Chapter 289 Crazy Woman
Raymond's face was stern. "Francesca, you seem to underestimate Paige's love for me and overestimate the importance of Hawke Corporation to me."
Francesca was taken aback. She couldn't believe what he said.
Paige grew up with Louis. Back when she was just a country girl, powerless and at the mercy of others, she was pushed to take the blame and go to prison, yet she still agreed to an engagement with Louis.
She must have loved Louis back then.
But later, she married Raymond. Now, with a chance to correct that mistake, Francesca didn't believe Paige had deep feelings for Raymond.
If she truly had feelings, she wouldn't use Raymond as a bargaining chip.
Besides, Raymond must want Hawke Corporation.
Even she wanted to firmly grasp Hawke Corporation in her hands; how could Raymond not want it?
Francesca couldn't quite figure out Raymond's bottom line, but since he said she overestimated, it meant the chips she offered hadn't reached his desired value.
So, she could only continue to raise the stakes!
Francesca said, "Raymond if you say Paige has deep feelings for you, I think a woman's mind is hard to fathom. I'm not trying to sow discord. Since one Hawke Corporation isn't enough to move you, just tell me what you want. As long as I can do it, I will. I only want one result, and that is for you and her to divorce!"
Francesca once again emphasized her hope for Raymond and Paige to divorce, even at any cost.
Raymond said, "Francesca, your sudden change is really making it hard for me to understand. I remember you were the one who most wanted me to marry Paige, weren't you? Afraid that our relationship problems would hurt Louis."
Francesca said, "People change. Do you agree or not?"
Raymond said, "Maybe you should focus on supporting Louis well. You don't need to worry about my relationship with Paige."
Raymond's patience was exhausted, and he no longer wanted to continue talking with Francesca.
He stood up and straightforwardly left.
Francesca gritted her teeth in frustration. Her mission had failed; Raymond hadn't wavered at all.
She had come prepared with a backup plan today. As long as Raymond asked, she was ready to be extorted. No matter what conditions he proposed, Francesca would agree.
But Raymond didn't waver at all.
Even if Raymond had discussed terms and prices with her, Francesca would have considered it a win today.
At this moment, Francesca looked at the hidden camera in the corner and sighed. Today's plan was a complete failure.
It seemed she needed to think of other ways.
Francesca stood up, put away the camera, and glanced at the coffee on the table. Raymond's guard against her was still too high; he hadn't taken a single sip of the coffee.
After Raymond left the café, Charles had already brought the car around.
Once Raymond got in the car, Charles said, "Mrs. Carnegie came out today with two bodyguards. They're not from the Carnegie family; they must be hired from outside. Mr. Carnegie, should we check their identities?"
Raymond said, "Do it discreetly, don't draw any attention."
Francesca used to go out with bodyguards, but she never hired any.
Charles said, "Understood, Mr. Carnegie. Rest assured, we won't be exposed."
Raymond really couldn't understand Francesca's unusual behavior.
In the past, she fought for Hawke Corporation but was otherwise very low-key.
Her attitude towards Paige had always been neutral, but now it seemed worse.
She was desperate for them to divorce.
This would have been impossible before. Even when Lily appeared, Francesca had strongly hoped he wouldn't divorce Paige.
She was worried that after the divorce, Louis would openly pursue Paige.
Now she was even offering him benefits to divorce Paige.
Raymond's mind was racing with all this, but he couldn't figure out Francesca's motive.
"Keep an eye on her recently, don't let her get close to Paige." Paige already had plans for Francesca, and if Francesca kept making small moves and provoking Paige, Raymond really wasn't sure how Paige would deal with Francesca.
He had thought she had been lying low recently, reducing her presence, but now she was suddenly making all these strange moves. Raymond really couldn't understand it.
He didn't know what Francesca's next plan would be, but he knew she wouldn't stop there.
So, he had to find a way to protect Paige.
Charles was puzzled, "Do we still need to protect Mrs. Carnegie? You know, Mrs. Carnegie..."
"She doesn't need your protection, just make sure Francesca doesn't get close to her."
Charles nodded, "Got it, I understand."
Charles didn't dare to be negligent. After driving back to Willow Crest Estate, he immediately arranged for people to keep an eye on things. Additionally, he focused on investigating the unfamiliar bodyguards Francesca had brought with her.
The Universe Group.
Paige felt a bit unwell when she woke up, but it wasn't bad enough to keep her from going to work. However, after a meeting at the office, she felt even worse.
In the past, Paige wouldn't pay much attention to minor health issues and would recover quickly on her own.
Back in her office, Paige held her head, and Amelia quickly brought her some hot water. "Ms. Ellison, maybe you should see a doctor. You don't look well. If something's wrong, you shouldn't delay it. If you drag it out, it could turn into something serious."
Paige waved her hand and took the hot water Amelia handed her, sipping it slowly. "It's nothing serious, don't make a fuss. I might have a slight cold. Raymond even specifically called you over to take care of me, but I'm not that fragile."
Pearl walked in with a stack of documents. Seeing Paige's poor condition and Amelia's concern, she was about to leave with the documents.
Although it was work, it wasn't urgent. However, as Pearl turned to leave, Paige noticed her. "Pearl, what are you hiding for? Bring the documents over. I'm not dead. Why take them away after bringing them in?"
Since Paige had seen her, Pearl had no choice but to bring the documents over. "Ms. Ellison, you're not feeling well today. Maybe you should rest. I can handle this work."
Paige replied, "You've already filtered these once. You've handled what you could. Bring them over. It's just a slight cold; I can still work."
Pearl was helpless. Since Paige insisted on working, she had no choice but to give her the documents.
Paige forced herself to continue working, and Amelia felt a bit heartbroken watching her.
Amelia, pampered by her family, would go to the office if she felt like working and daydreaming in her office. If she didn't feel like working, no one would force her. She had lived a life of comfort and ease.
But Paige, despite her high position, was always busy.
Amelia, who was there to take care of Paige, saw how busy she was and how she had a cold. She had someone buy medicine and make a cup of it for Paige in the break room.
Paige took the cup from her desk and drank it, noticing the taste had changed.
She turned to Amelia, "Thank you."
Amelia said, "You don't need to thank me, it's my duty. Beside, you took me for a friend."
Paige smiled.
Despite being cared for, her cold didn't improve.
By the afternoon, it had worsened. Paige felt weak all over, her head was foggy, and she even had a slight fever.
Thinking that Raymond would come to pick her up after work, she feared he would nag endlessly if he saw her condition worsen.
Usually, Paige would tough it out, but this time, she didn't.
After more persuasion from Amelia and Pearl, Paige compromised, fearing Raymond's nagging. "Alright, alright, I'll see a doctor, okay? But I won't go to the hospital. I'll have Locas come over and give me a shot; it'll be quick."
Seeing a doctor, taking medicine, and getting shots were standard treatments, but they were too slow for her body. Locas was faster.
Amelia said, "As long as it solves the problem."
Paige then called Locas, asking for a shot. Locas's medications were top-notch, though expensive and not usually available on the market.
Hearing it was for Paige, Locas immediately dropped his work and brought the medication to the Universe Group.
Locas personally administered the shot to Paige, while nagging, "You should take a break from work and rest for a while. This is the result of years of overwork and stress. You need to take care of yourself, or your health will only get worse."
Hearing this, Pearl and Amelia became anxious.
Paige frowned, "Can you guys stop making a fuss? I've had special training; my physical condition is much better than yours."
Paige was right. After five years of training, her physical condition had indeed improved significantly.
But Locas interrupted her, "Is your training the same as others'? It's like building a house; others have a foundation from childhood, but you don't. You know what I mean."
Locas didn't plan to stop talking, and Paige glared at him repeatedly.
After giving Paige the shot, Locas told Pearl and Amelia, "She's fine now. This is a special medication; she'll recover quickly."
Pearl said, "That's good. Thank you, Dr. Ashton."
Paige said, "Alright, I won't keep you. Go back to your lab!"
Locas said, "Two new people joined the lab recently. When you have time, come and check them out."
Paige nodded, "I'll find time to visit. But didn't you tell me to rest? Why are you making me worry about the lab?"
Locas replied, "It's pointless to tell you; you won't listen anyway."
Paige couldn't help but laugh.
Locas really understood her.
Locas sighed. He admired Paige's passion and ability, which was why he followed her.
Although Paige spent most of her time at the Universe Group and rarely had time to research with him, Locas believed that if a breakthrough was needed, Paige would be the key.
After Locas returned to the lab, Paige rested in her office, and her symptoms began to ease.
By the time Raymond came to pick her up after work, Paige had mostly recovered.
However, Paige didn't mention her worsening condition in the afternoon, but Amelia and Pearl had reported it.
Seeing that Paige was almost better, Raymond decided to take her out for dinner.
When they left Willow Crest Estate, Charles mentioned that there were suspicious people outside. Raymond worried they were Francesca's people, so he decided to take Paige to another house for the night to avoid Francesca.
Unexpectedly, as they were about to have dinner at a restaurant, just as Raymond pulled out a chair for Paige to sit on, two uninvited guests approached. "What a coincidence, you're dining here too?"
Hearing the voice, Raymond looked over, his face darkening as if a storm was about to break.
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