The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 101

Jotham Holt had planned to make things quick, but the moment he opened the bedroom door, he was caught off guard by a woman throwing herself into his arms.

“Brianna…”

He was just about to step aside, but Brianna’s lips found his, trailing down from his cheek with practiced ease. Before he could react, she had deftly unbuttoned his shirt, her warm mouth searching out the places she knew drove him mad.

Tonight, Brianna wore a nearly sheer red slip dress, every detail from her lingerie to her stockings tailored to Jotham’s preferences.

Even as he tried to keep his distance, forcing reason to the front, his body betrayed him. She knew exactly how to push his buttons.

“Don’t— I need to take Milo home…”

“He’s still asleep. Just a little while, Jotham. It’s been so long since you stayed with me…”

Brianna’s breathless words whispered against his ear, and before he could answer, she pressed her lips to his, urgent and hungry.

Jotham had been bottling up his frustration for days, and now desire surged through him, too strong to deny. With a furrowed brow, he swept Brianna from the doorway, tumbling with her onto the bed.

For all Brianna’s outward poise, she was utterly seductive once the clothes came off—a heady temptation he’d never quite been able to resist.

But Ramona was different. She was beautiful, alluring, every gesture and smile full of invitation, yet at her core she was pure. Sometimes, Jotham found himself wanting her, but the innocence in her eyes always stopped him cold.

Now, even as he gripped Brianna’s throat, Ramona’s face haunted his mind. The thought of Ramona stirred him more, a rush of heat flooding his veins—

“Ah! Jotham, stop, that hurts… I can’t take it!”

Brianna suddenly cried out, pushing him away in pain.

Jotham was usually gentle with her, but tonight his movements had been rough, almost violent, as if she were nothing but an outlet for his frustration.

Her cry snapped him back to reality. He realized with a jolt that he’d actually hurt her.

And she was bleeding—more than just a little.

“I’m sorry. Are you in a lot of pain?”

“What do you think? What’s gotten into you tonight?”

Brianna could barely stand, her legs shaky as she tried to get up.

Guilt washed over Jotham, and without a second thought he drove Brianna to the hospital for treatment, both of them bundled up in hats and masks to avoid being recognized in the dead of night. The entire neighborhood was quiet; no one seemed to notice them.

But Jotham didn’t realize that as soon as his car pulled away, another vehicle nearby started its engine and followed. Inside were Liliane’s people. The passenger checked the photos on his camera—blurry, but clear enough to make out a woman.

Because his mind was still full of Ramona.

Earlier, as he was paying at the hospital, he’d noticed a new luxury health checkup package on his medical account. He’d never purchased it himself, so he asked the staff and found out Ramona had bought it for him a month ago.

He remembered how, a while back, he’d been working so hard that he skipped meals for days, then landed in the hospital with a stomach spasm from drinking too much at work events. Ramona had been frantic with worry, and ever since, she insisted on accompanying him to every business dinner, drinking on his behalf until she could outdrink him. She even scheduled his regular checkups, always making the appointments herself and dragging him along.

Thinking of all this, a warm ache settled in Jotham’s chest. He missed having Ramona by his side more than ever.

...

The following evening, at a banquet hall.

Jotham had rushed over after a call from a business contact. He was hoping to secure an important contract, and tonight was the dinner meeting.

Just as he entered the private dining suite, he caught sight of Ramona in a delicate lilac cocktail dress, her crystal-studded purse swinging at her side as she stepped into a nearby VIP room.

Earlier that day, Florence had called to invite Ramona; the Jordon family was hosting a small family dinner. Shelby Whitaker’s relatives had come to Havencrest City for a visit.

Shelby’s family ran one of the country’s top business conglomerates, though their operations were based out of state.