The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 226

Fenton’s grip on the phone tightened, but his voice remained steady. “Yancey? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I should be home by tomorrow night. But what about you? I heard you went to Melinda for help.”

“It’s a long story.” Fenton glanced over his shoulder, knowing he couldn’t speak freely.

Yancey understood. “Dad, don’t do anything. You always said that we Covingtons never yield to threats.”

“I’m not worried about myself, but you…”

“The same goes for me. I don’t want to be a burden to you, and I don’t want my problems to drag down the family or hurt innocent people.”

Yancey’s words gave Fenton the strength he needed. He really was getting old. In his youth, he would have had the same unyielding spirit as his son.

With their minds aligned, Fenton hung up and returned to his seat. He pushed the document forward, refusing to sign.

“Ms. Jarrett hasn't reviewed this report. I need to go over it first. I’ll sign it once I’ve confirmed everything is in order.”

The man across from him scowled. “The drug is scheduled for launch. Do you understand the consequences of delaying this review?”

“I understand them better than you do. I’ll be as quick as I can, and I will take full responsibility for any consequences,” Fenton said, rising to his feet. His gaze swept across the room, leaving no room for argument. “Meeting adjourned.”

...

Back in the hotel suite, Yancey returned the phone to Wisteria.

“Thank you for telling me. Otherwise, the Covington family might have been in serious trouble.”

“Always the Covington family this, the Covington family that. When are you going to start worrying about yourself? Do you even know who was behind what happened to you this time?” Wisteria rolled her eyes.

Yancey was still the same goody-two-shoes as always, his first thought always for others. If he had contacted Fenton earlier, he probably would have just told him not to worry about him.

“The Loring family?” Yancey guessed quietly.

“That’s right. That Halcyon woman. You offended her. But Melinda took care of it for you; the Lorings have their own problems to deal with now. When you get back, you shouldn’t let her off the hook either. Give her a taste of her own medicine and show her that you and the Covingtons are not to be trifled with.”

Wisteria sounded pleased. Melinda’s ruthlessness, when applied in the right places, could be quite satisfying.

“I did embarrass her. It’s only natural she would retaliate.”

In that moment, Yancey’s heart turned to ash.

Later, when she noticed his coldness, she tried to explain, but he refused to listen.

“I thought you didn’t want to hear my explanation. There’s no point in talking about it now,” Wisteria said quietly, not wanting to dredge up old wounds.

Yancey’s voice was firm. “I want to hear it now. Even if it’s pointless, I want to hear it.”

“I… when we were escaping, it was too dark. I grabbed the wrong person. I went back to find you, but by then you were already unconscious…”

When Yancey lost consciousness, it was Wisteria who had carried him out. The Covington family’s people hadn't arrived yet. To save him, Wisteria had been forced to take a large dose of drugs by her ex-boyfriend’s enemies. She had fought to stay conscious, using her last ounce of strength to get Yancey to safety.

But she had been in bad shape herself. While Yancey was being rushed into emergency surgery, she was in another room, having her stomach pumped.

She woke up three days later.

The Huxley family, ashamed of her, had taken her home to recover in seclusion. Her body was weak, and when she learned Yancey was out of danger, she didn’t contact him.