Chapter63Probing the Windrain Tower
Louis was too overwhelmed to even begin to unravel his own feelings, let alone deal with Xena's.
Being released from their arranged marriage should have been good news for Louis.
Shrugging off Xena's grasp, he said flatly, "The elders have spoken. Let's just leave it at that for now. I've got a business meeting waiting, so I should be going."
With those parting words, Louis stood up and walked out, he was lost in his thoughts. It was beyond his wildest dreams that Paige would marry Raymond and become his in-law.
Louis left without looking back, leaving Xena to fall into despair.
Their meticulously arranged wedding was gone as if it had never existed at all. Both sets of parents simply came together and finalized everything.
Now, Xena was left without an option, just like Louis had been when their engagement was first decided.
Margaret saw the tension and awkwardness that filled the room and made a hasty exit. "I've got other matters to attend to. I'll leave you to it," she said quickly, pulling Xena along with her.
Bradley frowned, acutely aware that The Sackler family clearly didn't take Paige's feelings into consideration.
It was Paige's wedding, after all. They were supposed to choose an auspicious date, but Margaret hardly took a moment longer than necessary to whisk Xena away, showcasing an alarming bias.
Despite Bradley's discontent, he understood that meddling in the Sackler family’s matters was not his prerogative. His role was solely to ensure that the Carnegie family adequately compensated Paige.
The guests had left, and Louis hadn't lingered. Bradley’s gaze settled on his eldest daughter-in-law.
Francesca, being a seasoned member of the Carnegie clan for decades, was exceptionally astute. Despite the nature of this marital connection or Paige's true identity, it was Francesca’s duty to exhibit the grace expected of her.
Without hesitation, Francesca slipped a deep forest-green emerald and diamond bracelet off her wrist and handed it to Paige with a warm smile. “I regret that we weren’t ready with a suitable wedding gift for Raymond and his bride. I hope you won't find this too modest.”
Paige glanced at the luxurious bracelet and naturally hesitated to accept such an extravagant gift.
With a polite chuckle, she attempted to decline, “Francesca, this is really too generous.”
Francesca, still smiling, slipped the bracelet onto Paige's wrist. “We’re all family here, and it simply wouldn’t do to come empty-handed. Besides, this heirloom has been in the Carnegie family for generations. Now, it's your turn to look after it as Raymond's wife.”
With those words, it became difficult for Paige to refuse. She looked at Bradley, who nodded, further cementing her inability to refuse.
Paige had not anticipated getting involved with the Carnegie family, so she had not researched their affairs in advance. Her familiarity with the Carnegies extended only to the Hawke Corporation. With a deeper understanding of the corporate realm than many, she found herself perplexed by Raymond's circumstances.
Here was a man confined to a wheelchair, wielding immense power over the Hawke Corporation, yet he chose to let Louis assume that significant role. Why endorse Louis for the position while Francesca and her son observed Raymond with such cautious scrutiny and calculation?
Paige was resolved to further investigate the Carnegies.
Upon receiving an invitation to the Hawke Corporation's anniversary celebration, Paige was confronted with a dilemma. it was either to not attend it or risk getting her true identity exposed as Xanthe Ellison if she decided to go.
As Francesca fastened the diamond bracelet around Paige's wrist, she couldn't help but take a closer look at her new sister-in-law.
"Raymond sure has good taste, sweetheart. It would be challenging to find a second beauty like yours in all of Northwind. Your kids are going to be gorgeous," Francesca remarked with a hint of admiration.
With Louis out of the picture, Francesca found herself obligated to stay for dinner.
Despite her frustration that Raymond's sudden nuptials had thrown her own son's marriage plans into disarray, Francesca played her role as the eldest daughter-in-law. She had been a widow for many years, fighting to maintain her position in the family for the sake of her son.
While Bradley was around, Francesca knew she had to keep any dissatisfaction she had with the marriage a secret.
After the meal, sensing a looming tension, Bradley discreetly summoned Francesca to his study.
Francesca, carrying a glass of wine with respect, served it to Bradley. "Dad, you wanted to talk about Louis's wedding situation, didn't you?"
Bradley nodded slightly. "Francesca, you've been part of the Carnegie family for quite some time now. I'm aware you were keen on arranging a union between Louis and the Sacklers.”
“I should have been up-front with you. I didn't know who Paige was initially, I knew very little about her background, I had no idea that she and Xena were sisters, sharing the same mother. This wasn't about me favoring my second son and leaving Louis's marriage prospects unresolved."
Francesca's expression remained composed with a faint smile. "Dad, matters of marriage can't be forced. In all honesty, it was the Sacklers' business deals that I was interested in, which would benefit Louis in the future. And as for Xena, having met her a couple of times, I didn't consider her a particularly good match.
“Since they weren't meant to be, it's better not to force it. Breaking off the engagement may even be for the best. All I ask is that you, Dad, keep an active interest in finding Louis a suitable match."
Francesca was still trying to gauge the Sacklers' stance on Paige.
Meanwhile, the Carnegie family was busy discussing potential fiancées for Louis.
On the other side, Paige paced around in Raymond's chambers until she abruptly, turned to look at her husband.
"Mr. Carnegie, your room is quite unique," Paige observed.
It was just too much of a coincidence that everything she desired happened to be in Raymond's room, wasn't it?
Raymond couldn't help but smirk inwardly. It was, after all, his room, and he was the one who had let Paige in. And now, ironically, he found himself worried about being exposed.
Their marriage was on such shaky grounds that it seemed it might fall apart at any moment.
Yet, Raymond could do no more than stall. "Before I met you, I spent years abroad. The room was empty. When I came back, I stayed at the Windrain Tower."
He deliberately mentioned Windrain Tower, curious to see how Paige would react.
Sure enough, Paige paused at the mention of the Windrain Tower.
A jolt went through her at the name ‘Windrain Tower’?
How could it be such a strange twist of fate?
Was it just a coincidence that Raymond lived at Windrain Tower before they met, which implied he had stayed there until their marriage?
The day she had an accident at Windrain Tower coincidentally coincided with the day she encountered Bradley, who had just suffered a heart attack.
The coincidences were piling up to an unbelievable degree.
If it weren't for the fact that the man she had encountered at Windrain Tower was a head taller than her, Paige might have considered the possibility that it was Raymond.
Paige quickly collected her thoughts and stopped speculating.
They couldn't possibly be the same person!
So, Paige swiftly changed the subject.
"What a lovely house you have, Mr. Carnegie. Intriguingly, you prefer not to live here, opting instead for a place like Windrain Tower. Do you perhaps have a secret lover out there?"
