The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 161

Jotham's brow tightened, and he fell silent.

"What? You're hesitating now?" Winnie abruptly sat up. Her usually vibrant face looked truly haggard for once.

She grabbed Jotham's hand, her grip desperate. "If you had to choose between your mother and Brianna, would you really pick her?"

"Mom, please, why are you saying things like this?" Jotham rushed to calm his mother down, though he knew how quick-tempered and extreme she could be. The last thing he wanted was for her to get even more upset.

"I know Brianna has her issues with you. But don't worry, I'll talk to her and try to smooth things over," he promised.

"Smooth things over? That woman hates me with every fiber of her being! She'd be thrilled to see me drop dead from anger. If she actually listened to anything you said, would I be in this state? Would she have dragged your business into the family’s sightlines, airing all your dirty laundry?"

Winnie's words, harsh as they were, hit Jotham right where it hurt.

She wasn’t wrong. On the surface, he and Brianna looked like a harmonious little family. But ever since she’d betrayed him and used that to threaten him, a rift had formed—one that trust alone couldn’t bridge.

These days, Jotham worked late almost every night, rarely spending time at the old house with Brianna. At most, he stopped by for dinner and to see Milo. If his mother hadn’t called him today, he probably wouldn’t have come at all.

Ten years together, and for the first time, Jotham felt utterly exhausted—stifled by her presence, desperate to get away.

Yet, out of duty, out of promises, and maybe even gratitude for the past, he couldn’t just walk away from Brianna.

Maybe that’s how relationships go: every couple has their rough patches, and you just have to weather them.

But Winnie's words made him falter. If he divorced Brianna... would that mean he could start over with Ramona?

The idea flickered for only a moment before Jotham caught himself.

"The company is at a critical stage right now..."

"I'm talking about after the company goes public!" Winnie cut him off, her eyes shining with hope. Her voice softened, turning tender. "Son, trust me, you and Brianna will never be happy together. She can’t even raise your child right. Even if the company ends up in your hands, as long as she’s with you, the family will fall apart sooner or later."

"You must see it by now. She’s not as gentle and understanding as she pretends to be. She’ll do anything to get her way. If she can betray you once, what’s to stop her from doing something even worse?"

Every word struck home. Jotham managed to soothe his mother, keeping her emotions in check, but inside, he was anything but calm.

Jotham took Milo's small hand, his voice firm. "Didn’t I tell you not to play with the pistol in the house? Not to point it at people?"

"...You did," Milo mumbled, shrinking back at the coldness in Jotham’s tone.

Jotham held him fast. "If you know the rule and keep breaking it, shouldn’t there be consequences?"

Milo’s eyes darted nervously to Brianna, silently begging for rescue.

Brianna rushed over. "Alright, just promise your dad you won’t do it again, okay?" she said lightly, reaching to take Milo away.

"It’s exactly because you always let him off the hook that he feels he can do whatever he pleases," Jotham snapped, not giving her the chance. He kept a tight hold on Milo’s arm and delivered a sharp smack to his palm.

Milo had never been disciplined so harshly before. Terrified, and with Jotham’s hand much heavier than expected, he burst into tears.

"How dare you hit him!" Brianna cried, her heart breaking for her son. She rushed forward, trying to pull Milo away.

But Jotham, now angry himself, scooped Milo up and marched over to the sofa, pinning him down and landing a couple more hard swats on his backside.