The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 215

It wasn’t like Ethan to go a whole day without contacting her.

In desperation, she tried calling Ash, dialing his number several times with no answer. An hour later, a text from him finally came through:

[So sorry, Miss Jarrett, I was busy just now. Mr. Jordon has been delayed by an urgent matter and won’t be able to return for a little while. He’s also unable to contact you at the moment. I’ll have him call you personally as soon as he’s free.]

Despite the message, the worried frown on Ramona’s face didn’t ease.

Something was wrong. Ethan had said he was coming back today. Even if he was delayed, he would have told her himself. Was it something serious? Something that kept him too busy to even send a quick text?

Ramona stared at the ten missed calls and multiple unread messages she had sent to Ethan, the unease growing into a heavy dread. When she tried texting Ash again for more information, he didn’t reply.

She knew she shouldn’t keep pestering him if it was a serious work issue, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. She tossed and turned all night, her mind racing.

She woke before dawn, the first thing she did was check her phone for a message. But the chat window with Ethan remained one-sided, her last messages unanswered.

After an agonizing wait, she called Ash again at eight o’clock sharp. He didn’t pick up. It wasn’t until she had arrived at the Covington Group building that another text from Ash came through, nearly identical to the one from the night before.

Fed up, she called him directly. After several rings, he finally answered, his voice a hushed, nervous whisper. “Miss Jarrett…”

“Where is Ethan?” Ramona asked, her patience worn thin. “Why hasn’t he responded to any of my messages? Did something happen?” Even if he was busy, a simple “I’m okay” would have taken seconds.

“He’s…” Ash paused. “Mr. Jordon is in an emergency meeting. It’s been going on since yesterday. His phone… it broke yesterday. I’ll have him call you back later. Please, Miss Jarrett, don’t worry.”

Ramona felt a prickle of suspicion. Ash’s tone was off.

“His phone broke?”

The messages flew back and forth, all expressing concern for Ramona.

Was Ethan back with Nadia? What would Ramona do?

Already on edge about Ethan, Ramona’s heart sank as she clicked the link. Five photos filled the screen. She recognized Ethan instantly. It was him and Nadia. There were shots of them getting into the same car, standing close outside a hotel at night, and in the mountains, a picture where it looked like he was holding her hand. The photos were grainy, clearly taken from a distance like paparazzi shots, but they painted a picture of intimacy.

Ramona’s hand trembled as she reread the headline: “Nadia Shepard’s New Charity Project with Mystery CEO in the Mountains Sparks Rumors of Rekindled Romance.”

The internet had been buzzing with speculation about the ex who had supposedly caused Nadia’s career hiatus and emotional decline. This article, with its tantalizing photos of Ethan, was pouring fuel on the fire. Ethan rarely made public appearances, and Jordon Group maintained a low profile, so any glimpse of him was a major event. This, combined with Nadia’s story, was a gossip columnist's dream.

And Ethan was undeniably handsome. Even in the blurry photos, his tall frame and striking profile were enough to outshine any movie star, and the internet was going wild. While some criticized Nadia for being boy-crazy and throwing away her career for a man, many more were swooning over her mystery man, declaring that they could understand her obsession.