The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 268

“Jotham, maybe Flynn and I should stay with you tonight,” Eulalia suggested, her voice laced with worry.

When they got back to the house, Jotham collapsed onto the sofa, his body heavy with exhaustion. He seemed to be moving in slow motion, taking several long moments to process Eulalia’s words before finally shaking his head.

“You two should go,” he rasped. “I need to be alone. I’m fine.”

“But you’re hurt. I really think I should stay—”

“Don’t bother me.” Jotham cut her off. His voice was low, but it carried a chilling finality.

Flynn had little patience for this kind of drama, especially now that the Holt family’s fortunes were in decline. He felt no obligation to cater to anyone’s whims. Seeing his opening, he quickly pulled Eulalia back. “Let him rest. If he needs anything, he can call us.”

With that, he practically dragged her out of the house.

By now, the first hint of dawn was breaking, casting a faint, weak light through the gaps in the curtains. But for Jotham, the light couldn't pierce the darkness. His long night, it seemed, was just beginning.

The more Eulalia thought about it, the angrier she became. The moment they left Jotham’s villa, she tried calling Ramona, ready to unleash a torrent of abuse.

Unsurprisingly, the call wouldn’t go through. She’d been blocked. She snatched Flynn’s phone and tried again, only to get the same result. Ramona had blocked their entire family.

Consuming by a helpless rage, Eulalia let out a piercing shriek. “Ramona! You bitch! If I ever see you again, I’ll make you pay for this!”

“You?” Flynn scoffed. “Please. If you two ever cross paths again, I’d bet on her being the one who makes you pay.”

Flynn had been an observer through most of the Holt family’s crisis. While it was an inconvenience, his own career was stable enough that their downfall wouldn’t drag him down with them—it just meant he’d lost a powerful support system.

His patience for Eulalia, however, was wearing dangerously thin. She was moderately attractive at best, and as for her abilities, the spoiled heiress hadn't worked a day in her life.

Ever since their wedding, he had found himself developing a grudging admiration for Ramona. She was beautiful, competent, and a genuinely supportive partner. When she first turned on the Holts, Flynn had dismissed it as a temper tantrum. Now, he saw her for what she was: a woman who loved fiercely and hated just as passionately, with a streak of ruthlessness he hadn't anticipated.

Ramona was hiding from them because she was guilty, and once Eulalia found her, she would slap her senseless and drag her back to the Holt manor to kneel before her father and brother in apology.

They had nothing left to lose, so why should that bitch get away scot-free? And another thing—she was going to call a lawyer and sue Ramona for every penny she’d taken from them. Jotham and Brianna were still married, which meant all that money she took from Jotham was a violation of his and Brianna’s marital assets!

As Eulalia furiously typed, the car screeched to a halt. Flynn snatched the phone from her hand.

“Would you just give it a rest? Your brother lied to get married, too. If you push her too far, who knows who’s going to end up taking who down!”

Flynn’s words ignited Eulalia’s fury, and they started struggling over the phone again. Finally, with a sigh of resignation, Flynn relented.

“Enough! Forget about Ramona for now. There’s a business summit tomorrow afternoon. My bank has a partnership with them, so I can get you, your brother, and your parents in. It’s a chance to network, maybe find some investors.”

The summit would be attended by the heads of Havencrest City’s top corporations. He’d even heard that the new heiress of the Covington Group would be there. Flynn had originally planned to go alone to catch a glimpse of a true blue-blood heiress, but with the Holts in such dire straits, he knew he couldn’t be entirely selfish.