Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 404

Dean couldn’t help but think it was all just too ridiculous.

How could life twist itself into knots like this?

Growing up, his dad used to tell him stories about a little girl from the mountains. Back then, those stories were the only bit of light in his otherwise bleak childhood.

He always knew his dad resented his mom. When he was younger, Dean had even joined in, blindly following his father’s lead without knowing any better.

It was Emmy who changed him. Bit by bit, with her warmth and patience, she helped him see his mother differently, helped him open his heart again.

But in the end, that so-called light—the one he’d clung to so dearly—turned out to be the one who destroyed his mother.

And now his father wanted him to just let it go.

“So that’s it? My mom just dies for nothing?” Dean’s voice was rough, dry, almost cracking.

Ben didn’t say anything right away. He just reached into his briefcase and calmly set a small red booklet on the coffee table.

“I was waiting for the right moment to tell you,” Ben said quietly. “But now, if I wait any longer, I’m afraid you’ll do something stupid.”

Dean’s eyes dropped to the booklet. The red cover felt like it was burning a hole through him.

A marriage certificate.

He picked it up and flipped it open.

His father’s name. Claudia’s name.

“Dad!” Dean’s head shot up, his eyes bloodshot. “Mom hasn’t even been gone a year. How could you—”

Ben’s face barely moved. There was something settled in his expression, almost peaceful.

“Even if your mother were still alive, I would have divorced her. I was always going to marry the woman I actually loved. That’s what life is about. Going after love.”

He looked right at Dean, and there was no room for argument.

“Evelina is your stepsister now. Not only will you drop this grudge, you’ll protect her for me.”

Dean let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “You’ve lost it. You really have. Claudia is poison—”

A slap cut him off, sharp and sudden.

Ben stood over him, cold and unyielding.

“Claudia is your stepmother now. Whatever she did, she did to survive. She’s still the kindest person I know. If I ever hear you talk about her like that again, I’ll take Sparrow Group away from you and give it to Evelina instead.”

Dean’s face stung. He pressed his tongue to the inside of his cheek, a bitter smile spreading.

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