The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 33

Thankfully, the staff and security rushed over at the commotion, quickly separating the two women. Someone immediately supported Solenne, who looked a little shaken.

Yancey was here tonight too—he’d insisted on coming, even though he hated these galas, simply because he worried Ramona might run into trouble again.

The moment he arrived, Yancey shrugged off his coat and draped it around Ramona’s shoulders, then turned to glare daggers at Solenne.

“Solenne, this isn’t the Huxley Group. You can’t just do whatever you want without consequences. Are you targeting Ramona because the Huxleys want to pick a fight with the Covingtons?”

Solenne’s cheeks went scarlet. “Yancey, this is between me and Ramona. It has nothing to do with you, or with the Covingtons! Now, get out of my way!”

She saw person after person stepping protectively in front of Ramona, making her feel even more helpless and furious. Her anger soon gave way to anxiety, and she suddenly burst into tears.

Her friends hurried to comfort her. “Come on, Solenne, it’s not worth making enemies with the Covingtons over something so trivial…”

“Yeah, and besides, Ethan might be here too…”

Mentioning Ethan only made things worse. Solenne’s eyes blazed with resentment as she glared at Ramona, as if she wished she could tear her apart.

The ballroom was dim, and their commotion barely drew any attention in the sea of darkness.

In fact, at that very moment, a wave of astonished whispers swept through the crowd. Their eyes were drawn to the pair dancing in the center of the floor.

Under the sparkling lights, a man and woman glided in perfect harmony, every movement elegant and assured. Bathed in shifting beams, their figures seemed made for each other, utterly captivating.

Ramona recognized the man at once—it was Ethan.

“It’s Ethan…” she murmured.

Solenne’s companions gasped as well, casting uncertain glances at Ramona. They’d all assumed Ethan would be her dance partner, having watched him so publicly protect her earlier.

Solenne looked at the stage, then let out a sharp laugh. “Looks like I was wrong about you, Ramona. As if Ethan would ever choose you. He clearly didn’t come for you at all.”

But even as she spoke, her bitterness deepened. She couldn’t help staring at the woman in Ethan’s arms—so close, so radiant. Even from across the room, Ethan seemed just as untouchable as ever.

Unable to stand it, Solenne turned and hurried out of the ballroom.

Yancey called Ramona’s name a few times before she snapped out of her daze.

“Don’t listen to Solenne,” he said, lowering his voice. “The woman with Ethan is Nadia Shepard. They’ve been friends forever.”

Yancey left out the fact that Ethan and Nadia were more than childhood friends—their families were close, and they’d grown up together, practically inseparable. The Shepard family had a long literary lineage, with generations of renowned writers. Ethan spent much of his youth under their tutelage, and he and Nadia had been thick as thieves until their careers took them in different directions.

Tonight, Nadia was one of the charity gala’s hosts—a reunion for the two after many years.

Ethan was exceptional—she admired that—but his personal life was none of her concern.

She switched off her phone and stretched out on the bed. Moonlight spilled through the gauzy curtains as she closed her eyes and finally drifted into dreamless sleep.

At dawn, she wheeled her suitcase out of the hotel, her steps light; there was still so much to take care of once she got home.

Just before she left, a member of staff approached her with a velvet-wrapped gift box.

“Ms. Jarrett, this was left for you by Mr. Jordon. He had to leave early and didn’t want to disturb you, so he asked me to deliver it on his behalf.”

Ramona glanced at the parcel—a small, square box made of dark wood, its surface carved with intricate, old-world patterns. The craftsmanship was exquisite.

Inside, nestled on a black velvet cushion, was an imperial jade ring.

The stone was cut large and oval, gleaming with a vivid green clarity. A simple circle of diamonds framed it, but even without embellishment, it was stunning.

Yancey couldn’t help but whistle. “Ramona, that jade is extraordinary.”

Ramona wasn’t an expert, but even she could tell this was a rare and priceless piece, far more valuable than anything she’d ever received, even as a prospective fiancée.