The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 37

During the company’s toughest days, she was always there by his side, repeating those same reassuring words.

And every single time, Ramona truly was the one to charge ahead, shielding him from everything.

Jotham frowned. Why was he thinking about Ramona again?

“Jotham, have you forgotten? I studied finance too. I’m perfectly capable of doing Ramona’s job,” Brianna said, her voice gentle as she tried to ease his worries.

After spending a while comforting him, Brianna finally revealed her real purpose. Rather than having Ramona as Jotham’s right hand, Brianna believed it would be better for her to join the company herself.

The only reason she hadn’t before was because Jotham feared his family would find out.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Jotham replied without hesitation, shaking his head.

It wasn’t just his family he was worried about—if Ramona returned and saw Brianna at the company, there was no telling how she’d react.

“I know what you’re worried about,” Brianna said, reading his thoughts easily.

She had come prepared. Brianna wasn’t aiming for Ramona’s managerial position. She wanted to come in as Ramona’s assistant. That way, if Ramona came back, it would look like Brianna was only there to help out.

Besides, Ramona was the one who’d requested time off in the first place. Someone needed to fill her shoes, at least temporarily.

“Women understand women best. Right now, Ramona’s giving you the silent treatment because she wants to know you care about her. If she finds out I’m working beside you, she might just feel a little threatened. Maybe she’ll even come back on her own, just to reclaim her place,” Brianna suggested, her words hitting the mark.

Jotham had spoiled Ramona for so long that she’d grown willful. She’d even moved out without so much as a word to him. Even if he managed to coax her back, he knew Ramona would always have the upper hand.

Despite all the tricks she’d played behind his back, Jotham was still confident in Ramona’s feelings for him.

After six years of pampering her, he knew she couldn’t walk away so easily—not over something as trivial as this.

Weighing it all, and unable to resist Brianna’s repeated pleas, Jotham finally gave in.

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Jotham spent the entire day waiting in his office, his phone lighting up and dimming, over and over, until he was sure he’d leave scorch marks on the screen.

Brianna’s onboarding notice must have reached Ramona. But aside from work notifications, there was no sign of Ramona at all.

He forced himself not to text her for a whole day. Yet Ramona remained perfectly composed, not giving in even a little.

A sudden doubt crept into Jotham’s mind—could Ramona really just cut him off like this, so easily?

After all these years, Ramona had done everything for him, giving herself completely, never asking for anything in return.

Jotham knew, deep down, that her feelings for him ran deep.

Even if someone asked Ramona to die for him, she probably wouldn’t even bat an eye.

Were all those feelings really just a lie?