Chapter 58 Call Her Auntie Paige
Why would Paige call Bradley 'Dad'; the answer was now on the brink of revelation!
A sudden fact flashed through Xena's mind: Paige had mentioned her husband was a man with a disability.
And wasn't Louis's uncle Raymond confined to a wheelchair?
These thoughts sent her hear racing. If indeed, Paige had truly married Raymond Carnegie, she'd have outdone herself spectacularly.
Even as the heir to the Sackler family fortune, even if Xena managed to marry Louis successfully, she'd never outshine Paige. In fact, she'd be considered lower in status!
But there was no time to dwell on it; Raymond Carnegie had already entered the living room.
Upon arrival, Raymond instantly noticed the droplets from spilled coffee glistening in Paige's hair, and his fists clenched tight.
Raymond, having seen Louis's car pull into the family estate through the surveillance system, couldn't sit still in his office a moment longer. He immediately had Charles drive him over, only to find he was a step too late.
His woman was doused by another woman with coffee, in his own house.
The impatience in Raymond was so much so that he thought Charles was wheeling him too slowly and took over, wheeling himself straight to Paige.
His voice was deep and cold as he addressed the room, “What's the proper way to handle disrespectful juniors in our family, Louis?”
Louis, who'd been clinging to a sliver of hope, had been hoping that it wasn't as it seemed. But when he saw Raymond come in to back up Paige, he couldn't deny the truth any longer.
Xena was struck dumb as she watched Raymond making his way to Paige, looking like he was out for blood.
How could this be happening? This wasn't how things were supposed to unfold at all.
How could Paige possibly be with Raymond Carnegie? How could she even know him?
Yet there was Raymond, taking Paige's hand, "Darling, are you alright?"
The reference to "Darling" shattered any illusions Louis might have harbored.
He had known about Paige’s marriage, but part of him had always kept a linger of hope: Could her match possibly be as good as him, Louis? Since no one could top him, he felt entitled to keep pressing on for Paige.
But now, Louis's fantasies lay in ruins.
He watched as Raymond held onto Paige's hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Paige, meanwhile, was staring back at Raymond, her entire world buzzing around her. Ordinary, unassuming—how could any of these words ever have applied to Raymond Carnegie? Just last night, she had blindly brought home an expensive bottle of wine masquerading as a cheap grocery store find to share with him. And the food from yesterday—she didn't even dare let her thoughts wander. The man deserves an Oscar.
Instinctively, Paige tried to pull her hand free from Raymond's firm grip. His eyes were locked on hers, filled with words unsaid, held back by the crowd of people surrounding them. Paige realized the absurdity of her unwitting marriage to Raymond of the prestigious Carnegie family, a situation that left her speechless.
But, whatever the circumstances, it remained a private matter between herself and Raymond. With Louis and Xena present, certain things were best left undiscussed.
Raymond, noticing a silent understanding in Paige’s eyes, led her to the sofa next to them. With a tissue, he gently wiped the drops of moisture off her face and hair, his movements radiating a soft warmth.
Louis was too stunned to respond to Raymond's earlier remark. Bradley's voice cut through the tension, stern and unpleasing, "Stand straight and apologize. Louis, do you remember the rules?"
Louis turned his head slowly towards Bradley. Of course, he remembered the rules of their family; he had learned them by heart. But then his gaze shifted to Paige, he couldn't help but blurt out, "You two are really married? Why haven't I heard anything about it? You and Paige..."
Raymond swiveled his wheelchair to face Louis and said, "Since when do I need to report my marriage matters to you?"
Louis stammered, "Uncle Raymond, that's not what I meant. It's just... how could you possibly marry Paige?"
Hearing his cousin’s challenge, Raymond's eyes flashed dangerously, "Well, you may call her Auntie Paige now," he snapped.
Louis felt a pang in his throat, tempted to remind them that once upon a time, he and Paige had been the ones side by side, growing up together in the same village, sharing a simple life. If anyone was meant to be with Paige, it should have been him.
He knew Paige before Raymond did, and their bond was deeper. So how did it happen that Paige ended up with his uncle?
Paige remained silent. She knew that any explanations from Bradley and Raymond were to be dealt with later, privately.
For now, she couldn't help but be curious about how these two, who had a hand in her five-year stint in prison, were going to quell the storm.
Sitting there, Paige couldn't hide her intrigue at Bradley's supposed plan of action: stand straight and apologize, Bradley commanded.
Raymond threw a disdainful glance at Louis, “Cat got your tongue?”
Raymond was determined to stand up for his wife today and establish everyone’s social standing once and for all.
Louis looked at Paige and found himself tongue-tied.
How could he possibly call Paige auntie?
While Louis struggled with the formality, Xena found the situation even more unacceptable.
"How is that possible... You all must be duped!" Xena exclaimed in disbelief, "Grandpa, Uncle Raymond, she’s played you both! Do you even know who she is?"
On the couch, Paige's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile, amused by the unfolding drama. She had come to resign today and didn't expect to witness such an entertaining scene. Had she quit over the phone, she might never have discovered whom she had truly married!
And now, watching Xena frantically accuse her of deceiving Raymond and his father, Paige found it laughably absurd. After all, she hadn't married an ordinary man, but Raymond Carnegie of the most prominent family. Surely, he would have investigated her thoroughly.
Paige remained calm, staring at Xena, waiting to see what else she would say.
And Xena did not disappoint her. Pointing at Paige, she accused, “It's all your doing, Paige. You know exactly who you are. Fresh out of jail, and you dare to sink your claws into Louis' uncle. You did it on purpose, didn't you? When Grandma wanted you to break off the engagement with Louis, you targeted Raymond. You wanted to make us look bad, to embarrass me and the entire Sackler family.”
Choking with sobs, Xena lashed out at Paige, “What grudge do you have against me? Why would you do such a thing?”
With a turn of her head towards Bradley, tears streaming down her face, Xena cried out, “Grandpa, did you know? She was my sister... she's been to jail..."
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