Chapter 272 I Use Connections
In the evening, Paige didn't pull an all-nighter, and Raymond hit the sack early with her. The next day, after Paige headed to work, Raymond took care of the kitchen chores and personally brought her a sweet lunch at noon.
In the afternoon, Raymond swung by the Carnegie Manor.
After all, Luna's death was somewhat related to Francesca, so Raymond needed to fill Philip in on the situation.
When Raymond got back, Philip peeked into his car, looking a bit let down, probably because Paige wasn't with him.
Philip turned to Raymond. "Didn't bring Paige along?"
Raymond replied, "If you're worried about her, you can visit her at Willow Crest Estate yourself."
Philip frowned slightly. "She's not in the best mood right now. I'd rather let her have some peace than bother her with my visits. Besides, with you around, I'm not too concerned."
Raymond kept walking upstairs without stopping. Philip could tell Raymond had something important to discuss. Ever since Raymond grew up, he rarely came back.
Raymond stayed quiet, but Philip followed him upstairs. When Raymond headed to his study, Philip knew it was serious.
Usually, they could chat in the living room or Philip's study. But Raymond going to his own study meant something big was up.
Raymond walked ahead, with Philip and Sean trailing behind. As they neared the study, Philip told Sean to stay back.
Philip stepped into Raymond's study and closed the door. Raymond sat down, and Philip's face turned serious.
Philip spoke first, "What's going on?"
Raymond asked, "Do you know the details about Luna's death?"
Even though Philip didn't get out much, he was in the loop. Hearing this, Philip had a hunch about what Raymond was going to say.
"I heard a bit. Is it really tied to Francesca?"
Philip couldn't wrap his head around why Francesca would do that to Luna.
Everyone knew how much Paige loved Luna, and Francesca's actions robbed Paige of the chance to save her.
When Luna's death was mentioned, the tension in the room became palpable.
Raymond explained, "To stop Louis from donating a kidney to Luna, Francesca went to see Luna herself. She disabled the surveillance, and her team took out the bodyguards and medical staff inside and outside Luna's room. This gave Xena, who had escaped from the psychiatric hospital, a chance to act. Paige isn't planning to let her off easy."
Philip dreaded this situation. They were family, but he couldn't protect Francesca or ignore the potential fallout.
Seeing Philip anxious but silent, Raymond said, "Paige doesn't plan to take her life."
Philip sighed in relief. "Thank her for me." He paused before continuing, "I'm ashamed. I should be protecting you two, but Francesca is my only..."
Philip choked up, and Raymond got his pain.
"I owe you too much. Don't worry, Paige knows her limits. She just wants to teach Francesca a lesson."
Philip felt reassured. "She still values family. You married the right person."
Raymond gave a small smile. "That's because you had the good sense to push me to marry her." Then, getting serious, he added, "I'm really grateful to you."
Philip got a bit emotional. "Let's not dwell on that. Once Paige settles down and we get through all this, I hope you two have a child before I go."
Raymond, for once, agreed with Philip. "I hope so too."
They chatted a bit longer, touching on company matters.
Initially, if Louis had donated a kidney to Luna, Raymond would have respected him, not taking advantage of the situation or thinking about removing him from the group.
But things had changed. After Francesca's actions, Paige despised her. To lift Paige's spirits, Raymond might just take the top spot in the group and hand it to Paige.
Even if he didn't give it to Paige, Raymond taking the position himself wasn't out of the question. Many in the group had been hoping for Raymond to return and lead Hawke Corporation. So, Louis might have a tough time in the group then.
After discussing the company's issues, Philip said, "Now, you have the final say in the group's affairs. If you think Louis is capable, let him gain more experience in that position. If not, and you don't want to manage it yourself, hiring a professional team from outside is also an option."
Philip never forced anything. But Raymond still wanted to uphold the Carnegie Family's honor.
"He's doing well enough. but lately, I've been giving him some challenges to help him grow. After dealing with Luna's matter, Paige and I have more important things to handle."
Philip immediately asked, "Have you found a lead on that fund?"
Raymond said, "We might have. I believe Paige and I can track down that secret fund."
Philip nodded. "I never expected you two to be on the same page. If you can find it, that money in your hands could benefit all of humanity."
Raymond checked his watch. "It's about time. I need to pick up Paige from work."
Philip frowned slightly. "Are you really not planning to handle the business for a while?"
Raymond replied, "Paige is emotionally unstable right now. No business is more important than her well-being. I've told you everything today. Soon, we'll take Francesca and Louis to the border, so you don't need to worry."
Seeing Raymond eager to leave, Philip nodded and went to open the door. Raymond buttoned his coat and naturally walked out through the door Philip opened.
After Philip came out, he closed the door and followed Raymond a few steps behind. When they reached the stairs, Raymond paused, letting Philip walk ahead. Raymond then followed, and they unconsciously adjusted their positions.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Sean immediately reported, "Mr. Carnegie is back and wants to see Raymond."
Raymond frowned slightly, glanced at Sean, and then took out his phone to check. Raymond had set his phone to silent mode and saw several missed calls from Louis.
However, Raymond had no intention of seeing Louis. So, he immediately turned and said, "I'm running late to pick up Paige from work. Sean, bring the car to the back garden gate. I'll leave from there."
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