The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 255

Just then, his phone rang. It was Jennifer Lawson.

Seeing her name, Jotham’s expression darkened, and he immediately declined the call.

Jennifer calling him now could only be about one thing: Brianna. Brianna and Jennifer were thick as thieves. Throughout his relationship with Brianna, Jennifer was the only person she would turn to whenever they had the slightest disagreement.

Though Jennifer claimed to be a peacemaker, every conversation with her felt like a moral lecture, filled with guilt trips and accusations. Over time, Jotham had grown to despise seeing her.

A call from her now could only mean trouble about the divorce.

Jennifer didn't persist. When Jotham didn't answer, she didn't call back.

But a moment later, Jotham's phone buzzed with a notification from a group chat where someone had tagged him.

It was a former dorm mate from college, planning a birthday celebration and inviting him to join them for dinner that night.

After Ramona had exposed his and Brianna’s scandal, Jotham had left nearly all his alumni groups. He had only remained in two small, interconnected dorm chats for gaming buddies. This particular group was almost always silent; he had nearly forgotten it existed.

Seeing the message, Jotham was about to leave the group, but then a private message from the same person popped up.

"Jotham, you should come out tonight. I just got married, and I miss everyone."

Jotham’s finger hovered over the screen. He quickly made a transfer as a wedding gift.

"Congratulations on your marriage."

After sending the message, he was about to type out an excuse to decline.

But the friend immediately sent a wedding photo. "Jotham, do you remember? My wife used to be deskmates with Ramona. I asked Ramona to introduce us back then, and that’s how we met. We never got together before graduation, but fate is a funny thing. We both ended up abroad, working at the same company, and the rest is history."

Reading this, a flicker of interest ignited in Jotham's eyes. He remembered. Shortly after he and Ramona started dating, this guy was always pestering Ramona to set him up.

Ramona was the campus goddess, so he assumed all her friends were goddesses too.

At the time, Ramona had a regular deskmate in one of her classes, and she had introduced them once. But nothing seemed to come of it, and the matter was forgotten.

Jotham snorted. Fate?

Indeed, everything in this world was governed by fate. Some connections were blessings, while others were curses.

The couple had been living abroad and had only just returned for a family visit after their wedding, so they were likely unaware of the situation with him and Brianna. Or perhaps they were just pretending not to know.

Either way, his friend enthusiastically invited both him and Ramona to the party. He even said his wife was eager to see Ramona again.

Holden had been in a foul mood for days. He had been repeatedly thwarted by Ramona, and now Melinda was treating him coldly, no longer entrusting him with important tasks. He had been reduced to a figurehead vice president, going through the motions…

On top of that, what Ramona had told him earlier continued to haunt him. He had been secretly investigating his parents' past, but so much time had passed that any official records he found were practically useless. He felt adrift, more lost about his own life than ever before.

Nova's appearance was a welcome distraction. Remembering Wisteria's figure from that morning and the look on Nova's face, he felt a familiar heat rise within him.

Half an hour later, Nova's car pulled up to a lavish hotel in the city center. She walked briskly inside on her high heels, her petite yet curvaceous figure swaying gracefully, an alluring sight.

Holden had already parked his car across the street. From his vantage point, Nova looked like a completely different person.

At the office, she always wore casual sweaters with her hair in a long ponytail or occasionally down around her shoulders. Her youthful, simple style, combined with her sweet face, made her look like an innocent college student.

Holden had never imagined she could transform into such a siren. A mix of sexy and pure, with a stubborn streak, but ultimately, a soft little rabbit.

What man could resist that?

Holden licked his lips, loosened his tie, paid for parking, and strode into the hotel after her.

Seeing Nova enter a private dining room, Holden was almost certain she was there for business.