The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 149

After her conversation with Zadkiel, the dinner party officially began.

Melinda and Fenton came over together, greeting Ramona warmly and ushering the entire Jordon family to the main table.

This was only the second time Ramona had met Melinda, yet Melinda’s attitude was much friendlier than before. She called her “Ramona” and spoke as if they were family, making it clear she recognized Ramona as one of their own, fully representing her side of the family.

But the more effusive Melinda became, the more Ramona’s skin prickled with unease. This felt less like a celebration and more like a trap disguised as a banquet.

Once the hosts had taken their seats, the rest of the invited guests followed suit. Everyone seemed to know their place, quietly waiting for the hosts to speak.

The Covington family had invited quite a few important guests tonight. It was obvious they had an announcement to make.

Though, in truth, many already suspected what it was: the engagement between the Jordons and the Covingtons, and tonight was the perfect opportunity to share the good news with their social circle.

Sure enough, Melinda picked up the microphone and, after a few polite words, got straight to the point.

“Thank you all for joining us tonight. Besides this wonderful gathering, there’s something truly special we want to share with you all.”

She smiled graciously, glancing over at Ethan and Ramona. “My daughter, Ramona Covington, and Mr. Ethan Jordon have recently become engaged.”

A wave of applause burst out across the room. Many guests turned their attention to Ethan and Ramona, their gazes flickering between curiosity, admiration, and calculation.

Not far from the main table, Nadia glanced in Ethan’s direction, though there were too many people in the way for her to actually see him. She hadn’t even wanted to attend tonight. The only reason she was here was because her family’s elders insisted, reminding her that the Shepard family now had business ties with both the Covingtons and the Jordons.

As Melinda spoke, Nadia downed several more glasses of wine.

“From today onward, the Covingtons and the Jordons are one family,” Melinda continued. “We hope that in the business world, our friends, old and new, will continue to support and guide us. Now, why don’t we have our guest of honor, Ramona, come up and say a few words?”

Without warning, Melinda directly called Ramona up to the stage.

Ramona hadn’t prepared anything, but with Melinda’s enthusiastic invitation in front of an entire ballroom, she couldn’t refuse.

She had only just stepped into the center of the room and taken hold of the microphone when a gruff male voice cut her off:

“Miss Ramona? Aren’t you Mrs. Holt? I’m pretty sure I saw you and your husband at a business dinner just last month. You two looked inseparable. So how is it that now you’re the Covington family’s beloved daughter, engaged to Mr. Jordon?”

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