Empire 213

That afternoon, at the Holt family estate.

Brianna returned from the hospital with Milo, her expression weary.

“Mommy, is Daddy really tired? He’s been sleeping for two whole days!” Milo asked, looking up toward the second floor bedroom.

Brianna looked at her son, unsure how to explain. Finally, she stroked his head. “Daddy is just very, very tired and needs a lot of rest. A lot has been happening in our family lately, so you need to be an extra good boy, okay?”

Milo looked at her with wide, innocent eyes and nodded firmly. He knew everyone in the house was unhappy, and he was sure it was that bad woman, Ramona’s, fault. When he grew up, he would help his mommy and daddy deal with her once and for all.

After handing Milo over to a maid, Brianna went upstairs to check on Jotham.

Griffin Holt’s condition had worsened over the past two days. He was awake, but the aftereffects of the incident were severe; he could barely speak.

Winnie had been a constant, weeping presence at his bedside, her former imperious demeanor replaced by a haggard desperation.

Eulalia Holt, now recovered enough from childbirth, had arrived to relieve Winnie at the hospital, which meant Brianna could finally come home to look after Milo and Liliane. And, of course, Jotham.

Jotham had been hit hard. The moment Griffin regained consciousness, Jotham had come down with a fever and had been asleep for two days straight.

Ramona’s vengeance was merciless. It was as if she intended to burn Holt Group to the ground. While Griffin was incapacitated, she had somehow secured a massive investment, diluting the Holt family’s shares to less than ten percent. To counter it, they would have to liquidate all their assets, and even that wouldn’t be enough. Holt Group was, for all intents and purposes, now the property of Ramona Jarrett. She was ruthless, utterly shameless.

The online attacks against her and Jotham hadn’t subsided, and their circle of friends and allies had abandoned them, convinced the Holt family was finished. No one seemed to realize that the architect of all this, the sole beneficiary, was Ramona. She wasn’t a victim to

be pitied; she was a viper.

“Jotham…”

Brianna entered the bedroom to find the bed empty and in disarray. An empty pill bottle lay on the floor. She tried calling his phone several times, but he didn’t answer. A sudden thought struck her, and she rushed out of the house.

Jotham, his fever just broken and his body still weak, was driving to Holt Group. He knew Ramona had been tightening her grip on the company, but that wasn’t what had shattered him. It was the realization that she truly, genuinely wanted to leave him, to have nothing more to do with him.

It was only in this moment of utter loss that Jotham finally understood: his feelings for Ramona were far from nonexistent. For the past two days, his feverish dreams had been filled with her. He saw them from the very beginning, a montage of their years together. The sense of security and warmth she gave him was something he had never experienced from his own family. She was the one who would stand by him through any crisis, the one constant he believed would never leave as long as he held on. She gave everything without asking for anything in return, a purity that was both precious and rare.

He had always told himself that everything he did was for Brianna, for the company. But perhaps the more he insisted on that, the more he was unknowingly falling for Ramona

He soon reached the Holt Group building. Ramona had given the security guards a blacklist with his and Griffin’s names on it.

But Jotham, his mind consumed by thoughts of her, was beyond reason. If he couldn’t get inside, he would wait at the entrance, on the path she had to take to leave. He had to see her, to tell her what was truly in his heart. He had to tell her, face to face, that this wasn’t about the company or his family. It was about her.

After all those years, if even he couldn’t let go, how could she just sever all ties so easily?

His gamble paid off. Ramona had been busy finalizing matters at Holt Group, splitting her time between there and Covington Group. The moment her figure appeared in the doorway, a surge of adrenaline shot through Jotham. He threw open his car door and ran toward her.

“Ramona!”

He rushed forward, but before he could get close, the building’s security guards intercepted him. One of Ramona’s own bodyguards stepped in front of her, forming a human shield.

She looked down at him from the top of the steps. In just two days, he was almost unrecognizable. The man who had always been so meticulously put–together was now unshaven, his shirt unbuttoned, his suit wrinkled. He looked utterly broken.

The fever had left him weak, and the cold air hit his lungs, sending him into a coughing fit. He bent over, sweat beading on his forehead, but he refused to leave. His eyes pleaded with her. “Please, just let me talk to you for a moment. I know I was wrong… I know you don’t want to see me right now. But for the sake of love… we once had.”

Ramona’s gaze was like ice. Seeing him like this brought a grim satisfaction, tinged with a strange sadness. Yes, they had once had something, a “love” built on his lies, a love that had shattered her heart.

Cedella

Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.