Chapter 121 Between Mrs. Sackler and Raymond, A Choice Must Be Made

Paige's hand trembled slightly as she reached for her phone, her eyes anxiously scanning the caller ID. As the name 'Pearl' flashed on the screen, her tension evaporated like mist under the morning sun."Pearl," Paige exhaled, her voice laced with relief.

"Xanthe, there's been a hiccup with Sullivan's flight. But he'll be here soon, don't fret.""He's already arrived," Paige replied, her tone firm. "Just make sure you keep an eye on my calls."Her task had been to escort Raymond to Country M. She had fulfilled her part, yet there was still no news from the other side. Without a satellite phone, Paige was left in the dark, unsure if there were any complications in reaching out.The satellite phone, after all, wasn't designed for those who had taken the antidote.Sullivan had seen Raymond, confined to his wheelchair, and had likely deduced his identity. However, after ending her call with Pearl, Paige took it upon herself to formally introduce the two men.Standing beside Raymond, she gestured towards Sullivan. "This is the esteemed medical expert, Sullivan."Then, turning to Sullivan, she introduced Raymond. "And this is my husband, Raymond."It was perhaps the first time Paige had openly acknowledged her husband's status in front of another. Their marriage had always been a clandestine affair, yet she had no qualms admitting their relationship in front of Sullivan. This prompted Raymond to regard Sullivan with a newfound level of scrutiny.Paige's relationship with Sullivan must have been extraordinary for him to accept her husband's existence. It seemed Sullivan had long been aware of Raymond's existence.If Paige were simply Paige, Raymond might have questioned when she had met such an intriguing individual.However, Paige was more than just Paige; she was also Xanthe.Her identity was a complex tapestry, a fact that Raymond was acutely aware of.Raymond extended his hand to Sullivan, and as their hands clasped, an unspoken understanding passed between them.Despite spending most of his time in the sterile confines of his lab, Sullivan was no stranger to physical exertion, but as he felt the firm grip of Raymond's hand, his brow furrowed in surprise.Before boarding the plane, Pearl had provide d Sullivan with a dossier on Raymond at Paige's request. Words like 'sickly' and 'disabled' had been scattered throughout the document.Sickly? Sullivan scoffed inwardly. As a leading doctor, he had never encountered a sickly person with such a forceful grip.Paige, observing the prolonged handshake, understood the subtle power play unfolding before her. In her eyes, Raymond was a frail man, bound to a wheelchair year-round. How much strength could he truly possess?As for Sullivan, he was clearly outmatched.In Paige's eyes, given her own combat skills, how many people were truly formidable opponents?Watching the harmless posturing between the two mismatched men, Paige stepped forward, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Do I detect a hint of rivalry, gentlemen? Perhaps even a touch of mutual respect?"Her words brought them back to reality, and they realized they had been shaking hands for an uncomfortably long time. They both laughed, releasing their grip. Sullivan commented, “Mr. Carnegie seems to be in good hands."Raymond responded, "It appears that Dr. White indeed has a remarkable talent for healing."Paige chimed in, "Dr. White has traveled a great distance for the treatment and will be staying with us for a few days."Holding Paige's hand, Raymond nodded in agreement. “That’s good, we’re here for a cure after all. We appreciate your efforts, Dr. White.”Paige might not have known the specifics of Sullivan's profession, but she trusted him. Inviting him into such a crucial matter suggested he could be of assistance. Raymond had no objections, but after dinner, he instructed Charles to investigate Sullivan's background further.In the privacy of their bedroom, Raymond tasked Charles with researching Sullivan, while Paige and Sullivan were in the study, discussing their plans.Sullivan spoke cautiously, "You know, he's with the Hawke Corporation. That's no ordinary position. Are you sure you want to gamble on him?"Paige, her back to Sullivan, leaned on the executive chair, her hand pressing against her forehead. Her voice was tinged with resignation as she replied, "What choice do I have?"She turned to face Sullivan, her expression serious. "I suspect there's more to this situation. Once the antidote left the Sackler family's control and went abroad, they lost their grip on it. If it were just the Sacklers meddling, I would have tracked down the antidote by now.Given the current state of the Sackler family, they wouldn't go to such lengths, using so many resources to transport the antidote to such a remote location. Moreover, they dare to use Raymond as leverage against me."

Paige had journeyed to Country M without any confidants, save for Sullivan. His presence was a comfort, a beacon of assistance in unfamiliar territory. Consequently, she had tasked Pearl with briefing Sullivan on the intricate details surrounding the Sackler family and Raymond.Sullivan, after absorbing the information, nodded in agreement. "Resorting to such extreme measures isn't necessary, even if the aim is to sabotage your marriage with Raymond. If they were to employ such tactics, it would be tantamount to declaring open war against the Carnegie family. The Sackler family isn't foolish enough to jeopardize their own survival."Paige sank into a chair, the very image of fatigue etched on her face.The last known location of the antidote had vanished over an expanse of ocean. Paige had initially assumed that the plane transporting the antidote had crashed at sea. However, it now appeared that the culprits had successfully absconded with the antidote."Sullivan, what do you think their endgame is? Is it Raymond they're after? Or the wealth of the Carnegie family? If so, why take such a convoluted route and target me first?" Paige was riddled with doubt, the true intentions of these unknown adversaries still shrouded in mystery.After a moment of contemplation, Sullivan turned to Paige and asked, "Do you trust Raymond?"Paige was caught off guard by Sullivan's question, her response uncertain.Sullivan offered a faint smile. "Your hesitation suggests a lack of trust. Let me rephrase the question. If you were to use Raymond in a deal and he ended up in trouble, what would be your course of action?"This time, Paige responded without a moment's hesitation. "I've made arrangements. He won't come to any harm."Sullivan appeared taken aback. "Are you still the boss I know? Can you guarantee that everything will proceed without a hitch? What if something unforeseen occurs?"Paige had a moment of clarity. "Are you asking me to choose between Mrs. Sackler and Raymond?"Sullivan shook his head. "I've been working on replicating the antidote. We can reproduce the formula. However, Mrs. Sackler's body can only tolerate a limited number of doses. It's been five years, and if we can't administer the actual cure within a year, any additional doses will be futile. Her body won't withstand the strain. Even now, her health is precarious. Waking her up with the cure could result in permanent damage, potentially leading to memory loss or paralysis, and a diminished quality of life.As for Mr. Carnegie, when I shook his hand earlier, I noted that his physical condition isn't poor. The exact state of his leg is uncertain, but it seems like he could make a full recovery. If we were to exchange Mr. Carnegie for the cure but lose him in the process, you need to carefully consider the repercussions."Paige sat in stunned silence, Sullivan's words reverberating in her mind.Mrs. Sackler and Raymond, whom to choose?Was there even a choice to be made?They had come so far...After a lengthy pause, Paige finally spoke in a hushed tone. "I would stake my life on ensuring his safe return. If I fail, my life will serve as compensation for his."Raymond's innocence was beyond dispute.Sullivan sighed. "Let's hope our journey proceeds without a hitch."If anything were to befall Raymond of the Carnegie family, Paige's life would undoubtedly become exceedingly difficult.Sullivan was not one to avoid challenges. No one in their laboratory was. He couldn't quite comprehend why Paige had chosen to marry Raymond, but the fact remained that they were wed. Sullivan feared that if anything were to happen to Raymond, Paige might not feel the impact immediately, but she would undoubtedly harbor regret in the future.

Having concluded his conversation with Paige, Sullivan excused himself to attend to some pressing matters. In the solitude of the study, Paige found herself immersed in her thoughts, a silent contemplation that lasted for a good ten minutes before she was roused to action. She began to make a series of phone calls, each one as urgent as the last. "Are all pieces in place? Has everything been arranged?" she inquired, her voice echoing in the quiet room. The response from the other end of the line brought her some relief, and she hung up, feeling a modicum of ease seep into her.In the meantime, Charles, with a handful of documents, made a beeline for Raymond. "Raymond," he began, his voice laced with urgency, "I couldn't gather any more information; this is all we have for now. We'll need more time to procure anything else."With that, he handed over Sullivan's file to Raymond.Upon receiving the file, Raymond began to read aloud, "Sullivan, 26 years old, born in Country Y. Earned dual doctorates in medicine and biology at the age of 20. Resigned from the Royal Medical Academy and the Royal Hospital of Country Y at the age of 22, after which there was no further information."He looked up at Charles, a question in his eyes. "What do you mean by no further information? Isn't the guy right here?"Charles ran a hand through his hair, "It means that after that, there's no work history, no social life records—nothing. It's like he vanished."Raymond tapped Charles on the head with the file, "That's not vanishing; someone has erased his tracks. Such a talent, the royal family couldn't retain him, and now he's working for her."Raymond couldn't help but admire his young wife once again.Sullivan, it seemed, couldn't be allowed to examine his leg just yet. Otherwise, the secret would be out once he took a look.Charles voiced his concern, "Raymond, Sullivan's quite an enigma. If he's supposed to treat your leg tomorrow, what should we say?"Raymond, too, was at a loss for words. What could he possibly say about his leg?He glanced at Charles, "You're always asking me; what good are you?"Charles stood by, feeling wronged, which meant that Raymond hadn't thought of an excuse either!Having rested during the day, Paige was wide awake and not the least bit tired.She found herself unable to focus on anything else, her gaze fixed on her phone, waiting for a call.As the minutes turned into hours, she began to feel a wave of exhaustion wash over her.Late into the night, the temperature plummeted, and the room felt colder than before. Paige rose to turn up the heat in her room, then walked over to the window, peering through the illuminated darkness to witness the sizable snowflakes cascade to the ground.The winter in Country M was indeed fiercely cold.On nights with heavy snow, the morning would reveal roads near impossible to traverse.Paige stood by the window, transfixed by the falling snow, when suddenly, the jarring ring of a phone shattered the night's silence…