The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 94

But she never once complained about the effort she put in; instead, she seemed to savor it all, as if it was the sweetest thing in the world.

Suddenly, Jotham lost his appetite. He had wanted to reminisce about their past, to consider how he might win back Ramona’s affection.

But in that moment, it hit him— All the ways he thought he’d been good to her had, in fact, missed the mark entirely.

Jotham’s so-called kindness to Ramona was always something he made a point of mentioning, something on display for everyone to see. Ramona, on the other hand, rarely spoke of what she did. She simply acted, quietly and steadily.

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The day slipped into evening. As Ramona picked up her phone, her thoughts drifted to Ethan.

Ever since Valentine’s Day, Ethan had been swamped with work. He’d started calling and texting her on his own initiative, but even so, they barely managed to see each other. If Ethan wasn’t caught up out of town, Ramona was buried in Covington Group’s affairs.

All in all, Ethan was the busier of the two.

Whenever Ramona had a spare moment these past few days, she found herself thinking of him. Sometimes she’d even call, just to hear his voice.

But without fail, after only a few words, he’d have to hang up in a hurry. It almost felt as if that night—when he held her in his arms—was just a dream, growing hazier and more distant with every passing day.

Still, Florence checked in with her daily, sending thoughtful messages and, now and then, delivering lunch or dinner to her office.

It made Ramona feel, for the first time in a long while, as if she truly belonged to a family.

“Ramona, are you free tonight to come over for dinner? Phineas is cooking. He’s made several of his specialties!”

Ramona was glancing at her phone when Florence called, her voice warm and inviting, impossible to resist.

Just the thought of sitting around the table with them filled Ramona with a gentle warmth. Her reply was soft and sweet, like water flowing, “I’d love to. I’ll be there soon.”

An hour later, Ramona arrived at Jordon Estate, carrying a bag of carefully chosen fruit and vitamin supplements for the couple. She’d even dressed up a bit, just in case she ran into Ethan.

As soon as she stepped inside the villa, Florence greeted her with excitement, only to frown at the sight of Ramona’s gifts.

“We’ve got everything we need here, sweetheart. You just being here is enough! If your arms get sore from carrying all this, I’ll be heartbroken!”

In just a few words, Florence had Ramona blushing with embarrassment.

Ramona looked at the elderly couple with a trace of envy in her eyes.

She remembered Florence telling her about their many years together. Phineas had come from a privileged background, while Florence was just an ordinary girl. They’d fallen in love at university, weathered every storm together, and made it this far hand in hand. Most of the Jordon family hadn’t approved back then, but Phineas never once let go of Florence’s hand.

When they married, he promised to cook for her every day of his life. And to this day, no matter where they are, he still insists on making her a meal himself, even if it’s just a simple soup. That promise became his lifelong habit, and the thing he’s most proud of.

Florence used to say Ethan was most like Phineas, so Ramona could rest easy knowing she’d chosen him.

Soon, the dining table was brimming with delicious dishes.

“Try this slow-braised pork with abalone. Phineas makes it better than anyone!”

Ramona had barely sat down before Florence started filling her plate, urging her to eat. Ramona smiled and asked, “Shouldn’t we wait for Ethan to get home?”

At the mention of Ethan, a flicker of joy flashed in Florence’s eyes, quickly followed by a hint of helplessness.

“It’s a shame. He probably can’t even catch a good night’s sleep these days, let alone sit down to a meal like this!”