Chapter 287 Going Back
When Paige came out of the bathroom, she saw Francesca tidying up.
Paige asked in confusion, "What are you doing?"
Francesca turned and smiled slightly at Paige, "Packing up, going home with Louis tomorrow."
Paige was completely puzzled.
Paige wanted to ask what made her change her mind so quickly. But in the end, Paige didn't ask.
Once Francesca left, Paige could proceed with her plans.
Seeing that Paige seemed surprised by her decision, Francesca quickly changed the subject, "Will you feel uncomfortable sharing a room with me tonight?"
Paige said, "You should know, whether I'm comfortable or not, it doesn't matter to me."
After all, that was not the point. The point was to hear Francesca voluntarily tell the truth. But obviously, Francesca wasn't planning to say anything, and Paige wouldn't hear any truth.
However, it wasn't a wasted trip. At least, Paige saw Francesca's panic with her own eyes.
Paige saw it clearly. Francesca must be hiding something and one day, Paige would find out what it was.
Francesca looked at Paige awkwardly. The reason for the awkwardness was that Francesca always had an indescribable emotion when facing Paige. "If you're uncomfortable, I can sleep in Louis's car for a night, or in the room next door, it's no problem."
Paige said, "How could I let you do that? After all, this is your room."
"Alright then, I'll go wash up first."
With that, Francesca hurried to the bathroom. It was like she was rushing to hide in there. Once inside, she immediately turned on the water to cover any other sounds.
Louis and Raymond were sharing a room, and they were much more casual.
Because the room had two beds, after washing up, each had a separate bed to lie on.
Raymond was casually reading a book from the room, and Louis looked at him, not knowing if he was actually absorbing the content.
But Raymond spoke up after noticing Louis looking at him, "If you want to read, there's more over there. You can take one. If you want the one I'm holding, I can give it to you."
Raymond was just killing the time.
Louis said, "I recognize the words, but I don't understand the meaning. I just don't get why you brought Paige here. You know..."
Before Louis could finish, Raymond interrupted him, "Know what? I only know that if Paige didn't come, your mom wouldn't go back with you. As long as she wants, she can stay here as long as she likes."
Louis's words made Raymond laugh. "Francesca living a monastic life here just gives more reasons for the higher-ups to oppose you. Isn't your position and status in the company what you care about the most?"
Raymond's words hit Louis's sore spot.
He was right. Louis and Raymond were different. Raymond had built his network and everything else through his own efforts early on. But Louis relied on Francesca's years of management. He had made some progress in recent years, but it couldn't compare to Raymond's.
So, if the outside world suspected that something was wrong with Francesca, especially mentally, Louis might lose even the little support he had.
Louis couldn't accept such a loss, so he wanted Francesca to go back with him.
Louis, who seemed to be angry, stopped responding to Raymond.
Raymond seemed to see through everything, while Louis couldn't understand what was going on in Raymond's mind.
If Raymond wanted to compete for the company's power, now was a good time. He could take advantage of this opportunity. But if he didn't want to compete for the position, then why had the recent personnel changes put Louis in such a passive position? These were all things Louis couldn't figure out.
Louis turned over in bed, no longer looking at Raymond.
Raymond continued to read leisurely, showing no intention of lying down to sleep.
On the other side, the room had only one big bed. Paige, unceremoniously, leaned against the headboard first, holding a book.
However, the book she was reading was one that Francesca had left by the bed, presumably what Francesca usually read before sleeping.
When Francesca came out of the bathroom, she walked over to the bed.
She said once again, "Paige, if you're uncomfortable, I can..."
Paige put down the book and simply pulled the covers over herself, "It's been a busy day, I'm tired, I'm going to sleep."
Francesca, helpless, could only lie down gently on the other side of the bed and turn off the light, afraid of disturbing Paige's rest.
Francesca and Paige were lying far apart.
It was obvious that neither was very comfortable. Once the light was off, the world turned completely dark.
Suddenly, Paige asked, "Is hell as dark and quiet as tonight?"
Francesca almost jumped out of bed at Paige's words.
She thought, 'Was Paige implying that the things she did deserve to go to hell?'
Francesca even breathed cautiously. "Maybe there's no such thing as hell or heaven in this world. If there were, bad people would always be in hell. In that case, there would be no bad people in this world, and everyone's life would be happy."
Francesca was nervous for a moment, but it didn't mean she was scared.
Paige smiled faintly, "Let's sleep."
Whether there was hell or heaven, she didn't know. She only knew she would never see her mother again.
That night, Francesca didn't even know when she fell asleep.
But when she woke up in the morning, she didn't see Paige.
After getting up, Francesca immediately came out to ask and found out that Paige had gone back with Raymond in the middle of the night.
Francesca stood dazed at the doorway, looking in the direction back home.
Just then, Louis walked over. "Mom, I have to go back to the company today. Let's go back. In the past few days, Uncle Raymond has reassigned most of my subordinates. If I continue to slack off, the company might as well be given up."
Francesca turned to look at Louis and suddenly gently grabbed his arm, "Louis, in the past, I was very selfish, imposing all my wishes on you. If you're tired and want to rest, I won't oppose it. If there's a girl you want to pursue, I won't interfere either. In the days to come, I just hope you can live happily."
When Francesca said this to Louis, he was completely stunned.
This was clearly not Francesca's character.
However, after Francesca finished speaking, Louis immediately added, "Even Paige?"
Francesca stared at Louis for a moment and then surprisingly said, "As long as you like it."
With that, Francesca went back to the room to start packing.
She was going back too.
But Louis stood at the doorway, completely unable to process it.
Louis watched Francesca calmly packing as if she really hoped he would pursue Paige.
Louis was completely unsettled and stepped into the room, following Francesca and nagging, "Mom, do you even know what you just said? Liking Paige is one thing, but asking me to ruin her marriage is another."
Francesca, packing her things, seemed to have run out of patience.
She didn't know where the anger came from, but she threw the things in her hands heavily onto the bed. "Louis, do you know how many things in this world don't go as planned? I want to cleanse myself of my sins. But you won't give me that chance. I came here without even bringing a phone. Yet worldly matters still drag me back. Louis, tell me, what else is impossible? If you want something, go for it. So what if she's married to Raymond? If she can marry Raymond, why can't she marry you?"
Francesca suddenly smiled, glanced at her luggage, and lost the mood to pack. "Let's go, we'll go back now. Leave these things; we'll have someone come and get them later."
If it weren't for Paige sharing a room with her last night, she would have gone back then.
She had more important things to do.
Louis was so shocked by Francesca that he could barely speak. "Mom, what are you talking about?"
Louis almost thought Francesca had become a different person after a trip to the church. "What did Paige say to you last night? Did something happen between you two?"
Louis couldn't understand. If nothing had happened, how could there be such a sudden change?
A change so drastic that Louis could hardly accept it!
Francesca had completely reverted to her old self, even more sharp.
Francesca just kept walking towards the parking lot, and Louis hurriedly followed. "Mom, can we talk this through?"
Francesca turned back, "Louis, I wanted to live a monastic life in the church, but you all want me to go back. Since you won't let me let go, then I'll do what needs to be done. Haven't you always liked Paige? You loved her even more than Raymond, isn't it? When you were kids, she was abandoned in the countryside, and you were trafficked there. Even then, you met and grew up together. Later, due to some coincidences, you lost each other. Now, you have the chance to pursue her again, so why not? You can definitely make Paige happy. As for Raymond, I don't think he can make Paige happy. If you need my help in any way, just let me know, and I'll definitely help you."
Louis, somewhat helpless, said, "Mom, she is married."
Francesca smiled faintly, "That doesn't matter. I know you like her, you want her. The one who can make her happy is you, not Raymond. They will break up sooner or later. If you have feelings for Paige, start planning your future together now. Trust me, it won't be long before you have a chance."
With that, Francesca continued walking towards the car.
The driver was already standing there, and when Francesca approached, he opened the car door for her.
Before getting in, Francesca looked back at the church. She had to go back.
Louis was completely confused. He didn't understand why Francesca would say that Raymond and Paige wouldn't last, or that he would soon have a chance.
But Louis was very clear that Francesca was acting very strange!
Louis got into the car, and Francesca immediately reached out, "Did you bring my phone?"
Louis nodded immediately, "Yes."
Then, Louis took out the phone.
Francesca took the phone, turned it on, and started typing a message while continuing to talk to Louis. "I heard Xena has been found."
Louis said, "I heard a bit. Elijah's method worked. She was about to be smuggled out of the country but was intercepted."
Actually, with Xena found, Francesca's suspicions could be cleared.
But Francesca didn't seem happy at all.
Francesca asked, "What's Elijah's situation now?"
Louis replied, "Not sure. Why are you interested in his matters?"
Francesca said, "Just asking."
Francesca sent the message: [Kill her]. Then the screen went dark.
Louis's eyes flickered. He thought he had seen something wrong.
But when he tried to look more closely, Francesca had already put the phone away, and Louis saw nothing...
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