The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 283

"Jotham, are you questioning my sincerity?" Brianna trembled, the tears welling in her eyes feeling like a cruel joke. After everything she had given, he still didn't believe her?

"You're not ‘her’."

A smirk played on his lips, and in an instant, the color drained from Brianna's face.

"What did you say?"

"I said, you've been lying to me for ten years. Isn't it about time you drop the act?" Jotham couldn't stop the twisted smile from spreading across his face, even as a vine of pure hatred grew in his heart.

Looking at her now, he felt none of the pity, pain, or guilt he once had. There was only disgust, rage, and an endless well of resentment. If she hadn't deceived him, hadn't led his younger, naive self down this ridiculous path… how would the Holt family have ended up like this? How could he have done such despicable things and lost the one person who had truly cared for him?

Thinking back, even their sweetest memories felt like daggers twisting in his gut.

Brianna's mind reeled, her eyes widening in shock. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out as his accusation sank in.

How did Jotham find out?

"What are you talking about? I don't understand. What did I lie to you about…?" Brianna tried to feign ignorance, hoping he was just drunk and rambling. She lunged forward to embrace him again.

This time, he violently shoved her away. The force sent her stumbling back, and she nearly fell, her hip slamming into the corner of a wall. She caught herself just in time.

"What happened on the mountain—do you really need me to spell it out?" Jotham's own anger was boiling over now. He pushed her back against the wall, grabbing her face with one hand and pinning her arm with the other.

"Brianna, have you no shame? Taking credit for what someone else did, letting me feel indebted to you for all these years. You must think I'm a complete idiot."

His grip tightened, the pressure so intense that Brianna's face contorted in pain. Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Isn't this your favorite trick? Go on, tell me how much I owe you. Tell me how much you love me… tell me you've been sincere this whole time."

"I have!" Brianna bit out, her eyes red as she fought back a sob. "I lied, yes, but I lied because I love you! I thought it was fate, a chance I had to take… You stopped loving me a long time ago, but I was still foolishly giving you my heart!"

Jotham stared at her, a cold, emotionless smirk on his face.

"Haven't we…?" Brianna saw his grip loosen slightly and clung to a sliver of hope. "Haven't we been facing each other for the past ten years? When you look at me, you see me, not some other girl, not some shadow in your mind. Can you honestly say you never felt anything real for me? That our love was a lie from the very beginning?"

She tried desperately to persuade him, but at this point, nothing she said could reach him. He had no desire to argue about the past.

"Ms. Huxley, Mr. Covington would like you to join him," another assistant appeared at her side.

Feeling a little awkward, Wisteria followed. Yancey was already waiting inside. His assistant held the door open until she stepped in.

"Settling in okay?" Yancey asked. His tone was polite but distant, devoid of any real emotion.

They had buried the hatchet since returning to the country and were on friendly terms again, even exchanging a few texts a couple of days ago—though it was just him checking if she’d gotten home safely, followed by an emoji.

"Yes," Wisteria nodded. "Thank you."

At that, Yancey glanced at her, and their eyes met unexpectedly. He had been sneaking a look at her, just as she had been sneaking one at him.

They both quickly looked away.

Yancey felt the elevator was suddenly too warm. He cleared his throat. "You should be thanking Ramona. I just told her about your situation. She's the one who values talent."

"Right, I'm thanking her, too," Wisteria said dismissively.