouldered man ran in.

For a split second, past and present blurred together. Emmy reached out instinctively.

“Dean…” Save me.

This was Dean from seven years ago. His features were still young, less hardened by time, but the sharpness was already there.

“Don’t be scared. I’ll get you out of here.”

His voice was urgent, familiar, still edged with that old confidence.

She thought he would run straight to her, just like before. He’d hold her close, whisper that she was safe.

But...

Dean’s gaze landed on her for just a second.

Just one second.

Then, without looking back, he strode right past her.

He went straight to Evelina, scooped her up, and carried her out.

He didn’t even glance at Emmy as he passed, just tossed over his shoulder, “Keep up.”

Then he disappeared into the smoke, carrying Evelina, not looking back once.

Emmy’s hand hung frozen in the air.

Her heart went cold, colder than it had ever been.

Her ankle was hurt. She couldn’t run.

Dean had left her behind. Left her to die in Evelina’s place.