Chapter 112 Paige Takes the Bait
Just as Paige was on the brink of responding, a voice washed over the ongoing conversation, arresting the attention of everyone present. "It seems everyone is quite intrigued by the latest addition to our family," it announced with an unmistakable air of familiarity.The voice belonged to Bradley Carnegie, a man whose mere presence commanded immediate respect. As if drawn by an invisible force, the crowd shifted their focus from Andrew and Paige to Bradley.As the clock neared five, the Carnegie family had almost concluded their formal greetings to their esteemed guests and emerged from their seclusion to mingle with the gathering.Paige swiveled toward the source of the voice, her eyes landing on Bradley who was now making his way to the center of the room. Charles was close by, maneuvering Raymond's wheelchair while Francesca and Louis trailed behind.The unexpected introduction by Bradley, presenting her as a new member of the Carnegie family, caught Paige off guard. Her gaze darted to Raymond, her eyes silently conveying a message: Weren't we supposed to keep our marriage a secret?Confusion swirled within her. Her game plan had involved divorce, not a public declaration of marital ties. What was happening?Raymond caught her questioning look and responded with a triumphant smile. Paige was left speechless, berating herself for ever harboring the slightest hope that Bradley could play fair.He was a man who reveled in invading her personal space, always seeking legitimacy. Today, seizing the moment to spring this surprise, Paige realized she should've anticipated this move.As expected, Raymond, in the next moment, maneuvered his wheelchair closer to Paige and reached out to clasp her hand. His voice, filled with an affectionate tone that bordered on reverence, broke the silence, "Darling, I apologize for being so preoccupied today. I should've come to greet you sooner."The crowd heard Raymond's endearment loud and clear—darling! There was no mistaking the nature of their relationship now.A collective gasp was almost audible among the men; no wonder Andrew had treated Paige with such deference.The mystery surrounding Paige's identity suddenly seemed irrelevant—they were, after all, in the company of the esteemed Carnegie family, where such courtesy was the norm.However, perhaps more surprised than Paige at this unfolding scene were Francesca and Louis. They had the most to lose from this revelation and had hoped it would remain under wraps.The Carnegie family had indeed not planned to announce their union, yet Raymond casually took Paige's hand and affectionately called her "darling."What was the difference between that and making a public announcement? It seemed to be merely a matter of formality.Francesca, not too keen on dealing with the situation, excused herself after greeting Bradley and headed over to join the ladies' group.Dressed in a stunning outfit, Francesca decided such topics were best left to be discussed with the ladies.Since Raymond had openly called her "darling," Paige had no choice but to take over the wheelchair from Charles.After mingling and exchanging greetings with everyone, Bradley and the rest retreated to join their old buddies for a chat.Raymond then looked up at Paige and said, "Let me introduce you to a few friends."Paige replied, "Raymond, you still have friends?"For a long time, Paige wasn’t aware of any friends in Raymond's life.Moreover, wasn't he abroad most of the time?Raymond chuckled, "Before I went abroad, in the Northwind social circle, who didn't know me?"Suddenly, Paige had a realization that the man before her, who seemed much older, must have had a wonderful life before his leg became disabled.The cherished second son of an elite family was undoubtedly the center of attention in the Northwind elite social circles. Thinking about it, if Raymond hadn’t faced the accident that impaired his leg, his life would arguably have been a thousand times more splendid.After Raymond finished speaking and didn't hear Paige respond, he looked up again at her."What's on your mind? Why the silence? Is it because I presumed too much, calling you darling? Did I expose our relationship?"Paige sighed, "Raymond, you know that sooner or later we are headed for divorce. There's no point announcing our relationship now."As soon as Paige spoke, Raymond's expression darkened.Divorce, divorce, this woman with a callous heart, all she could think about was divorcing him."Does Xanthe despise me?" asked Raymond.Paige stopped in her tracks, stunned.For some reason, Raymond's question made Paige's heart quiver, and her heart ached uncontrollably.Despise?Was it like how she had been despised by everyone since she was young?Raymond, who should have been the pride of all, now faced being despised because of his disability?However, Paige had never harbored a thought of despising him.
There they stood, Raymond, his gaze fixed upon her, and Paige, momentarily robbed of words. "Whether you like it or not, Xanthe, you can't divorce me until I sign the papers," he declared.Paige remained silent, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Drawing a deep breath, she finally found her voice. "Raymond, don't push your boundaries. When you call me darling, have you ever considered that I might find it distasteful? After the anniversary celebration, accompany me to Country M. I've arranged for the best doctor to examine your leg."As she spoke, a heavy burden seemed to settle on her heart. The truth was, she wasn't genuinely concerned about Raymond's leg—it was merely a pretext. She intended to use Raymond as a bargaining chip in a deal. The guilt that welled up within Paige was almost unbearable, but for the sake of obtaining Mrs. Sackler's antidote, she felt she had no other option. Raymond, perceptive as ever, sensed the shift in Paige's emotions. She had mentioned seeking treatment for his leg before, but never specified going to Country M. Her sudden insistence on this particular location and the urgency in her voice raised his suspicions. He had initially intended to tease her, but Paige's mood had taken an unexpected turn. Reaching out, Raymond placed his hand on Paige's, murmuring, "Okay."Paige hesitated for a moment before quickly regaining her composure and continuing to push Raymond's wheelchair forward. Before they reached their destination, Xena appeared seemingly out of nowhere, trailed by several high society debutantes. Xena had just had a confrontation with Paige, but she seemed to have forgotten it swiftly. Surrounded by the daughters of the elite, Xena naturally took the lead. "Raymond, may I borrow my sister for a moment? There are a few girls over there who are eager to meet her."Raymond regarded Xena with thinly veiled disdain. He was well aware of the tension simmering between Xena and Paige. Was it necessary for Xena to play this role in front of Paige? It seemed pointless. Raymond also knew that these daughters of influential families, while not particularly accomplished, were notoriously cunning when it came to scheming. Would he risk lending his wife Paige to their company? Who knew what might transpire?Just as Raymond was about to decline, Paige surprisingly interjected. "Charles, come here."Raymond turned to Paige, puzzled. "You?"Paige offered a faint smile. "Raymond, men in one group, women in another—it's tedious for me to tag along with you. Besides, I haven't made many close friends in Northwind's social circle yet."Xena had thought it would be challenging to coax Paige into joining them, but to her surprise, Paige accepted her casual invitation with ease. Her plan was progressing smoothly indeed!
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