The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 4

Ramona’s eyes landed at once on the lavish breakfast spread across the table.

There were always staff in the house to cook, and Jotham never bothered with breakfast himself. He certainly wasn’t the type to experiment in the kitchen. Normally, their breakfasts were more traditional fare, but today, everything was distinctly different: scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, fresh fruit, pastries—an impressive variety. It was obvious who this was all for.-

Ramona saw through it, but didn’t let on. She smiled and turned to Brianna. “All your favorites, I take it?”

“That’s right,” Brianna replied brightly. “Jotham’s just being considerate. He was worried I wouldn’t be used to anything else. Honestly, men as thoughtful as him are hard to come by. Ramona, you’re lucky to have snagged such a good husband.”

Brianna responded smoothly, meeting Ramona’s eyes with a subtle air of superiority.

“Oh, Jotham’s always considerate,” Ramona replied, her tone light, almost teasing. “Not just with me, he’s a real gentleman with every woman.”

“Don’t listen to her. That’s not true,” Jotham protested, a little flustered. Ramona’s words had a double meaning, but her manner was playful, almost flirtatious.

But Brianna’s smile faltered.

Noticing Brianna’s shift in mood, Milo suddenly grabbed the last piece of fried egg just as Ramona reached for it, and doused it in so much soy sauce that some splattered onto Ramona’s pale hand.

“Milo! What are you doing?!”

Jotham’s face darkened instantly.

Brianna hurried to hand Ramona a napkin and leaned over to scold Milo in a hushed voice. “Milo, even if you’re full, you shouldn’t waste food. And look, you’ve dirtied your mother’s hand. You should apologize to her.”

Reluctantly, Milo muttered, “Sorry,” glaring at Ramona as he did.

Ramona wiped her hand, looking up at the pair.

Milo stuck his chin out in defiance as he apologized, while Brianna tried to brush off the incident, glossing over what mattered.

“All right, you’re done. Go back to your room,” Brianna said before Ramona could respond.

“Wait.”

Just as Milo was about to leave, Ramona stood and grabbed his arm, pulling him firmly to the wall.

“Stand up straight.”

“Let go of me, you witch!” Milo wriggled and fought, but Ramona—used to handling his tantrums—twisted his arms behind his back and pinned him there. She snatched a slender switch from the vase nearby and landed it hard across his backside.

Milo yelped and burst into tears, terrified and in pain.

“Ramona, what do you think you’re doing? Milo already apologized! Do you really have to be so harsh?” Brianna cried, rushing to intervene.

Her eyes brimmed with hurt. She really couldn’t take any more of this.

She knew Jotham had loved her for years, that their feelings ran deep, and that was why she’d always felt secure enough to play the gracious, understanding partner. But Ramona was just too much to bear.

It was Alaric Holt, the Holt family patriarch, who had insisted on splitting them up back then. Jotham was still a student, powerless to resist. Brianna nearly lost her job over it, and eventually, she had to switch careers and become a childcare instructor just to get by.

It was out of sheer desperation that Jotham brought Ramona into the picture, using her as a shield.

Brianna had once asked him, Why Ramona?

Jotham told her it was simple at first—he thought Ramona’s looks would convince his family. Later, he learned she was an orphan, with no family ties, and one of the brightest finance students in her year, courted by top firms everywhere. Being with Ramona would even help his career.

But to reassure Brianna, Jotham secretly married her not long after he and Ramona started dating. That way, even if he was with Ramona in public, all marital assets would be shared with Brianna.

He promised her that once he inherited the family business, once he had real power, he’d make their relationship public. And through it all, Ramona had only ever been a pawn.

But now, even a pawn dared to challenge her?

Brianna couldn’t accept it.

Jotham cared deeply for Brianna, of course, but he couldn’t risk a showdown with Ramona just yet. So he gave Brianna a tight hug before hurrying out after Ramona.