Chapter 238 Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you.
Paige knew Raymond couldn't get rid of Margaret. She hadn't expected Margaret to track her down here. Paige was all set for a quiet, peaceful evening. But now that Margaret had shown up, hiding wasn't an option.
Paige walked over to Raymond. "She's here for me," she said, looking at him. "I'll deal with it. If she doesn't see me, she won't leave."
If Paige was unwilling to face it, Raymond would naturally handle the trouble for her. However, if she wanted resolve it herself, he wouldn't stop her. Raymond nodded and opened the door for Paige.
Margaret stood outside, looking frail. The moment she saw Paige, tears filled her eyes. "Paige, you finally agreed to see me."
Paige's face was stern. "You leave me no choice but to face you. Mrs. Sackler, I don't want anything to do with you or the Sackler family, got it? I'm not part of the Sackler family. I'm Xanthe, someone who has nothing to do with you."
Margaret reached out to grab Paige's hand, but Paige dodged her. Margaret's tears fell. "Paige, it's all my fault. Everything is because of me. But I was kept in the dark too. I didn't know Xena and her family were so vicious. Can you forgive me? I'm willing to make it up to you."
Since the incident, Paige had calmed down and regained her composure. Seeing Margaret still so emotional, Paige said, "It's too late to discuss this here. Go back to the hospital. I'll find a time to sit down and talk with you. But don't come looking for sympathy before you've recovered. If you want a proper conversation, leave now. Otherwise, I'll disappear, and you won't find me again."
Paige had the means to back up her words. Margaret was scared by Paige's threat. If Paige really refused to see her, Margaret feared she'd never see her again. "You really are willing to talk to me..."
"Just to talk," Paige cut her off.
Margaret knew even just talking was a rare chance. She couldn't argue and had to agree. "Alright, I'll go back now and won't bother you anymore. You should rest." Knowing Paige would give her a chance, Margaret obediently left. She turned to her companions. "Let's go back to the hospital."
Once Margaret left, Paige sighed in relief, closed the door, and gently hugged Raymond's waist. Paige sighed. "What’s it gonna take for her to leave me alone? Do you think there's a chance I'm not really her granddaughter? If we could prove that, maybe she'd back off."
Raymond could see how tired Paige was. He gently held her. "This isn't something that'll get fixed overnight. She's super emotional right now. She treated you like crap before, and now she's scared you'll never come back to the Sackler family. That's why she's so desperate for your forgiveness."
Paige leaned into Raymond's arms. "How am I supposed to forgive her? Years stuck in the countryside away from my mom, five years in prison. I'm not a kid anymore; I don't need this family or her apology. It means nothing to me now."
The damage Margaret had done couldn't be undone with an apology or any amount of compensation. Sometimes, once harm was done, making amends was pointless. Paige didn't want anything from Margaret; she just wanted her to stay away.
After venting a bit, Paige took a deep breath. "I'm going to visit my mom at the hospital tomorrow and have a chat with her. Even if she gets upset, the doctors are right there to help."
Raymond almost chuckled at her words. "Alright, you can talk to her wherever you want. It's late, let's get some rest."
Paige nodded. Raymond knew they needed to tire themselves out to clear their minds and get some good sleep.
In the dead of night, the only thing that could happen between a couple was intimacy. Both Paige and Raymond were no strangers to this. After a few rounds, they were indeed exhausted, and Paige drifted into a deep sleep.
Once Raymond was sure Paige was out, he tucked her in and finally let himself sleep. That night, Paige slept soundly.
Meanwhile, at the psychiatric hospital, Elijah looked at Xena curled up in the corner and felt his heart break.
The once proud and arrogant Xena now looked disheveled and terrified. She hugged her knees, burying her head, occasionally glancing at Elijah with wary eyes.
Elijah didn't dare get too close, afraid he'd scare her. He placed some fresh food in front of her, coaxing, "It's your favorite. I got it myself, so it's clean and fresh. I know you hate this place, but the doctors here can help you. I know the food here sucks, so I'll bring you your favorites. Xena, I won't hurt you, don't be scared, okay? Even if the whole world hurts you, I won't. Trust me, alright?"
Xena stayed curled up, listening to Elijah's soothing words, but she retreated further. She was still scared.
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