Chapter 32 Paige's Playful Whining
Raymond didn't shy away from the question.
"When I was very young, there was an accident, a car crash. It was that very incident that took my older brother's life."
Paige never expected Raymond to be so forthright with her.
Despite caring for Raymond, she pondered the possibility of him wanting more than just her assistance; if there were a chance for him to stand on his own, surely he would embrace it.
Drying her hands, Paige turned to face him, "I have some medical knowledge. If you're open to it, I could take a look at your leg."
A year ago, such an offer might have sparked his hope. But now...
Raymond shook his head, "It's a lost cause. I've made peace with my condition; it's as good as it's going to get."
Then, looking at Paige, he asked hesitantly, "Does my condition make you uncomfortable?"
"Not at all. Actually, there’s something I’ve never told you. I..." Paige replied, hesitating slightly with her next words. She had something to confess, a secret she had kept since before her marriage to Raymond, something that weighed on her conscience like a fraudulent vow.
Paige paused mid-sentence, but Raymond looked up at her, prompting her to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Paige mustered her courage, "I was incarcerated for five years. I've just been released. I'm sorry I never told you or anyone before we got married...but I really needed someone to marry me."
Raymond had already known about Paige's stint in prison, but her voluntary admission took him by surprise.
Would time reveal more truths, like her previous engagement to Louis?
Raymond's thoughts quickly shifted. If Paige desperately needed a marriage, why not turn to Louis with whom she was engaged?
Skipping the prison inquiry, he asked instead, "What was the reason behind your urgency to get married?"
Paige, now turned away, answered, "After five years behind bars, I found myself without a home, family, or friends in this city."
With a smile, she turned back to Raymond and said, "Isn't marriage the best solution? Through it, I could have both a home and a family."
At that moment, Raymond had an epiphany; the Sackler family was supposed to be her family. But now he realized why she was on her own; her relationship with the Sackler family was full with hostility.
On the day of Margaret's birthday celebration, the five million Paige burned must have had something to do with her stint in prison.
Raymond had stopped Charles from digging further into Paige's dealings with the Sackler family.
But when Paige claimed to have neither a home nor family or friends, that, Raymond believed.
He didn't inquire further into her history of incarceration, but instead remarked, "Indeed."
Paige turned, perplexed. "What?"
Raymond, ready to head out in his wheelchair, corners of his mouth curving up slightly, replied, "You have a home now."
"Why are you leaving? Don't you want to chat a bit more?" Paige asked.
Raymond had already wheeled away some distance, his voice trailing back, "I saw you pouring oil into the pot. A refined man doesn't mess with kitchen fumes."
Paige's hand paused mid-pour. A refined man? Not mess with kitchen fumes? It sounded alright at first blush.
Yet, upon reflection, something felt off. Shouldn't she allow herself a little refinement too?
She thought for a while and decided to let it go; how could she make a fuss with a disabled person?
Besides, the towering height of the kitchen stovetop seemed to have nothing accessible to this man. He must've planned to find a wife who could cook, a picky one at that!
Still, Paige felt a pang in her heart as if etched by the words: "You have a home now." She unexpectedly felt reassured and contented.
Glancing back at Raymond, who’d settled into the living room and turned on the television, a smile lingered on Paige's face, a smile that inexplicably brought moisture to her eyes.
He'd heard about her five years in prison. Yet, he didn't grill her for the reason, nor did he show any disdain.
He accepted her past and told her she now had a home.
Paige could hardly recall the slights and sufferings of before. However, at this precise moment, she felt warm and secure next to the guy she had married abruptly.
Raymond, confined to his wheelchair, depending on caregivers for care, wasn't a fully able man, yet Paige found her heart swaying unexpectedly.
Lost in thought until the sizzling oil snapped her back to reality, Paige returned to her cooking.
Two dishes and a soup graced the table, their aroma permeating the small house; its compact size only intensified the homey feel.
Raymond had a good appetite that evening, perhaps because Paige shared her prison experience. Her growing trust must’ve lifted his spirits, evident as he helped himself to a little extra dinner.
After dinner, Raymond asked Paige, “You’re 23 now, so you were only 18 when you went to jail? Didn’t you have to drop out before graduating?”
Paige felt a twinge of guilt, but she nodded firmly, “Yeah, I didn't get to finish school back then, but you learn a lot even in prison. Still, it's true I don't have a degree.”
Raymond nodded with understanding, “If you want to continue your education, you know, go back to school, I could…”
Paige looked straight at Raymond and cut him off with a shake of her head, “No need. Money’s tight as it is, and with two jobs on my plate, there’s no spare time left.”
Time, that was the thing. There wasn’t any! Mornings were spent scouring the mansion for secret compartments, afternoons dedicated to business affairs at Universe, and now with the lab moved to Northwind, she barely managed to keep up with the home she cherished. Her days were filled to the brim.
And the evenings, the only time she had to herself, were consumed with business. Where was there room for further studies?
Besides, she might lack a diploma, but who could say she wasn't well-read and knowledgeable?
Raymond, misconstruing her haste as concern about finances, reassured her, “As for money, I’ve got it covered, don’t you worry. And there’s no need to split yourself between two jobs. Why not just take a class or something with that extra time? It could be good for you.”
Taking a deep breath, Paige tried to think of a way to say no. Then an idea came to her, and she looked straight at Raymond, her eyes innocent and wide. She lowered her head in a pretended gesture of despair as soon as she was positive he had noticed her defenseless puppy dog eyes.
In a voice as soft and sweet as molasses, she ventured, “Do you...do you look down on me?”
Raymond was speechless.
What on earth... Couldn’t she just speak her mind?
What sort of look was that?
With those piercing eyes on such a beautiful face, who could resist?
Raymond’s Adam's apple bobbed as he looked away, struggling to maintain his composure. “That’s not what I mean. A maid’s job is tough. Learning something new could lead to an easier job.”
Paige’s voice softened even further, delicately lifting her head, her gaze hooking Raymond’s reluctant but riveted eyes, “You are looking down on me…”
Raymond was flustered to the core!
