The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 117

“Are you up? Breakfast is at your door. Don’t forget to grab it.”

Ramona saw the message and hurried to open her door. Sure enough, a sleek black thermal carafe sat on the welcome mat.

Inside, she found an assortment of delicate pastries, a steaming bowl of nourishing soup, and a few other drinks—freshly pressed juice and creamy milk, all carefully packed in the house’s insulated containers. It was obvious these were made by Ethan’s private chef.

Warmth spread through her chest. She quickly typed a reply: “Got it, thank you! Have you had breakfast yet?”

She wanted to ask more—why hadn’t he stayed the night? Was he busy today? But after typing and retyping, she ended up sending only that one line.

Ethan’s reply came almost instantly: “Already ate. Things are hectic right now. Let’s talk later.”

Ramona stared at the screen, her longer message erased, replaced by a simple “Okay” and a small emoji.

Ethan set his phone down, only then turning to face the woman who had barged into his office.

“Ms. Shepard,” he said coldly, “Jordon Group policy doesn’t allow unscheduled visits to my office. If you show up without an appointment again, I’ll reconsider all existing business with the Shepard family.”

His voice was icy, his body relaxed in the chair, not even bothering to look at her.

Nadia Shepard’s eyes were rimmed red. Ash and a pair of security guards stood by the door, unsure if they should forcibly remove her.

The Shepard family and the Jordon family were currently collaborating on a big project, so Nadia had her own access badge. Technically, she and Ethan were old acquaintances. Whenever she needed something urgent and couldn’t reach him, she’d always just come to his office.

In the past, Ethan’s reactions had been indifferent but never harsh, and his staff had always treated her with courtesy.

“Ethan, why did you delete me? How can you be so heartless? What did I even do wrong? After everything she’s done to you, can’t you see what kind of woman she is?”

Nadia was beside herself. She’d messaged Ethan several times the night before, only to wake up and discover she’d been blocked.

“Enough,” Ethan snapped, his sudden gaze so sharp that Nadia shivered. She had never seen him look at her like that; her heart plummeted.

“You two, out,” he ordered.

Ash took the hint and quickly ushered the others from the office, leaving Ethan and Nadia alone.

“Who gave you permission to have her followed?” Ethan’s tone was lethal.

“Fine, I’ll leave right now. I won’t investigate her again, and the photos will be deleted this instant!”

With her family’s future at stake, Nadia had no choice but to back down.

She burst into tears, covering her face as she fled the office.

Ash, seeing her like that, felt a twinge of sympathy.

After a long silence, Ash returned, intending to ask if Ethan needed help smoothing things over. Before he could speak, Ethan said calmly,

“From now on, don’t let Nadia into my office without my approval. And when this project with the Shepard family is finished, make sure everyone knows, we’re done working with them. Permanently.”

Everyone knew the Jordon and Shepard families had always been close. Ethan and Nadia’s relationship had always been… complicated.

Ash had assumed that, no matter what happened, Ethan would never truly cut Nadia off. He never imagined Ethan could be this ruthless.

Was it cold-bloodedness—or was it that the more he cared, the less he could let go?