Chapter 147 Xanthe, Something's Wrong
Before the nurse could complete her sentence, Paige, gripped by urgency, interjected, "What's wrong with my Mrs. Sackler?" The nurse responded, "Mrs. Sackler has regained consciousness. She's uttering something we can't decipher. It seems she’s seeking you. We attempted to administer her medication, but it ended up spilled."Upon receiving this news, Paige promptly abandoned her task and dashed downstairs. Inside the room, just as the nurse had described, housekeepers were tidying up the scattered medication around Mrs. Sackler, who was whimpering and weeping on the bed. Her speech faculties hadn't fully returned, limiting her ability to articulate her thoughts, and the frustration had driven her to tears. Perhaps her panic stemmed from waking up without Paige's presence. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces clad in medical uniforms, the absence of a single known face would understandably distress her. Paige quickly approached, offering comfort, "Mrs. Sackler, you're awake? I'm here, I've arrived." Paige took a seat by the bed, cradling Mrs. Sackler until her sobs began to subside. Once Mrs. Sackler had calmed, Paige released her and explained, "I've been in the house, just not in the same room. Don’t worry, don’t be afraid. This isn't a hospital; it's our home, yours and mine. The doctors and nurses here have been specifically hired to look after you, and none of them will harm you." As Paige uttered these words, she suddenly wondered if the medical staff who cared for Mrs. Sackler before her illness might have mistreated her, causing her current fear. Paige then addressed the medical staff in the room, instructing them, "Please step out for a moment, I can handle things from here."Although Paige was a highly skilled doctor herself, she couldn't personally treat Mrs. Sackler, her only remaining kin. It wasn't merely a matter of time, given her perpetually packed schedule. More crucially, her mental state was compromised - the sense of urgency and anxiety clouding her judgement could lead to errors.Once the medical staff had vacated the room, Paige began to massage Mrs. Sackler."The doctor said all your bodily functions will gradually recover, so there's no need to rush. If you can't speak yet, we'll take it slow, and please try not to cry," she consoled Mrs. Sackler, only to witness a tear trickle down her cheek.Paige extended her hand and wiped the tear away, offering a reassuring smile, "You have no idea how overjoyed I am that you woke up. Don't worry, I'm always here for you. I work upstairs in the study. I'll instruct the nurses to fetch me the moment you wake up."Tears continued to stream down Mrs. Sackler's face as she listened. The past few years had been nothing short of torture for her.Witnessing Mrs. Sackler in this state, Paige's heart twisted in agony, but she couldn't let it show. She had to maintain her composure.Although Mrs. Sackler could only produce monotonous sounds, Paige understood her perfectly."I'm doing well. Oh, I forgot to mention, I got married. My husband visited you while you were still unconscious. You just weren't aware. He's currently overseas, but he'll come to see you upon his return."Paige's heart clenched as she realized what Mrs. Sackler was truly inquiring about - her time spent in jail.Despite her reluctance to discuss it, Paige replied sincerely, "It's all in the past now. You've been unconscious for over five years, and I was released earlier this year. But you know, in prison, I met many people who taught me a lot. I had a better experience there than at home. It was there that I truly began to perceive and comprehend the world. Now I've returned with skills and knowledge I never possessed before. Those five years weren't about confinement; they were about living and learning in a different environment. I can assure you, from here on out, no one will be able to mistreat you or me - not even the Sackler family."With these words, Paige added emphasis.
The frail fingers of Mrs. Sackler twitched, weakly clasping Paige's hand. Her grip was feeble, and it was only with Paige's support that she could maintain any semblance of a hold. Paige was acutely aware of the unspoken question that lingered in everyone's mind regarding Xena. "She's doing well," Paige declared with an unwavering confidence. "With Margaret, the matriarch of The Sackler Group, keeping a watchful eye, everyone is protective of her. How could she not be faring well?"As Paige's words filled the room, a hint of agitation seemed to wash over Mrs. Sackler. She muttered incoherently, "Ah, ah... ah..." Paige couldn't decipher everything, but the word "happy" resonated clearly.A sigh of resignation echoed in Paige's mind. Xena was, after all, a part of her own lineage. Now that Mrs. Sackler had regained consciousness, it was evident that her thoughts were still consumed by Xena. Despite Xena being the source of her injuries, Mrs. Sackler's concern for her remained steadfast upon awakening.The animosity between Paige and Xena ran deep. Despite sharing the same maternal bond, the blood ties between them felt like an insurmountable chasm. The likelihood of them reconciling and becoming like typical siblings seemed grim.However, Paige wasn't overly concerned with that. Her primary focus was on Mrs. Sackler's swift recovery.Despite Mrs. Sackler's words being muffled, Paige could discern her yearning. "Mrs. Sackler, she's very occupied. You know the magnitude of the Sackler Group; she simply doesn't have the time. I haven't informed her of your awakening yet. Let's not rush, okay? In a few days, when you've regained some strength and we've initiated the rebuilding process, then I'll tell her, okay?"Mrs. Sackler responded with a faint shake of her head, mumbling, "Ah... ah..."Confronted with the undeniable reality of Mrs. Sackler's affection for Xena, Paige felt a sense of helplessness, but she refrained from pressing further.Instead, she shifted the conversation towards Raymond - his towering stature, his handsome features, and his past of deceiving people with a wheelchair. Mrs. Sackler listened attentively, her spirits seemingly buoyed by the discussion, which offered Paige a modicum of solace.After personally feeding Mrs. Sackler and administering her medication, Paige requested Pearl to bring her work into the room. However, as soon as everything was set, Mrs. Sackler drifted into sleep.Thus, Paige decided to retreat to the study to resume her work.With a heavy heart, Paige suggested, "Let's arrange a time to invite those two from The Sackler family over. Mrs. Sackler remembers she has another daughter, and seeing her might aid her recovery."Pearl expressed her doubts. "Xanthe, everything Mrs. Sackler is enduring today is a result of their actions. What if their visit exacerbates Mrs. Sackler's condition?"Paige sighed, "She keeps calling out for Xena, her own flesh and blood after all. She probably can't let go, let alone harbor resentment. Let's arrange a meeting; it's bound to happen sooner or later anyway."Pearl frowned, "Isn't Xanthe getting off easy? Why not reveal your true identity when the time comes, so they wouldn't dare mistreat Mrs. Sackler? They would have to compensate her doubly. What do you think?"Paige shook her head, "Mrs. Sackler still thinks about her. If she shows any remorse or starts treating Mrs. Sackler better... When I see her at the Universe Group, I might offer her a bone, just as a way to deposit some retirement money in the Sackler family's account. After all, she still bears the title of Ms. Sackler."Pearl nodded, "Okay, I'll make the arrangements."Paige reciprocated with a nod of agreement.No sooner had Pearl exited the room than Julian burst in, bringing a gust of wintry air with him as he hurried over to Paige. "Xanthe, we've got trouble!"
