The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 263

Ethan stopped dead in his tracks.

Wisteria, who had been right behind him, nearly collided with his arm. She followed his gaze and saw the scene unfolding before them.

Ramona was being held by a man who was clearly trying to force some kind of intimate gesture on her, but he was quickly pulled away. More security guards swarmed in, and soon, seven or eight of them were surrounding Jotham, making it impossible for him to break free.

Even in his disheveled state, his clothes nearly torn off, Jotham still struggled, trying to get back to Ramona.

Ramona was shaken. She had never expected Jotham to become so unhinged. He had always been so composed, so concerned with his image. His pride and dignity were the pillars of his existence. How could he have maintained the facade of a perfect husband for so long with a woman he didn't love?

"Jotham, I'm married now. And as for you, I stopped loving you a long time ago."

Ramona's voice was laced with sarcasm, another public slap in the face for Jotham.

A murmur went through the crowd. They looked at Jotham like he was a clown.

Still loves him? It was obvious to anyone with eyes that she felt nothing for him anymore.

Her words were a knife to Jotham's heart. His first instinct was denial. "No! You can't be married! Where would you find someone so quickly... how long have you even known him?"

Even as he said it, a knot of fear tightened in his stomach. He remembered seeing someone who looked like Ramona at the marriage registry office.

But even if it was true... it didn't matter.

"Ramona! Even if you married someone just to spite me, to get revenge, I don't care! Let's call it even. Can't we just start over?"

Jotham's words grew more and more frantic. Even his friends were starting to get uncomfortable, trying to calm him down. But he wouldn't listen, his voice raw as he pleaded with Ramona.

"Ramona... have you forgotten the promise you made me? You said you would always forgive me, that you would always be by my side..."

But no matter what he said, Ramona remained impassive, her expression unchanged. She looked at his anguish as if he were a complete stranger.

In that moment, Ramona truly understood what it felt like to have no feelings left for someone. There was no desire to argue, no urge to fight. Looking at him, remembering their past, it all felt like another lifetime.

Ramona didn't respond. Before he could finish, she turned and walked away.

The veins in Jotham's neck bulged. The manager, fearing for the safety of his patrons, signaled for the guards to drag him back to the private room.

The crowd parted for Ramona, their eyes filled with a strange mix of awe and pity.

Jotham was still screaming her name, his arm outstretched, grasping at nothing. The small distance between them had become an insurmountable chasm. The woman who had once been his constant companion, always there for him, was now completely out of reach. Even standing so close, they were worlds apart.

Ethan had her phone, so when she didn't see him at the entrance, she ran to the parking lot.

And there he was, standing by her car in the dimly lit lot. He was tall, his shadow long and straight in the faint light. But there was a loneliness, a sadness, to his silhouette.

"Ethan."

Relief washed over Ramona. She called his name and ran to him.

He was wearing a thick woolen coat, which made his recently slimmed-down frame look even thinner, but he still stood tall and proud.

Ethan turned, and the fierceness in his eyes softened the moment he saw her. He held out his arm, and she nestled into his embrace like a kitten.

"Why are you running?" he murmured, his hand gently stroking her back. "I wasn't going to leave."

"When did you get here? Did you see..." Ramona wrapped her arms around his waist and started to ask.

"Not long ago. Just in time to see Jotham harassing you."

Ethan cut her off, his voice calm, betraying no emotion.