Chapter75What's the Matter, Scared?
What could be bigger than the failure of Paige's experiment?
Despite Pearl's urgent tone, Paige remained composed.
"What happened?" Paige inquired.
Over the phone came the response, "Mrs. Sackler and Xena tried to escape—they climbed out of a second-story window and fell."
Paige couldn't help but feel a mix of irritation and amusement upon hearing the news. They tried climbing out of a window to escape? Margaret, an elderly lady was up to such antics?
At least getting a call from Pearl indicated Margaret was still alive.
With a resigned tone, Paige asked, "What's the situation? Is she dead?"
Pearl's voice came through the phone, clear and succinct, "She's not dead."
Content with that, Paige prepared to end the call, "That would be okay. Just keep her alive." And with those final words, she hung up.
Bryson eyed Paige with concern, "Everything cool?"
Paige nodded, "I won't be able to drop the meds off later, so come with me now. You can get them yourself, and while you're at it, assess my mom’s condition up close. I've managed to get her out."
Without hesitation, Bryson stripped off his gloves and lab coat, "Sure, I'll join you. It gives me a chance to check on your mom's health too."
And so, Paige and Bryson headed back to the Southern Estate.
Arriving at the estate, Paige took Bryson straight to her mother's room. Pearl trailed behind them, careful not to question Paige's indifference towards the Sacklers, the grandmother and granddaughter duo, and didn’t dare to intervene.
Inside the room, Bryson pulled out his medical kit and conducted a thorough check-up on Paige's mother.
Once they had secured the medicine, Paige instructed Pearl, "Get a reliable driver to send him back to the lab."
Pearl nodded and promptly arranged for someone to escort Bryson.
After Bryson had left, Paige finally turned to Pearl, "What's the update on Margaret and Xena?"
Pearl took a deep breath, the frustration evident, "Xena is just a recipe for disaster. Now that they're confined to their room, can't they just sit tight? No one's going to do anything to them.
“But no, she had to think about climbing out the window. Who does she think she is with those stunts? It’s the second floor, for heaven’s sake. She might be fine jumping down, but Mrs. Sackler... at her age...”
Pearl was on the verge of bursting with anger.
Nonetheless, it was supposed to be a day of celebration for Paige, moving into the estate. If someone died on the very first day, who would ever dare to dwell in the Southern Estate again? Even if Pearl decided to leave, selling the property would become a hassle.
With a scowl etched on her face, Paige muttered just two words, "Absolute idiocy."
Continuing her rant, Paige made her way to the room where the troublesome pair was confined.
If only she'd had Julian lock those two in the basement. She only gave them the guest room out of consideration for Margaret's age, and now look at the mess it's caused.
From outside the guest room, Paige could already hear Xena's sobs and the strained gasps of pain coming from Margaret.
Pearl quickly said, "The medical team is already looking after her. She'll be fine."
Paige always felt at ease with Pearl handling things. Nothing went wrong when Pearl was in charge.
Paige glanced at the door before she pushed it open and entered.
As soon as Paige appeared, Xena wiped away her tears and lashed out in anger, "This is all your fault, Paige. If you hadn't kept us trapped here, Grandma wouldn't have gotten hurt. If anything happens to her, you won't get off easy."
Paige replied with a dismissive smile, "Miss Sackler, you're mistaken. How could I possibly suffer?"
“The one in trouble would be you, and the entire Sackler Corporation. Without the support of old Madame Sackler, the consequences for the corporation would be dire, and you know this better than anyone else.
"Without her to uphold the Sackler family, you all would pretty much be finished. So, the one who won't be getting off easy would be you, and not me."
Hearing this, Xena stood up, pointed at Paige, and accused, "It's all because of you. You're the one who locked us in here, Paige. That's illegal."
Paige responded with a calm smile, "Really? Illegal? I merely invited you as guests. How is that against the law?"
While Xena and Paige argued, Margaret, grimacing in pain, said, "Enough, both of you. Stop fighting. Xena, check if you're hurt. No matter what happens, always take care of yourself first. Nothing else matters."
Xena quickly sat by the bed and reassured Margaret, "Grandma, I'm fine. I'm not hurt."
Margaret turned her head to Paige and ventured a guess, "This villa... if I'm not mistaken, it was a gift from The Carnegie family, right? Given that, you wouldn't want me to die here, would you? I've had a fall, and now, I just want to go home. To heal and recover in my own house."
Margaret's insistence on going home was underlined by an unspoken truth—she simply didn't trust the doctor Paige had provided.
It did not matter if the doctors were affiliated with the Carnegies or not, the rift between her and Paige ran deep. Paige's mother was still in a coma because of her. Now that she was injured and unable to leave, there was no telling how Paige might treat her.
Margaret couldn't take this matter lightly; the vendetta was too serious.
Paige leaned against the door, her arms crossed over her chest, watching Margaret on the bed with an icy gaze.
"With such fear in your eyes, you're probably worried that my people might lay a hand on you, aren't you? Rest assured, Mrs. Sackler. I like to think my character is considerably better than yours," Paige said with sarcasm.
Margaret's eyebrows knit together—a clear insult from Paige.
Yet after a few seconds, Margaret didn't continue to contend. Instead, she turned to Paige, "By staying here, I'd just be taking up the medical resources that should be going to your mother, right? Besides, you wouldn't want me under the same roof as her, would you?"
Paige's smile was faint, "Exactly, so call your people to come and take you away."
Paige never intended to keep her there indefinitely.
Moreover, regarding the stolen antidote, Paige couldn't be certain to what extent Margaret was involved.
If Margaret did have a hand in it, even if Paige were to confine her, she probably wouldn't reveal any useful information.
She would rather wish Paige’s mother would die sooner. She couldn't do it herself, but if Paige's mother died in Paige's hands, that would be ideal.
"You're honestly willing to let us go?" Xena was still in disbelief.
Paige laughed, "I thought Mrs. Sackler had instilled her pride in you, shaping you into a shrewd heir of the Sackler legacy. Turned out, you're nothing special after all."
With that, Paige's gaze locked onto Mrs. Sackler's face, meticulously observing her expression, "Mrs. Sackler, does it hurt? Are you okay?"
