The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 98

“Yes, sir!” Ash snapped out of his daze and hurried out of the room.

Remembering Ramona’s advice, Ethan, who had started to get up, relaxed back against the headboard. The faint scent of Ramona’s perfume still lingered in the room.

Glancing at the empty bowl on the nightstand, he couldn’t help but smile.

Being sick… sometimes, it’s not so bad.

…

Night had fallen at the Holt Group headquarters, in the executive suite.

City lights spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting flickering shadows that outlined the weary figure hunched over his desk.

Jotham was staring at the company’s financial reports, but his mind kept wandering.

Just then, a graceful silhouette appeared at the door, and for a split second, Ramona’s image flashed through his mind.

He stood up quickly and opened the door before she could knock. “Ra—”

“Mr. Holt, here’s the file you requested. I just finished organizing it.”

The woman in front of him had an unfamiliar face—Jotham recalled she was the new project assistant.

He nodded, taking the file with a polite, distant tone. “It’s late. Why haven’t you gone home?”

“There’s just too much work in the project department. Most of us are still here. Thank you for asking, Mr. Holt.”

She gave him a shy, respectful nod before turning to leave.

Of course, the project team was always swamped. They were the company’s frontline, after all.

When Ramona was around, everyone worked efficiently and could usually clock out on time. Even when overtime was unavoidable, Ramona always volunteered to stay late.

Jotham would often keep her company, sometimes working so long that he’d doze off at his desk.

Whenever Ramona finished her work, she’d pause outside his office, checking to see if he’d fallen asleep, afraid of barging in and disturbing him. But in truth, she was always the one shouldering the hardest burdens.

Lost in these memories, Jotham was jolted back to reality when his phone lit up with a number he rarely saw.

His expression darkened. After a long pause, he picked up. “Grandma? It’s so late… is everything alright?”

Though his voice was calm, anxiety gnawed at him.

“Ramona never struck me as someone who’d storm out over nothing. Let’s not discuss this over the phone. I’ll be home tomorrow, then you can tell me what’s going on. And have Ramona over as well. I’ll help you sort things out… Honestly, young people these days have no idea how to handle a relationship!”

“Grandma, really, it’s not necessary. Ramona and I can work this out ourselves—”

Jotham tried to protest, but Liliane was having none of it. She had already made her plans; before he could make excuses, she’d hung up.

She was old and tried not to meddle, but she couldn’t ignore her late husband’s last wish. As long as she was alive, she would see to it that Jotham and Ramona stayed together.

She knew her grandson well. He might always seem calculating and detached, but deep down, he was stubborn to the core. And, apart from Ramona, there was probably no one else who could ever bring him to heel again… especially after his ill-fated past with Brianna.

Staring at his phone, Jotham felt another wave of headache coming on.

After a moment, as if something occurred to him, he immediately tried calling Ramona. When she didn’t answer, he sent a message.

[Ramona, my grandmother’s coming home tomorrow and she wants to see you. Why don’t you come by for lunch?]

The message popped up on Ramona’s screen almost instantly. She was chatting with Ethan at the time. He’d just wrapped up work and told her he’d be returning to Havencrest City soon. She was busy reminding him not to overexert himself and to get some rest.

But Jotham’s text instantly soured her mood. Her conversation with Ethan came to an abrupt halt.

Liliane was the only one in the Holt family who had ever stood up for her. When Liliane still lived at the estate, no one dared give Ramona a hard time, and she’d always been deeply grateful for that.