The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 253

"Seeing them in person is a good idea." Ethan agreed, though a hint of disappointment lingered. "We'll have a house, and then we need a wedding. I don't want to make you wait too long."

He had voiced the exact thought Ramona had left unspoken.

A blush crept up her cheeks. The thought of a wedding ceremony filled her with an anticipation she had never felt before.

Even when she was with Jotham and he had suggested forgoing a reception, she had felt nothing, seeing it as a mere formality.

But now she realized that even a formality, when shared with the person you love, could hold all the meaning in the world. She wanted to be a real bride, to be Ethan's most beautiful, happiest bride.

"As long as you focus on getting better, I won't have to wait long at all."

Ramona seized the opportunity to remind him again. He needed to maintain a positive mindset, get plenty of sleep, take his medicine on time, and follow the doctor's orders.

Whether it was because he took her words to heart or because the medication kicked in, it wasn't long after they lay down in bed that Ethan, holding her close, drifted off to sleep.

But the thought of the wedding had left Ramona's nerves buzzing with excitement, and she found herself wide awake.

She didn't move, just lay there quietly, watching him and listening to the rhythm of his breathing.

Gradually, drowsiness began to claim her. But just as her eyes were about to close completely, she heard Ethan murmur something in his sleep.

She immediately placed a hand on his back, which had tensed, trying to soothe him. But then, two familiar words reached her ears.

"...Nadia... don't..."

...

The next day at noon, Covington Group.

When Nova Sawyer pushed open the door to Ramona's office, she found her staring into space.

She had knocked for a while with no answer, but seeing the door slightly ajar, Nova had decided to peek inside.

"Ramona."

It wasn't until Nova was standing right in front of her that Ramona snapped out of her daze. "Oh, give them to me."

Nova had just emailed over a few documents that needed her approval. Ramona quickly reviewed them on the spot before signing each one.

But Nova noticed that Ramona was using her hand to trace the lines as she read—a habit she only had when her concentration was shot.

Nova was observant and sensitive to Ramona's small gestures. After collecting the signed documents, she asked, "Ramona, is everything all right?"

"Oh, I'm fine. Just thinking about something," Ramona said, her expression neutral. She glanced at the time. "By the way, could you go down to the lobby and meet someone for me? She should be arriving any minute. Her last name is Huxley, Wisteria Huxley."

Wisteria, however, lacked her mother's natural talent. No matter how hard she studied, she could never be top of her class.

After graduation, she applied to countless companies in the field, but they all rejected her. Her skills weren't exceptional, and her status as a Huxley heiress made them wary.

Wisteria knew her parents were behind it. They didn't want her to escape their control, so they cut off her career paths, terrified she might achieve something great like her mother had.

But Wisteria knew they were overthinking it. She was nothing like her mother.

After the incident at the store with Yancey and Halcyon, although she wasn't fired, her performance review scores had plummeted. If things continued like this, she would never pass the assessment required to break free from the Huxley family's control.

Covington Group's offer was a lifeline. If she could work there, the Huxleys couldn't touch her, and she might finally have a chance to pass the assessment.

The only thing Wisteria couldn't understand was why Ramona would suddenly help her.

Before calling Wisteria, Ramona had already spoken with the Huxley family. The Huxleys were pragmatic. They couldn't afford to offend Covington Group, so even though Ramona was an illegitimate daughter, they showed her the proper respect.

Besides, they figured Wisteria, whom they had raised to be useless, wouldn't last long at a place like Covington Group anyway. If Ramona wanted to help her, she might just be creating trouble for herself—Yancey was a perfect example. So, they decided to wait and see.

But even though Ramona had given her a solid reason, Wisteria still felt uneasy accepting help from a stranger for no apparent reason.

Ramona, however, was direct. She laid out her terms: Covington Group didn't support slackers. If Wisteria couldn't pass the three-month probationary period, she would be let go.