The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 198

That night, Nova planned to lock her bedroom door and make up a makeshift bed for him—just a blanket and a pillow, right by the front door.

She wasn’t about to let her guard down, not even with him asleep. This man was simply not to be trusted, awake or otherwise.

As Nova reached to grab Holden’s jacket, his wallet slipped out and fell to the floor. A photograph fluttered out from inside.

Nova froze, her eyes landing squarely on the girl in the picture.

For a split second, her pupils trembled. She clapped a hand over her mouth in disbelief.

It was her best friend—the one she’d grown up with, as close as a sister.

Last year, after a bad breakup, she’d taken her own life.

...

The next morning, at exactly ten o’clock, Ramona arrived at Holt Group right on time.

Her shares had been verified; from this day forward, she held the highest authority in the company.

Before even setting foot in the building, she’d reserved the top-floor boardroom and arranged for the press to receive a headline-grabbing tip the night before.

Jotham received Ramona’s email notification and, though surprised, he understood. Ramona had every right to be upset after being deceived by him for so long. Now that she was back at Holt Group, she’d naturally want to make her presence felt. After all, her new position now far outranked his.

Jotham instructed his assistant to prepare Ramona’s favorite drink, personally booked a table at her preferred restaurant, and even arranged a little surprise. He was looking forward to a fresh start, just the two of them.

But when the boardroom doors opened, a slender yet commanding figure stepped in against the light, instantly drawing every eye in the room.

“Ramona…” Jotham rose to his feet, ready to greet her, but the woman who walked in bore little resemblance to the reunion he’d imagined.

She wore a crisp, mint-green skirt suit. Her long hair fell in sleek waves over her shoulder, every detail polished and deliberate. Behind her were two sharp-suited lawyers carrying briefcases, and a uniformed court officer with a stack of official documents.

There she stood—a woman whose face he knew as intimately as his own, every feature etched into his memory. And yet, at this moment, Jotham felt as if he were looking at a stranger.

Was it just his imagination?

When had Ramona become so dazzling, so out of reach?

“Good morning, everyone. I’m Ramona. I assume all of you are already aware of the recent changes in company ownership. I won’t take up too much of your time. After a few important announcements, you’ll be free to go.”

Ramona strode past Jotham without so much as a glance, ignoring Griffin, who sat at the head of the table, clearly expecting a respectful greeting.

She stopped at the chair reserved for the company’s lead, but didn’t sit. Instead, she nodded to her lawyer.

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