Chapter 78 That Cripple Thinks He Deserves Her?
<Chapter>Chapter 78 That Cripple Thinks He Deserves Her? </Chapter>
As he continued to peruse the scattered documents, Charlie abruptly lifted his gaze and declared, "Raymond, this file is incomplete!"Raymond cast a sidelong glance at him. "Indeed. If all the information and leads were present, we would have already discovered those concealed slush funds.""Ah, I see," Charlie conceded. "But why are the assets of the world's top tycoons, the Big Five families, hidden in a secret room in your house, Raymond?"Raymond met his questioning gaze and pondered. "Could it be possible that I am a descendant of one of the Big Five?"Charlie erupted into laughter. "Impossible! Raymond, you are the beloved late-born son of the Bradleys. Granted, the Carnegie family may rule Northwind, but globally, they don't even make the top ten."This was common knowledge to Charlie.However, Raymond remained silent.Undeterred, Charlie pressed on. "Raymond, how did these documents end up here?""Likely collected by Bradley during a leisurely stroll through a foreign street fair, I suppose," Raymond replied dismissively.Charlie was taken aback by the increasingly preposterous response.He may not have been the most knowledgeable, but he was far from a fool!Raymond's indifference was met with Charlie's patient listening.In truth, Raymond had scrutinized these documents countless times since his youth.He was aware of the clues they held, but he also knew that these fragmented leads were far from revealing the hidden funds.This was why, even when he knew Paige was in search of this very thing, he hesitated before deciding to assist Paige personally in the secret room.If Paige was aware of the hidden funds, it meant she had knowledge of the Big Five at the very least, and possibly other leads at her disposal.As Raymond and Charlie continued their search, a mechanical voice reverberated through the room: "Visitor approaching."Raymond glanced at the security monitor and spotted Bradley standing at his door, having knocked and now patiently waiting outside.Exchanging a knowing look with Charles, the two of them promptly returned to the room.Only after securing the hidden door did Charles go to admit Bradley.Upon Bradley's entrance, Raymond was still standing, preparing to move toward his wheelchair.Bradley sighed at the sight of Raymond. "You don't need to confine yourself to that wheelchair all the time. With the company in Louis's hands, hardly anyone pays attention to you anymore."Raymond, having been wheelchair-bound for so long, cherished the sensation of standing.Bradley, of course, knew his legs were functional; the wheelchair was merely a deception.Raymond looked at Bradley. "True, not many people are noticing now. But if I stand up, there will be a lot more eyes on me. At the very least, the entire Howe family will be watching, and there might even be some who are eager to seize the opportunity, correct?"Bradley couldn't dispute Raymond's reasoning.Deciding to cut to the chase, he began, "About you and Paige..."But before Bradley could fully delve into the topic, Raymond interjected, looking up abruptly, "What about her?"Bradley frowned. "I've never misjudged a person in my life. Paige is a good girl and a suitable match for you. With your looks, only someone like her could be a match.But recently, I've been feeling... I see a simple, straightforward girl when I look at her, yet when I ponder more, she seems quite complex?"Raymond remained silent.At this point, Charles chimed in, "Exactly, I can't quite figure out, Madam. Her level and moves..."Before Charles could finish, a stern look from Raymond silenced him.Wisely, he held his tongue immediately, fearing one more word might have him sent off to some state to mine rocks the next second.Raymond then asked, "Old man, do you understand me?"Bradley looked at him, struggling to formulate a response to such a question.Raymond smiled faintly. "If you don't understand, that's exactly right. Did you come all this way to say these things?"Shaking his head, Bradley replied, "No, that's not it. There's trouble with the Sacklers."Raymond's expression turned inquisitive, clearly asking for more information.Bradley continued, "Old Mrs. Sackler took a nasty fall, and it happened at Paige's place. Rumor has it that Paige had the Sacklers' place surrounded. It seems like she's harboring a deep grudge against them. Odd, considering the two families are related by marriage now. At least on the surface, they need to maintain appearances…"
A spark of excitement ignited in Raymond's eyes upon hearing the news. He had been consumed by worry, unable to see his wife, Carnegie, that day. He had attempted to reach out to Paige, only to be met with the harsh tone of a dial tone, time and time again. When he finally managed to make contact, he was denied the opportunity to utter a single word. The situation was almost comical. Could it be that the Sacklers had unwittingly provided him with the chance he had been seeking? Raymond was so elated that he interrupted Bradley mid-sentence, "Charles, prepare the car. We are off to the Sackler estate to pay our respects to the late Mrs. Sackler." Having issued his command, Raymond turned his attention back to Bradley, "You, old man, will accompany me." Bradley responded with a hint of surprise, "Of course, I'll accompany you, but… you seem unusually buoyant about this?" Charles, who had been in Raymond's service for a considerable time, was well-versed in his master's subtle shifts in mood. He interjected without hesitation, "Mrs. Carnegie has been in a foul mood, seemingly ready to abandon ship. Raymond has been at a loss about how to handle the situation. Now, with the incident at the Sackler's, he has an opportunity to see Mrs. Carnegie, doesn't he?" Raymond shot Charles a sharp glance, "Keep your nose out of my affairs." Charles recoiled in fear, while Bradley pieced together the situation. "Ha! Since you're so engrossed in this, I can rest easy. Paige is indeed the perfect match for you." And why wouldn't she be? Over the years, no woman had managed to penetrate the fortress around Raymond's heart. Bradley had always assumed that, even if Raymond was with Paige merely to secure an heir, his reserved nature would prevent him from developing any genuine affection beyond the need for a child. However, reality was proving him wrong. Raymond was undeniably in love! This was indeed a cause for celebration! In his excitement, Raymond made a beeline for the door, prompting Charles to hastily wheel over the wheelchair. "Raymond, the wheelchair, don't blow your cover." Raymond had almost forgotten about his ruse in his excitement. With both legs fully functional, it was all too easy to forget about the wheelchair act when adrenaline took over. Raymond and Bradley's entourage arrived at the Sackler estate, only to discover that Francesca and Louis had beaten them to it. However, Francesca and her son were halted right outside the Sackler gates. Julian, lounging under the parasol, crossed his legs with practiced ease. He held a teacup, nonchalantly blowing off the foam with a nod that suggested a lifelong love affair with tea from Northwind. A thin veil of anger clouded Francesca's eyes and furrowed her brows. When Francesca's face was marked by anger, it was accompanied by an icy elegance and chill that other socialites could not emulate. Cross her, and face dire consequences. Julian, however, was unfazed by her wrath. "So, you wish to enter? Are you certain?" he drawled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "The boss has instructed me not to let anyone leave once they're inside. Enter, and you can forget about leaving." As Julian spoke, Bradley and Raymond were disembarking from their car. It was then that Julian's gaze slid past his teacup and landed on Raymond. The crippled man? His lips curled into a sneer. The same man who had won over Xanthe Ellison? Him, really?
