The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 147

Ramona didn’t take offense. She knew this was just how Wisteria was. She could also see that something was off with Wisteria’s expression; she must have noticed Yancey approaching. Wisteria cared deeply about him, and being seen like this would no doubt be mortifying.

“I’m not just taking your side,” Ramona said softly, stepping protectively in front of Wisteria, “but tonight is my family’s dinner, and as the hostess, it’s my responsibility to mediate any conflicts.”

She turned to Wisteria with a gentle smile. “Would you do me the honor of letting me take you to change into something else?”

Ramona’s warm approach left Wisteria with little room to object. She nodded quietly—she wanted nothing more than to get away from this scene.

Now that Ramona had stepped in, Mr. and Mrs. Huxley kept their opinions to themselves, but Solenne wasn’t about to let things slide.

“She slapped me in front of everyone, and now she just gets to walk away?” Solenne’s eyes filled with tears as she raised her voice, drawing the attention of more onlookers. “Ramona, how can you take Wisteria’s side like this? Isn’t that just bullying me?”

It was true that being the one slapped made Solenne look like the victim. Few had seen her throw her drink at Wisteria, but everyone had witnessed Wisteria’s fiery retort to her father. Solenne clearly wanted to humiliate Wisteria and drag Ramona down with her.

Seeing Solenne try to pin the blame on Ramona, Ethan, who had intended to stay out of it, finally stepped forward, pushing through the crowd.

Solenne’s eyes lit up when she spotted him, but her excitement quickly faded under the icy chill of Ethan’s gaze.

Why did Ethan always appear whenever Ramona did? She’d only even bothered to come tonight after hearing the Jordons would be here, just for a chance to see him…

“She slapped you, you threw your drink on her. Sounds even to me. How is that bullying?” Ethan’s cool, clear voice cut through the tension, sending a chill down Solenne’s spine.

The moment Ethan and the Jordon family arrived, the crowd instinctively parted. Even Mr. and Mrs. Huxley lost their composure.

Faye gently pulled Solenne back. “That’s enough, Solenne. Wisteria is your sister. A little squabble between siblings is normal. Try to be reasonable.”

Solenne opened her mouth to protest, but the steely, hawk-like intensity of Ethan’s eyes made her shrink back. She bit her lip, feeling utterly wronged, but didn’t dare say another word.

“Mr. Huxley, is this how you discipline your daughters at home? Favoring one’s feelings over fairness?” Ethan’s voice was steady and cold. “And let’s not forget, tonight is the Covington family’s dinner. As a guest, causing such a scene is a bit out of line, don’t you think?”

The engagement between them had been kept hush-hush. Even the engagement party had only included family and a handful of powerful insiders; most people hadn’t heard a thing. This particular guest had only heard the rumor just before attending tonight’s dinner.

After all, the Covingtons might be the wealthiest family in Havencrest City, but the Jordon Group was a whole other league. Why would the two families suddenly be dining together?

The Huxleys, for their part, were completely in the dark. While they’d worked with the Covingtons before, most of the contact had been with Melinda, and they’d barely even met Benedict. Since Ramona had joined the Covington Group, Melinda had pulled back even further. So it was no wonder the Huxleys had missed the news.

Solenne felt as if someone had pulled the ground out from under her. Her knees buckled, and she almost collapsed.

“Ramona? Why her…?” her voice trembled, heart breaking. The man she’d secretly loved for so long—if he couldn’t be with her, at the very least he should have chosen someone worthy, someone from a family like Miss Nadia’s, with generations of prestige and class. Not Ramona—a brash, illegitimate daughter with nothing but her pride.

Faye quickly caught her, offering quiet comfort. “Sweetheart, don’t take it so hard… Maybe this is just fate. What isn’t meant for you can’t be forced.”

She understood her daughter’s heartbreak. Ever since Solenne had met Ethan, no one else had ever measured up. Now that Ethan was truly engaged, maybe it was finally time for her to let go.