The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 40

As the tension at the table grew more palpable, the rest of the classmates could no longer pretend not to notice. They scrambled to play the peacemakers.

“Ramona, don’t take it to heart. Kiki just has no filter. She’s always been like this.”

“Yeah, seriously, we’re all classmates here. Why start a fight the minute we see each other?”

“Kiki, just have three penalty drinks, come on! Stop picking on the prom queen, she hasn’t done anything to you.”

Reluctantly, Kiki let herself be pushed back into her seat, but made no move to pick up her wine. Someone else quickly volunteered to take the penalty drinks for her.

Kiki slouched to one side, her mouth still running in a spiteful undertone. “Look at her acting so innocent. Can’t even get by without a man’s help, what a loser.”

Ramona’s gaze turned icy as she stared at Kiki, who was now basking in the attention of the group. Suddenly, Ramona stood up, grabbed a glass from the table, and splashed its contents right in Kiki’s face.

“Ramona—!”

Everyone froze in shock.

Kiki sat there stunned, drenched in wine, unable to process what had just happened. After a few seconds, she screeched, leaping to her feet. “Ramona, what the hell is wrong with you?”

“Maybe I’ve been too easygoing, made you think you could get away with disrespecting me,” Ramona said, her voice steady and cold as steel. The chill in her tone crept over everyone at the table, leaving them speechless.

Even Tara gaped in disbelief.

Kiki, now fuming, launched into a fit of curses and looked ready to start a fight, but someone quickly held her back.

“I only brought this bag because it means something to me,” Ramona continued, “But is money really the only measure you have for a person? That’s a pretty sad little world, isn’t it?”

She didn’t flinch, her eyes fixed on Kiki. The calmer Ramona sounded, the more intimidating she became.

Kiki was left sputtering, her face burning red, then turning pale.

Tara hurried to Ramona’s side and whispered, “Ramona, don’t stoop to her level. Kiki’s in a different league now—just let it go.”

“A different league?” Ramona shot back, her eyes raking over the luxury brands on Kiki. “I’m genuinely curious, what kind of so-called elite is so shallow?”

By her calculation, all of Kiki’s designer gear together wasn’t even worth more than twenty grand. Since when did flashing a few labels mean you’d made it?

Someone nearby began to gossip, “I heard she’s—”

Before Tara could finish, a male classmate cut her off. “Ramona, no matter what Kiki said, you shouldn’t have thrown a drink at her. Apologize already.”

Others quickly chimed in, “Yeah, Ramona, why are you so worked up? We’re all classmates here.”

“Kiki’s just blunt, she didn’t mean anything by it.”

“The Covington heiress? You mean the one from the news, Benedict’s long-lost billion-dollar heir?”

“Exactly! Kiki and her go way back. They’re inseparable! Everything Kiki wears is a gift from the Covington heiress.”

He kept piling it on, watching Ramona with a mixture of worry and expectation.

But to Ramona, the story just kept getting more and more ridiculous. She couldn’t help but laugh.

Since when was she Kiki’s lifelong best friend? When had she ever given Kiki all those gifts?

Her laugh drew anxious glances.

The same guy pointed at Tara. “Ramona, I know you’re stubborn, but you need to think of Tara too. She’s your friend, right?”

Tara had come back to try and make a deal with the Covington Group, but after several failed attempts, she’d heard Kiki might have connections and decided to join the reunion. Now it all made sense to Ramona—why she’d been invited at all. After two years since graduation, Kiki still hadn’t let go of their rivalry.

“People like us would be finished in Havencrest City if we crossed the Covingtons…” someone muttered.

Ramona had heard enough. She turned to Kiki once more. “Kiki, do you actually know the Covington heiress?”

Kiki assumed Ramona was finally scared, and folded her arms with a triumphant smirk. “Who else? I’m best friends with her. Or are you saying you know her?”