The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 281

"All right, I give up."

Ramona knew she could never lie to Ethan. It wasn't that she was a bad liar; she just couldn't bring herself to deceive him.

"I have to go see the Covington patriarch." Ramona's voice was heavy.

"Wilfred Covington?"

A shadow passed over Ethan's eyes, dulling their light.

Benedict Covington's father, Wilfred Covington, had been living in Myridia Country for years. Rumor had it that he wasn't there to enjoy his golden years abroad, but rather to avoid Benedict, with whom he'd been at odds for years.

Gossip even claimed that Wilfred hadn't returned when Benedict was on his deathbed. He only made a fleeting appearance at the funeral before leaving the very same day.

Ramona nodded.

On her way back from the summit today, she had received a call from Melinda, who claimed that Wilfred wanted to see her. Ramona was instantly on guard, but Melinda only offered a brief introduction before handing the phone over to Wilfred himself.

It turned out Melinda had been on a business trip to Myridia Country and had stopped by to visit Wilfred, giving him a brief report on the Covington Group's situation. After Benedict had taken over, Melinda made it an annual tradition to visit Wilfred under the guise of paying her respects, all while keeping him updated on company affairs and sometimes seeking his advice on major decisions. After Benedict's passing, that responsibility should have naturally fallen to Ramona.

"I heard he left the country because he and your father didn't get along. You've been back with the Covingtons for a while now. Why is he only summoning you now?" Ethan cut straight to the heart of the matter.

Ramona had heard from Fenton that Benedict and Wilfred had always clashed over their business philosophies. Benedict was as cold and stubborn as his father, which meant they were like two rams butting heads. Eventually, Wilfred had left to live with his daughter, and after he was gone, he and Benedict had little contact for years.

Benedict's death had been sudden, and Wilfred had learned about the illegitimate daughter at the same time as everyone else. Fenton said that when Wilfred returned for the funeral, he was furious, declaring that Benedict hadn't even considered him a father—keeping his illness a secret and leaving behind such an absurd will. He’d vowed to wash his hands of the Covington Group's affairs from then on.

In his anger, Wilfred had explicitly stated that he didn’t want to see Ramona, telling Fenton and Melinda to handle the company themselves. If Benedict’s stubbornness led the Covington Group to ruin, it would just be a tragedy for their family. Fenton could only advise Ramona to wait before contacting the old man.

But for all his blustering, Wilfred was getting older. As his anger toward Benedict faded, he began to think of the granddaughter he’d never met. With Fenton consistently reporting on how capable Ramona was, Wilfred's stance had gradually softened.

"I'm not sure," Ramona admitted. "Maybe Melinda said something? Or maybe he's still wary of me running the Covington Group and wants to see me for himself, to test me?"

She had certainly considered the possibilities. If Wilfred wanted to see her, it had to be about the company. But Fenton had warned her that he was ill-tempered and difficult to deal with. Ramona was nervous, especially with Melinda in his ear, likely setting some new trap for her.

Still, this was a personal invitation from Wilfred himself, and his tone had been civil. As the younger generation, it was her duty to pay her respects. She had no reason to refuse.

Ramona cupped his face and kissed him. Though his expression was laced with disappointment, his silence was a form of surrender.

After a long moment, Ethan finally said, "Take a few bodyguards."

"Okay."

"Tell me the second anything happens. No hiding things from me."

"I will."

"And if the Covingtons give you a hard time, to hell with them. We'll cut them off for good. It's not like you don't have a family right here with us."

Ramona’s eyes sparkled. She gazed into his deep, intense eyes for a long moment before whispering another firm, "Okay."

Ethan took a deep breath. His voice was somber, but to Ramona's ears, it was the warmest sound in the world.