The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 341

“Nova, is following Ramona really that great?”

Holden just couldn’t wrap his head around it. Ramona wasn’t even Nova’s real sister. How could a simple debt of gratitude compare to the power, money, and pleasure the world had to offer?

Nova responded coolly, “Mr. Covington, is it really that great for you to follow Melinda around, engaging in her self-destructive games?”

“Hah,” Holden scoffed again. “Melinda is my mother. Besides, she has her reasons. Just because she’s at odds with Ramona, that makes her actions self-destructive?”

“The Covington Group isn’t a one-person show. I believe if you and Melinda were willing, everyone could coexist peacefully.”

As she spoke, Nova turned and went into the bedroom to change the sheets. She had no intention of sharing bedding with Holden. She remembered an old set she was about to throw out; it wasn’t dirty, so she’d put that on the bed for him to make do for one night. She would sleep on the couch.

Watching the small woman bustle about, Holden felt an unexpected warmth spread through his chest. At home, maids always made his bed. He’d been treated like a young master his whole life, but as far back as he could remember, no family member had ever done something like this for him. Maybe it was Nova’s common touch, but it gave him a sense of familial closeness.

Holden rubbed his nose, the last of his annoyance toward her washing away completely.

“Peaceful coexistence? Easier said than done,” he said. “My mother built half of this empire. Benedict’s will was a complete betrayal. If you were in her shoes, would you just hand over the life’s work you’d dedicated half your life to?”

“But that was Benedict’s mistake, not a burden Ramona should have to bear. Besides, Ramona has suffered enough. Inheriting the family fortune now is just her finally getting what she deserves. She didn’t steal or cheat her way into it, so why should she just hand it over?” Nova replied, her voice still calm.

She knew Melinda and Holden had their perspective, but her loyalty was with Ramona, and she wasn't about to overthink it. Besides, Ramona was a reasonable person, principled and measured in her actions. If it weren’t for the fact that Melinda and Holden were Benedict’s family, Ramona, with Mr. Jordon’s backing, could have struck back much harder.

Holden couldn’t be bothered to argue with a woman like Nova. In truth, if Melinda weren’t his mother, he wouldn’t care much about right or wrong.

He stood up, took off his jacket, and began unbuttoning his shirt. “I’m going to take a shower. Do you have a fresh towel and pajamas?”

“How would I have anything in your size…”

“If you don’t, go buy some. The supermarket nearby sells them. I wear a size large.”

Nova hesitated for a long moment, but then, clenching her jaw, she steeled herself and went to find the shop owner.

Holden’s passcode was far more complex than her own. It took the owner a good while to crack it, and because he used a hacking program, the access wouldn’t last long.

As soon as she got the phone back, Nova found a quiet corner and started digging for any project data related to Gallop Inc. Without a second thought, she recorded everything she found and sent it to Ramona.

Then, her gaze darkened, and her heart began to pound even faster. She knew the consequences if she got caught, but the thought of how Holden had destroyed her best friend solidified her resolve. She swiped through the man’s contacts, messages, and photo album—any place she might find a clue.

But surprisingly, for a man who should have been drowning in skeletons, his phone was astonishingly clean. It was mostly work files and a few simple records of his daily life. There were no scandalous pictures in his gallery, though he did seem to enjoy taking photos of his physique, along with various credit and membership cards, probably using the album as a digital wallet.

Nova had no patience for Holden’s private life. She only wanted to find a trace of her friend, to confirm the suspicions churning in her mind. But she found nothing.

Just as she was about to give up, she swiped over to his saved items.