The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 130

“Nothing?” Liliane’s voice rose, trembling with a raspy edge. “Ramona, you can’t say things like that. You’re married! Even if you want a divorce, you can’t just decide that on your own. Our family has to agree!”

“That’s right, I do want a divorce from Jotham. But there’s no need to make it so complicated. We can just go our separate ways.”

Ramona hadn’t planned to confront the Holt family so soon—her payback against Jotham wasn’t finished yet. But judging by Griffin’s attitude, there was no way she’d get shares in Holt Group without a fight, and she was tired of the family’s constant meddling. She might as well draw a clear line with Jotham now.

“Ramona, what are you talking about?” Liliane’s voice grew shrill with disbelief. “I know you’re upset, but divorce isn’t something you just say in the heat of the moment!”

She was so agitated she banged her hand against the table, the sound echoing through the speaker.

Winnie, however, dismissed it with a roll of her eyes, convinced Ramona was once again putting on a show. After the whole debacle with Brianna, Ramona was obviously sulking, trying to play hard to get with their family.

“Ramona, just how greedy can you get? Marrying into the Holt family is more luck than you could ever hope for! Life as a society wife has apparently gone to your head. You expect your mother-in-law and sister-in-law to grovel for your forgiveness? Now you want 50% of Holt Group’s shares? What’s next? Do you want Jotham to get down on his knees and beg you?”

Winnie’s rant was cut short by Jotham’s voice.

“Ramona, you’re really crossing the line now. I’ve let a lot slide, but now you’re actually talking about divorce? If that’s what you really want, then so be it.”

But Ramona had already hung up before Jotham could finish. She hadn’t listened to a word he said.

Jotham’s jaw tightened, veins bulging at his temples. “Ramona!”

Her earlier talk about not even needing a divorce had startled him for a second. But on second thought, there was no way Ramona could know their marriage was a sham.

Otherwise, with no assets of her own, how could she dare walk away?

Winnie was right—Ramona was just being unreasonable, using the Brianna situation as leverage, trying to force him to apologize and make the Holt family pay up.

Liliane couldn’t believe she’d just offered Ramona such an easy way out, only to be met with utter disrespect and threats of divorce. She sat frozen, stunned even after the call ended.

“Has Ramona lost her mind? Does she really want to divorce you?”

“Grandma, don’t be upset. Ramona’s just blowing off steam. She didn’t mean any of it.”

Jotham, still fuming, hurried to comfort Liliane, worried the stress might be too much for her.

Jotham, uneasy, nodded a greeting to his father. He’d failed to accomplish what Griffin had asked of him before leaving.

But Griffin seemed to be in a good mood and said nothing, instead sitting down beside Liliane.

“Mom, you don’t need to worry about the company. I’ve already landed a top-tier investor. Even without Ramona, even if Holt Group lost anyone else, as long as we have this new backer, there’s no need to worry about going public.”

Griffin’s words sent a ripple of excitement through Winnie and Liliane.

“Is it Mr. Wallace?” Winnie asked eagerly. She remembered Griffin had several powerful contacts, but none more successful than Mr. Wallace, whose real estate empire had boomed in recent years.

“Mr. Wallace?” Griffin gave a dismissive snort, drumming his fingers lightly on the armrest. “He’s a big fish in his own pond, but next to our new investor, he wouldn’t even make a decent assistant.”

His gaze swept over Winnie and Liliane, then settled on Jotham, his tone turning slightly challenging.

“Jotham, you tell them. In Havencrest City, who really calls the shots in the business world? Which family holds all the power?”