Chapter 99 A Sharp Slap
Facing doubt was something
A Sharp Slap
Facing doubt was something </Chapter> Paige had heard too often. She heard Mr. was no stranger to the sting of doubt. Mr. Sullivan's words clearlyrang clear in her ears, yet she didn't afford him even spare him a sidelong glance.
Raymond, however, had a darkon the other hand, wore a stormy expression on his face.
Mr. Sullivan noticed immediately that he had been inconsiderate. But the fact was that was impossible to ignore.Mr. Sullivan quickly realized his lack of tact. His children had createdindeed stirred up a messstorm, and ifshould anything went wronggo awry with Louis, the Wren family, despite being among the upper crusttheir high standing in Northwind, wouldn'twould not be able to weatherwithstand the Carnegie family's wrath.
Whenfury.Upon his arrival, Mr. Sullivan arrived, he had brought along his own trusted doctor, physician, a man renowned for his medical expertiseprowess, to ensure that every base was covered. Even though he sawno stone was left unturned. Despite Raymond's visible displeasure, he spoke up ventured to speak again.
"Raymond, ," he began, "I thinkbelieve it would be bestprudent to have my doctor examine Louis as well. The more eyes we have on him, the better."
As No sooner had he finished speaking, than Louis let out a muffled groan and. Paige smoothly, with the precision of a surgeon, withdrew the needle.
"With precision"Unnecessary," she stated, "No need, he'sdeclared. "He's fine now."
She then foundlocated a first-aid kit inwithin the room and tendedattended to the smallminor cut on Louis's finger.
Looking up, she suggested, "Someone should helpassist Louis with a bath."
Xena glanced toward Xena's gaze drifted towards the towels, and noticedshe noted that Paige had indeed managed to alleviate Louis's situation.
condition.She washad been skeptical at first, only. Could a few needles andreally be this effective? XenaShe had thoughtassumed Paige was justmerely putting on a show.
HoweverYet, Xena was still somewhat concerned, "How come couldn't shake off her concern. "Why hasn't Elijah hasn't woken up yet?"
"An ice-cold shower, that'll wake him up should do the trick," Paige responded.
replied nonchalantly."Ice-cold shower?" Xena repeated.
echoed, puzzled.Paige gaveshot Xena a lazylanguid glance, sterilized her silver needles, rolled up the small lambskin needle pouch, and stowedtucked it ininto her bag.
She approachedthen turned to Raymond. "The patient is all rightstable now. How do you wantwish to handle the rest?"
proceed?"As Paige was aboutmade to leave, Raymond caught her wrist, "Wait a moment. "Hold on, all the families involved are herepresent. Yasmin from the Sackler family is still recoveringrecuperating from her injury and shouldn't be overstressed.subjected to undue stress. Please, bear with us a little longer and stand in for her."
The moment Raymond spokeuttered those words, Xena quicklyswiftly interjected, "Raymond, she's not part of my family."
Raymond shot a frosty glance at Xena and snortedretorted, "Older sisters are likeakin to mothers."
At those words, Xena almostnearly choked withon her indignation. It was ana blatant insult, pure and simple!
Coldly eyeing!Observing Xena's discomfort with a cold gaze, Paige decided to stick aroundstay. She droppedslumped onto the couch with a thud, indifferent to the family dynamics,. "Who cares if I'm not a family elder, I still have the right to stay and enjoy the show. Maybespectacle. Perhaps Mr. Sackler should invite Grandma over. After all, we need to clear things up for the air with the Carnegie family today, don't we?"
Xena was wellacutely aware that Paige had every right to speak on behalf of the Carnegie family.
SeeingAs Xena's resentment-filled glare fixed onbore into Paige, Paige was not about to back down, "How about westood her ground. "Perhaps we should invite the Carnegie family matriarch too? With Louis in thisGiven Louis's condition, Mrs. Sackler would surely want to know who’s responsible for the mix-up with his medication."
Everyone who had arrived early in the roompresent knew that Louis had been givenadministered two different drugs. They didn't want the Wren family's doctor to examine him, fearing the doctor might discoveruncover the mix-up.
After all, what Xena had doneXena's actions could potentially reflect badlycast a shadow on Paige as well.
Xena was even more awareknew all too well that if Francesca came and found out aboutdiscovered the two drugs given to Louis, she would be the prime suspect.
AtIn that pointcase, she would definitelyundoubtedly lose Francesca's support.
Seething with rage, having gainedgaining no advantage fromupper hand against Paige and feeling subtly threatened by her, Xena's fury turned totowards Isadora, who had been trying to make herself inconspicuous in the corner.
blend into the background.Isadora had changed into more modest clothingattire, but Xena, having been outmaneuvered and frustrated and manipulated by Paige all night, unleashed her furywrath on her. She rushed atstormed towards Isadora, and with swift, backhanded blows, slapped her forcefully on both cheeks.
Even within the presence of her father and brothers present, Isadora didn't dare respond.
Xena grew more emboldenedretaliate.Emboldened by Isadora's silence, Xena lashed out. "Isadora, and to think I treated you like a best friend. Look at the trouble you've caused. Even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its own burrow, have you no shame?"
After receivingenduring the slaps and enduring Xena’s verbal abuseonslaught, Isadora's tears began to fall, a mixturepotent mix of pain and humiliation.
Kieran quickly stood uprose to his feet to apologize:. "This incident isn't justsolely my sister's fault alone; we truly didn't expectanticipate things escalating to get this seriousextent. Once Mr. Hough wakes upregains consciousness, I'll make sure to apologize to him personally."
Mr. Su also hurriedly pleaded withhastily implored Raymond:, his voice laced with urgency. "Raymond, canmight we possibly settleresolve this matter privately? After all, if word got out, it wouldn't be good for the reputation of both The potential damage to our families."
Raymond said, "It family reputations should this become public knowledge is considerable."Raymond's response was noncommittal. "That depends on what the persondesires of the individual affected wants. Anyway, he'll wake up soon."
. He should regain consciousness shortly."In the meantime, Charles had already helpedassisted Louis bathewith his bath and broughtwas now guiding him out.
back into the room. Louis was indeed awake now, just extremely weak.
After being helped to sit downconscious, though his strength was noticeably diminished. Once he was seated on the couch, he struggledLouis mustered the energy to raiselift his eyebrows and took a hard look atscrutinize Isadora. Her face was a swollen, angry red from being slapped, with, the distinct handprintsimprint of a hand on both cheeks, and she was crying miserably.
Moreover, each cheek. Tears streamed down her face, a pitiful sight.Louis, however, had an inklinga suspicion that thisthe situation wasn't as straightforward. Ifwas more complex than it initially appeared. Had he hadn't callednot reached out to Paige for helpassistance, the one whobeneficiary of this debacle would not have benefited wasn't the one who drugged him,been Isadora, his poisoner, but rather Xena!
What. The role Xena played in all this, twisted drama was something Louis realized,knew he needed to investigate further investigation.
Then, seeing.Spotting Raymond also presentin the room, Louis couldn't help but recallwas reminded of the incense he had sent to Raymond's roomquarters. For a longsome time now, he had been searching for the woman who concocted thehad created Raymond's antidote for Raymond. Perhaps findinglocating her was the key to driving a wedgedisrupting the marriage between Paige and Raymond's marriage.
Raymond.Feeling uncomfortable in spiritboth spiritually and weak in bodyphysically drained, Louis said:declared, "Let's put an end toconsider this matter closed and never speak of it again. Everyone, pleaseI ask that everyone leave. I'm very tiredI am exhausted and wantneed to rest."
UponXena, upon hearing this, Xena immediately came overwas quick to fanstoke the flames:fire. "Elijah, Isadora drugged you, how. How can you just letdismiss this go so easily?"
Louis gaveshot Xena a coldfrosty glance:. "You can go backmay leave as well. I don't need anyone taking care of me."
require no one's assistance."Xena was taken aback by Louis's unprecedentedunusual coldness, even the doubt. The suspicion and scrutiny in his eyes caused her to falter, unable to speak what she had choked on.
gaze left her speechless, her words caught in her throat.The Wrens, left with no other choice, apologized and had no choice but to leavewere the first.
to depart.Raymond made an excuse that, seizing the opportunity, claimed his wife Carnegie's coat was still onwith Paige and, justifiably, . Using this as an excuse, he followed Paige straight back to the Southern Garden Villa. He even made a special request torequested Charles to pickarrange for someone to be picked up in the morning, leaving Paige without a chancewith no option to refuse.
Once settledcomfortably seated in the plush passenger seat of the luxurious sports car, Raymond withturned to Paige, a slight smile playing on his lips said,. "Madam, your ability to heal people is extraordinary.healing abilities are truly remarkable. You can solve even these kinds of problemsseem capable of resolving even the most complex of issues."
