The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 307

The memory of her calling another man “my love,” of them shopping together arm-in-arm… it was a torment.

“Ramona,” he whispered to the empty room, “why did you have to be so cruel?”

He could find no answer, no understanding. How could a person’s heart change so quickly, so completely? Had all those years she’d spent caring for him been a lie?

...

“Don’t worry… everything is fine.” Holden’s voice faltered as he glanced at the woman in the passenger seat. She had headphones in, seemingly lost in her music, oblivious to his call.

It was Melinda on the other end, checking in on the Covington Group’s affairs. Ramona was set to meet with Wilfred next week and was taking this week off to be with Ethan, but she had left everything at the company in perfect order.

Melinda’s suspicion sharpened. “Is someone with you?”

“No,” Holden replied instantly, his voice perfectly steady. “Of course not. I’m just driving.”

“Driving? Where are you going so late?” Melinda glanced at the time. With the time difference, it had to be the middle of the night where he was.

“Oh, a friend of mine got into some trouble. I’m on my way to check on him,” Holden said with an easy laugh.

“Be careful who you associate with,” Melinda warned, her tone sharp. “When you’re out, you are representing the Covington family.”

Perhaps her strict upbringing had left Holden with few friends as a child. It was only after graduation that he had started mingling, mostly with other wealthy scions and business contacts Melinda had encouraged him to cultivate for networking purposes.

But with his expanded social life came a chaotic private one. She had heard the rumors about her adopted son’s promiscuous habits, which had led to several promising marriage proposals being politely declined. Still, Holden was cautious and knew how to clean up his own messes, so Melinda rarely bothered to intervene. As a mother, she had only one rule for him: don’t make mistakes. Whether he got hurt, what kind of man he became, or what people said about him—none of that concerned her.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Holden said dutifully.

He hadn’t planned on going out tonight, but as he was leaving work, he saw Nova frantically trying to hail a cab, looking panicked. It turned out her younger brother, Heath, had been in a fight at his school and was now at a nearby hospital.

The school was only a two-and-a-half-hour drive away, but it was in a remote area, and it wasn’t safe for a young woman to travel there alone at night. Holden had tried to convince her to wait until morning, but she was too distraught to listen. Left with no choice, he had pulled her into his car and promised to drive her.

He’d expected more of a fight, given how she usually treated him like a predator, but this time she had simply gotten in and murmured a thank you.

But that was the last word she’d spoken to him. After a brief call to her brother, she had been silent.

Holden, initially pleased by this small sign of trust, hadn't wanted to bother her. But now he was starting to wonder why he even cared what she thought of him. He was a man who never did anything without getting something in return. What, exactly, was he getting out of this?

“I mean… Mr. Covington, why would you just hit me like that? You scared me,” Nova said, frowning at him.

“I didn’t hit you, I was getting your attention,” he scoffed. “Look, Nova, I’ve been driving for almost two hours, my back is killing me, and you haven’t said a word. Don’t I get some kind of hazard pay for this?”