The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 316

He did remember, however, the man’s final words to him: calling him a bastard who had killed his own mother.

Listening to him recount the story, Ramona’s heart broke. It all came back to his childhood trauma. The pain was so immense, she could barely stand to hear the fragmented memories he shared.

To her relief, Dr. Yeton didn’t press him for more details. Instead, he analyzed the triggers. Ethan’s episodes were always precipitated by someone he cared about being hurt. Subconsciously, he was terrified of losing the people he loved, of being powerless to protect them—a fear that had been drilled into him by his father since he was a child.

Soon, the session came to a close. Dr. Yeton offered no complex psychological analysis, no judgment of Ethan's actions. He had simply listened, like a friend.

“Alright, that’s all for today,” he said. “Mr. Jordon, you have a new life now. You don’t need to be afraid anymore.”

“That’s it?” Ramona asked, confused.

Dr. Yeton nodded with a smile. “Yes. It was over long ago.”

“Long ago…?” She looked at Ethan, who seemed to be emerging from a trance.

“You’re saying… I don’t need treatment?” Ethan asked.

“Of course not,” Dr. Yeton said with a shrug. “From now on, just talk to your wife when you’re feeling troubled.”

“But what about his dissociative episodes?” Ramona pressed. “Will they happen again?”

“It’s possible,” Dr. Yeton admitted. “But you told me yourself that even when he was in that state, he didn’t hurt you.”

It was Liliane, Jotham’s grandmother.

Jotham had collapsed at home last night. Liliane had only found out when the people she’d sent to check on him had brought him to her. He had been drinking himself into a stupor for days, all because of Ramona. Someone had told her about the scene at the supermarket, about Jotham getting on his knees and begging. Liliane’s heart, already strained, couldn’t take it. After all the kindness she had shown Ramona, this was how she was repaid?

Even after waking up, Jotham’s first words had been Ramona’s name. Furious and heartbroken, Liliane had gotten Ramona’s address—only to discover that the apartment had been paid for by Jotham himself!

No matter what her grandson had done, he had truly loved that woman. How could she trample on his heart like this?

Liliane had come alone, determined to confront Ramona. But the building’s security was tight. They refused to let her in, no matter how much she pleaded. So she had waited, hoping to catch Ramona coming or going.

And her patience had finally paid off. There she was, with another man. A "kept man," just as people had said.