The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 238

“What did you say?” Melinda was stunned. “You haven’t even acted yet?”

Could it be that what happened to Ethan was just a freak accident?

“I’ll handle it. But I’m warning you, you don’t give me orders.”

The man hung up.

Melinda was left fuming, unable to catch her breath. They were mercenaries, a force she couldn't fully control, but they couldn't treat her like a fool. They had taken her money and her information. How could they let Ethan return unharmed?

Just as she was about to smash something else on her desk, a message came through from an overseas number. It seemed that, for the sake of the money, they had decided to offer an explanation.

Ethan’s accident on the border had made him inaccessible. The Jordon family had arrived with a formidable security team, making it impossible to get close. They would have to wait for another opportunity.

They assured her, however, that since they had taken the job and since the target was Zadkiel’s son, they would see it through. They would wait for the right moment after he returned to the country.

But this news only worsened her mood. She had wanted it done while he was out of the country precisely to avoid any complications in Havencrest City.

“Mom.”

Holden’s voice cut through her thoughts. He had opened the door without knocking, startling her.

“Who told you to come in? Didn’t you knock?” Melinda snapped.

“I knocked for a long time. I heard crashing inside and thought something had happened to you…” Holden’s gaze swept over the mess on the floor before settling on the phone on her desk.

“What do you want?” Melinda asked irritably, slumping into her chair and taking a deep breath to calm herself.

“Yancey’s back.”

Holden’s voice was soft, with a barely concealed note of amusement.

But Melinda was too preoccupied to notice. Her eyes, which had just closed, shot open.

“What did you say?”

She knew Yancey wouldn't be detained for long. The Loring family’s tactics were petty; they could inconvenience him, but that was all. Even without her intervention, Fenton would have eventually paid them off, and Yancey would have been released. But she hadn't expected it to be so soon. She had deliberately provoked the Lorings, hoping to prolong their conflict with Fenton.

Winnie had been crying all day, with Eulalia complaining beside her. When Jotham and Brianna finally arrived, she lunged at Brianna. “You bitch! Our family is in this mess because of you! How dare you show your face here?”

“Watch your mouth, Eulalia. I’m your sister-in-law! And besides, the person responsible for all this is Ramona, not me!” Brianna shot back, her own mood souring at the unprovoked attack. She glared at Eulalia, her expression so fierce it made Eulalia flinch.

“Sister-in-law? You’ve got some nerve! If you hadn’t been seducing my brother for years, leading him on while he was married, and giving him terrible advice for the company, do you think Ramona would have had the chance to strike? One bitch in this family was bad enough, but now we have you, a useless, scheming…”

SLAP!

Before Eulalia could finish, Brianna’s hand connected with her cheek. She had put all her strength into it, and her own palm stung from the impact.

Eulalia was stunned, tears instantly welling in her eyes. Then she erupted. “Brianna! I’m going to kill you!”

She had yelled at Ramona like this before, but Ramona had never laid a hand on her. Who the hell did Brianna think she was?

The rest of the family, lost in their grief, hadn't been paying attention. They were shocked to see a full-blown fight break out in the hospital room.

“Brianna!” Jotham grabbed her, while Eulalia’s husband, Flynn, restrained his wife.