Chapter 127 The Unseen Hand Behind the Curtain
Paige was painfully cognizant of the fact that her abrupt departure with Raymond would trigger a flurry of activity. Julian would be marshaling all his resources to ensure her safety, while Charles, on the other hand, would be leveraging every ounce of Raymond's clout in Country M to locate them. Even so, such endeavors required time.In the interim, Paige and Raymond found themselves in the crosshairs of an unknown threat, the nature of which remained shrouded in uncertainty. This meant that passive waiting was not an option for Paige. However, their immediate predicament was the steel trap they found themselves in, a shipping container from which there seemed to be no escape. Paige was forced to admit that regardless of their abilities, their metallic prison was impregnable.Compounding their frustration was the fact that Paige's cell phone was essentially a paperweight without a signal. The possibility of transmitting their location or reaching out for assistance was non-existent.Turning to Raymond, Paige inquired, "Raymond, Mr. Carnegie, do you have any inklings about who might be orchestrating this?"She had mulled over this question before, and if her hunch was correct, both she and Raymond were in mortal peril, but that was just one potential scenario.If the individual Paige suspected was indeed the puppet master, they wouldn't have needed to resort to such convoluted measures. They could have executed their scheme back in Northwind with equal ease. Transporting them all the way here, especially given Raymond's control over the Hawke Corporation’s international operations, seemed to be playing into Raymond's hands.Raymond returned Paige's gaze, his countenance serene and composed despite his confinement to a wheelchair. Paige was at a loss to understand the source of his unshakeable confidence, but it didn't seem to perturb his equanimity in the least.In a surprising twist, Raymond managed to inject a note of levity into their grim situation, "Call me 'dear', and I'll tell you."Paige was taken aback. How could Raymond maintain a sense of humor in such dire circumstances?"Mr. Carnegie, I'm not joking. From the outset, it feels like we’ve been pawns in someone else’s game. Our clandestine marriage wasn’t widely known, yet it’s clear that our captors are privy to our relationship."Otherwise, they wouldn’t have insisted on Raymond's presence during the exchange.Raymond responded, "While our marriage is a secret, it wouldn’t pose much of a challenge for someone determined to uncover it. After all, marriage records are a matter of public record."Paige couldn’t refute this. Their secret marriage wasn't a secret in the eyes of the law—any diligent investigator could unearth it with sufficient effort."So, who might want you dead?" Paige asked, shifting the conversation back to their predicament.A sardonic chuckle escaped Raymond. "The list of those who wish me ill is rather extensive. It's virtually impossible to rank them."Paige could only stare, flabbergasted by the seriousness of their situation and the casualness of his response."Are you joking, Mr. Carnegie," Paige retorted with a wry smile. "You, a man plagued by health issues, confined to a wheelchair most of the time – and yes, you helm the international division of the Hawke Corporation – but does that truly make you a target? Are people really after your life? Could it be Louis?"Raymond dismissed the suggestion with a shake of his head. "No, it can't be him. While Louis harbors a deep-seated animosity toward me and would be glad to see me gone, he's cognizant of the fact that any misfortune befalling me would spell a significant loss for the Hawke Corporation, a prospect he wouldn't relish. Furthermore, he can't inherit my shares. He and his wifeare well aware of that."Paige hadn't anticipated Raymond's outright dismissal of Louis as a potential suspect.Changing the direction of their conversation, Raymond turned the spotlight on Paige. "Why are we only considering motives connected to me? What about you?"Paige responded with a chuckle. "Much like you, there are many who would rejoice at my demise."Although her identity hadn't been officially disclosed yet, most directors and shareholders of the Universe Group were aware of who she was.Her untimely death would undoubtedly be beneficial for them.Consequently, the list of those wishing her harm was far from short.This included Andrew, whom she had encountered at the anniversary celebration. Andrew had been contemplating making the company in Country M private, but Paige's arrival had dashed such aspirations.As such, the number of people wishing for Paige's death was equally high.Raymond smiled in response. "It appears we make quite the pair, don't we?"Even though Raymond was uncertain about which faction was targeting them, their current predicament – being trapped and helpless – was all too clear.With thoughts of Paige's associate, Sullivan, in mind, Raymond couldn't resist asking, "Sullivan's working for you now, primarily to assist with your mother-in-law's treatment, correct?"Paige was taken aback by Raymond's sudden interest in Sullivan.
In the past, she had deceived Raymond, claiming that Sullivan was present to attend to Raymond's injured leg. However, Raymond's inquiry suggested he had thoroughly researched Sullivan's history."Actually, Sullivan arrived in Country M on the flight following ours," Paige clarified. "He's been at Northwind, engrossed in finding a cure. Initially, we all believed that formulating the antidote would be a simple task, but to our astonishment, the first attempt was unsuccessful.It was then that Sullivan recognized the antidote's complexity exceeded his initial expectations. It wasn't something that could be concocted in an ordinary lab."Having perused Sullivan’s dossier, Raymond was already aware of Sullivan's extraordinary abilities. Such talent was rare, even among the most prestigious institutions, and yet, Sullivan was now standing by Paige's side. It was no surprise that numerous individuals were targeting Paige.Paige turned to Raymond in disbelief. "Money? You don't honestly believe that everything has a price tag, do you? Sullivan’s expertise isn't something that can be bought."Raymond pondered over it and found himself in agreement. "Sullivan assembled a team from the top research labs, and I doubt they could've been enticed solely by money. They all followed Sullivan, and yet he chose to align himself with you. Would you care to elaborate on why Sullivan decided to remain by your side? What is his motive?"If Raymond appeared petty for posing such questions, he was prepared to accept that characterization. After all, Sullivan was not only handsomebut also possessed a wealth of talent—talent that even the elite were willing to pay a premium for. Nonetheless, Sullivan had chosen to aid Mrs. Sackler with her antidote research, standing by Paige's side.Raymond was not well-versed in medical science, so he couldn't comprehend the intricacies involved in developing an antidote. However, if even Sullivan found it challenging, it spoke volumes about the task's difficulty.For Sullivan to align himself with Paige, he must be pursuing something. If it wasn't wealth, then what could it be?Paige discerned Raymond's implications. "Are these your concerns now, Raymond? At a time like this? Perhaps instead of having Sullivan attend to your leg, I should've had him examine your brain."Raymond's countenance hardened. "Isn't all this commotion because of the antidote? Since Sullivan is deeply entwined with it, I'm simply trying to unearth clues."Paige's brows furrowed. "You yourself stated that many followed Sullivan from the Royal Medical Academy due to his talent. Can't I possess talents that command the same respect and following? Does it always have to revolve around gender issues?"Throughout their alliance, Sullivan's relationship with Paige had shown no indications of romantic interest.Paige’s candid logic caught Raymond off guard, and he suddenly realized she had a valid point. Could Sullivan’s loyalty to Paige be attributed to her healing abilities rather than affection?"Are you suggesting you're superior to Sullivan?" Raymond's question, laced with skepticism, wasn't unexpected. While Paige had demonstrated some aptitude for healing, Raymond was unaware of the extent of her abilities.However, Sullivan's proficiency in medical treatment was well-documented, and anyone could discover it with a bit of research."Academia isn't about superiority," Paige retorted.Out of the blue, Raymond voiced, "Do the people around you comprehend Sullivan's importance? In times like these, it's vital they safeguard him. Otherwise, Sullivan will attract more attention than either of us."For some inexplicable reason, Raymond's thoughts veered off course.Simultaneously, he didn't neglect to warn Paige, "Conceal your healing abilities. Otherwise, you'll be jeopardizing your life."
