Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 72

“I’m sorry, Emmy, this is all my fault!” Evelina’s voice shook as she grabbed Dean’s arm, her eyes swimming with tears. “Please don’t be mad. We’ll leave right now.”

She set the gift box down and took the two-tier cake from Dean, placing it carefully on the table.

“We’re going now. Please… at least eat your cake. Happy birthday.” Her words tumbled out in a rush before she pulled Dean, stiff and silent, out of the office.

As soon as the door closed, Emmy’s hand flew up. With one furious swipe, she sent the cake and the gift box crashing to the floor. The sharp noise echoed off the walls. Cream, fruit, and the blue velvet box scattered everywhere, turning the floor into a sticky mess.

Suddenly, Emmy felt like all the strength in her body had been sucked out. She slid to the ground, completely drained. Tears streamed down her cheeks, wild and unstoppable, as if she’d been holding them in for years.

That slap hadn’t just left a mark on her face. It shattered every bit of armor she’d built up since her second chance at life. She didn’t care about Dean’s choice anymore; that heartbreak was already numb. What hurt now was the humiliation, the injustice. She hated him for making her feel this small.

For over twenty years, no one had ever dared lay a finger on her. So why now? Why did it have to be him—the man who once treated her like she was made of glass, who never even raised his voice at her? The shame of it cut deeper than anything she’d ever known.

Somewhere in her daze, a sharp, acrid smell crept in, overpowering the sugary scent of the ruined cake. Emmy blinked away tears and saw thick, black smoke pouring from the ceiling vent.

Her heart skipped. She scrambled to stand but slipped on the cake, crashing hard to the floor. Pain shot through her ankle, sharp and blinding.

Outside, people were screaming.

“Fire! There’s a fire! Get out, now!”

Someone flung open her office door, shouting, “Ms. Lincoln! There’s a fire—” But when they saw the flames licking up outside, they screamed, turned, and ran.

The heavy office doors slid shut, locking her in.

Dean’s eyes went wide. Emmy was still inside.

His heart pounded. Without thinking, he turned to rush back in.

“Dean!” Evelina grabbed his arm tight. “Don’t! Don’t do anything crazy!”

She pointed at the steady stream of people pouring out the stairwell. “Look, everyone’s getting out! Emmy’s on the third floor—she can make it too! The fire’s spreading so fast. If you go in there, you might not make it out. Let’s call the fire department first!”

Dean stared at the growing flames, torn. His hands shook as he pulled out his phone. He barely managed to punch in 911 before sirens started wailing—already close, getting louder by the second.

“How are they here so fast?” Dean muttered, still in shock.