Chapter 108 The Center of Attention Among the Women

At the sound ofUpon hearing the voice, Paige immediately looked upinstinctively raised her gaze and nodded to the person. Those whoacknowledged the speaker with a nod. The crowd that had been gatheredhuddled around Paige stepped aside toher parted like the Red Sea, creating a clear a path upon seeing for the approaching figure, Louis approach.

.As Louis reached Paige and said, he declared, "I'll takeescort you to Grandpa."

TodayOn this day, the headpatriarchs of the Carnegie family, including Raymond, were all very busy.preoccupied with their duties. Paige didhad not attendaccompanied the Carnegie family to the banquet with the Carnegie family, and with so manythe influx of guests arriving, it was normalonly natural for her to go unnoticed at first.

initially blend into the background.However, Louis had been keeping an eye out forvigilantly watching over her the wholeentire time, but had been caught off-guardtaken aback by the swarmsudden influx of men who had swiftly encircled Paige.No one had anticipated that had quickly surrounded Paige.

Nobody expected this unfamiliar woman towould be personally receivedescorted by Louis.

For a fleeting moment, everyonethe room was speculatingabuzz with speculation about her identity.

In a chivalrous manner, Louis offeredextended his arm in a gentlemanly fashion, whichto Paige initially, who hesitated to take. Louis, noticing before accepting his offer. Sensing her reluctance, saidLouis reassured her in a low voicehushed tone, "It's justmerely a formality."

Paige scannedsurveyed the room and sawnoticed that this 'formality' had already attractedpiqued the attentioninterest of many prestigiousnumerous distinguished ladies.

As Paige’sPaige's gaze swept overacross the crowd, Xena madebegan to make her way towardtowards them.

There were rumors that Rumors of Paige and Louis were engaged, but no news of theLouis's engagement being called off.had been circulating, but there had been no announcement of a cancellation. As Xena approached, it seemed likeas though she was assertingstaking her dominanceclaim as the rightful partner.

Xena's firstopening words to Paige were tingedlaced with ironysarcasm, "I didn't expect you to arrive so early. What, didn't Raymond come out to greet you?"

As the madamlady of the Carnegie family, Paige was therepresent as a guest, and it. It was one thing not to enjoy the privileges of a hostess, but quite it was entirely another to have no one greet herbe left unattended at the door.

Even inentrance.In the end, it was Louis who came to lead PaigePaige's aid, providing Xena with the perfect chanceopportunity to mockridicule her.

Unfazed, Paige simply smiled and repliedresponded with a smile, "It seems my dear sister is veryquite eager for Raymond and me to attend the banquet together. Well then, I’ll go find him right now."

With that, Paige released Louis's arm, gaveoffering a slight nod, a gesture full offilled with grace and decorum.

Louis's faceexpression hardened, and his gaze towards Xena became incredibly complex.
Xena immediately toned downsoftened her demeanor a bitslightly, but as soon as she sawupon seeing Paige about to seek out Raymond, Xenashe couldn't help but feel displeased.

a twinge of displeasure.For Xena, today was a battle, and if battlefield. If the Carnegie family didn't declarepublicly acknowledge Paige and Raymond's relationship, she'd countconsider it as a smallminor victory. However, the moment they announced that the two were marriedwedded, it would become public knowledge, and Xena's own relationship with Louis would be tainted withmarred by the stigma of 'family complications.'

Although Xena felt uncomfortable inside, she still Despite her internal discomfort, Xena approached Paige and firmly took her by the arm, forcing a smile. "I was just kiddingmerely jesting with you, you know," she said with a grin, grinning. "There's a saying, 'Brothers in arms against adversity,' right? We're sisters after all. You must feel out of place at your first event like this, not knowing anyone. LetAllow me to introduce you to some of the esteemed ladies of our circle."

With these wordsthat, Xena grabbedseized Paige, intent on introducingparading her around.

Paige observedstudied Xena with interest, noting her growth. It seemedappeared that Margaret had been coachingmentoring her well. YetHowever, the Sackler family would never publicly acknowledge Paige as one of their own. But atAt this point, Paige could see right through Xena's intentions.

FirstFirstly, Xena didn't want Paige showing upappearing with Raymond, promptingwhich would fuel speculation about their relationship. Secondly, she didn't want Paige to getgetting too close to Louis. After all, Louis had always harbored some remembrancefondness for Paige, and today, with Paige dressed to impress, would Louis be able to resist his attraction to her?

Thinking this, With these thoughts in mind, Xena preferred to keep Paige close by her side.

within arm's reach.Safe!

Paige knewwas aware that both Raymond and Bradley would be busypreoccupied, not just them but also Louis and Francesca, all. All of them would be occupied withbusy hosting and entertaining their distinguished guests.

SoTherefore, it was the perfect opportunity for Paige to see what kind ofobserve the game Xena was tryingattempting to play.

Louis, still concerned, saidsuggested, "I think I should takeescort you to Raymond."

Xena cut in quickly, "Raymond'sinterjected swiftly, "Raymond has been super busy these days.incredibly occupied lately. Just a momentmoments ago, I sawobserved Charles leadingescorting a group of importantdistinguished international guests to meet with him. Everyone's tied uphands are full, and since you're not familiarunfamiliar with the peopleindividuals here, wouldn't it be bettermore appropriate for me to showguide you around and introduce you to some friends?"

His logical point resonating, Louis also caught an importantacquaintances?"Louis found Xena's reasoning sound, but he also gleaned a crucial piece of information in Xena'sfrom her words—the significantesteemed foreign guests had gone to seesought an audience with his acquaintancefriend, Raymond.
The Carnegie family had long been a powerhousedominant force in overseas business, a spherecommerce, an arena where Louis had never managed to getsecure a footholdposition. His brother Raymond had been abroadoverseas for several years, ostensibly to seek treatment for his leg, but Louis had no idea how deeply Raymond had involved himself was oblivious to the extent of Raymond's involvement in the Hawke Corporation's international deals.

transactions.Louis had always been kept in the dark, unable to even getacquire the contacts of these influential people. Nowindividuals. However, with the key players attendingpresent at the anniversary celebration, Louis saw his chancean opportunity to makeestablish some valuable connections.

Even asAs Paige's gaze seemed to be drawn thin with irritation, Louis made his suggestion, "How about I haveproposed, "What if I leave my assistant stay here with you?"

Paige, who knew Louis all too well., declined, "No need, I've brought my own assistant," she said.

Formal occasions."At formal events like this dictated, a certain protocol was observed, and assistants weren’t meant to lingerhover too closely. Paige's assistant was no exception, but would be within earshot, ready to step inintervene at a moment's notice.

Despite knowingunderstanding that XenaXena's offer wasn't offering her generosity with pure intentions, Louis took solaceentirely altruistic, Louis found comfort in the fact that in their recent encountersinteractions, Xena hadn't gained any advantagemanaged to gain an upper hand over him. With that in mind, he felt a bit more at ease.

This realization allowed him to relax slightly."I'll get backreturn to businessmy duties then," he said.

declared.After receiving a brief nod from Paige, Louis moved awaydistanced himself, sensing that her interest was feigned at best.

interest.Once Louis had leftdeparted, the warmth onin Xena’s face devolvedexpression morphed into a coolcold grimace. Her eyes tracedfollowed Louis's retreating figure as she spoke casually remarked to Paige, "SeeNotice that? He's quite different from the Louis you knew as a child, isn't he?"

"I've always known what kind of person he is, no need for your commentary. What he is now is unnecessary. His current state has nothing to do with me. MustIt must be toughhard, being constantly overlooked, right?" Paige replied.

retorted.Paige had grown up alongside Louis, but it wasn't her who held affections for him - it was Xena. Stung by Paige's remark,, not Paige, who harbored feelings for him. Paige's comment stung, and Xena struggled to maskconceal her growing annoyance.mounting irritation. She knew all too wellwas acutely aware that showing too muchdisplaying excessive emotion in public could giveexpose her away.

.Paige, noticing Xena's discomfort, couldn't help butresist a chuckle, "Weren't you going to introduce me to the socialites and heirs of your circle? NoThere's no need to pretend anymore, is there?"

Xena, of course, hadhaving lost all interest in introducing Paige to anyone. But she, was still had appearancesobligated to maintain.

appearances."Of course, let's goproceed," she responded, her gaze already settlingfixated on Isadora.

Isadora, that despicabledetestable woman, had the audacity to drug Louis and had even ruinedthwarted Xena's plans. If it weren't for her, Xena thought bitterly, Louis wouldn't be ignoring her presence that very day.
Isadora was a thorn in her side, and soas was Paige. However, the thoughtprospect of Isadora seeingencountering Paige and realizing she wasrecognizing her as the doctor from the other night probably madewas likely to make her squirm with discomfort.

uncomfortable.Xena was determinedresolved to make Isadora's experience an unpleasant one.

With her expression perfectly managedexpertly controlled and a smile re-weldedplastered onto her face, Xena grabbedgrasped Paige's arm, fearing that Paige might bolt.make a hasty exit. She held ontoclung to her as if they shared a close bond.

Paige glanced at Xena with disdain, "Is all this really necessary?"

Xena replied, "Believe me, I'm just as disgustedrepulsed as you are, but we've got to endure it, dear sister. After all, you're the one who wantedwas so eager to squeeze intoinfiltrate this circle so badly. Better get used. It's better to itacclimate sooner rather than later."

With that, Xena draggedsteered Paige straightdirectly into Isadora's crowd.

In the high society of Northwind, everyone respectedrevered the future 'Carnegie family matriarch,' and they immediately began to offer shower her with compliments.

Everyone While everyone was greeting Xena, but her gaze was fixedremained locked on Isadora. "Isadora, letallow me to introduce you. This is Paige, my sister," she announced.

Isadora was surprised. Reallytaken aback. They were really sisters?

But something was off.

didn't add up.Isadora quickly askedquestioned Paige, "Didn't you say your name was Xanthe?"

Extending her hand toward Isadora, Paige saidclarified, "That's rightcorrect, I am Xanthe. Mr. Sackler is justmerely being polite, saying I'mcourteous, referring to me as her sister."

The socialites at the scenepresent were puzzledperplexed by Paige's statementdeclaration. Was she backstabbingundermining Xena? What was going on?

happening?Xena couldn't keep the struggled to maintain her smile on her face but managed to recoverregain her composure. "Sis, stop joking around withteasing Miss Su," she said.

Paige looked back at Xenaretorted, "Mr. Sackler, let's not jokejest. Me, the sister of Mr. Sackler? I wouldn't dare."