Chapter 76: Taking Medicine?
“Jaden received word. Authorities are investigating the Clarkes, and that Mo-, uh… the woman will soon be sent to the slums.”
Molly, then? Naturally, with her legs crippled and her parents arrested, they were all awaiting trial. She now belonged to the category of people who were unable to care for themselves and had no one to look after them, destined for the slums. How long could a pampered heiress like her endure life in the slums?
Walking along the road, Paige turned to glance at Enrico and whispered, “Thank you, Mr. Gustin.”
“Thank me for what?”
“For publicly disabling Molly’s legs. I was prepared to take responsibility, but to this day, no one has come after me. Naturally, I have to thank you.” She wasn’t so naive to think she could break someone’s legs in the capital without consequences; surely he was protecting her behind the scenes.
Her words had just fallen when Enrico spun around, the car swerving to block her path.
He stepped out of the car, leaning against it as he watched her. “So, you know who’s been protecting you. I thought you were grateful to him.”
“Who?” Paige stood there, looking at him inexplicably.Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.
“Bryan Smith. Don’t you think he’s been protecting you?”
“He? I couldn’t possibly rely on him.” Three years ago, she had stopped relying on Bryan.
Suddenly, Enrico pulled her waist towards him, “Very clever.” He lowered his face, lips almost touching the corner of her mouth. “But, are you so accurate in your analysis because you understand me, or because you understand him, hmm?”
His hand firmly held her waist, encircling her with nowhere to escape.
Paige didn’t struggle, only raised her eyes to him in puzzlement. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
Enrico’s lips brushed against her ear, asking each word slowly, “He chased after you. When you ran away before, you even sought his help.”
Paige’s ears burned from his warm breath, her hands on his chest. “I have nothing to do with him.” She understood Enrico’s desire for control.
“Is that so? How come I heard he was exceptionally emotional at his wedding when he found out you didn’t disappear for no reason in the past, hmm?”
“His emotions are his own business. What does it have to do with me?”
Her indifferent attitude pleased Enrico greatly. He kissed her ear softly, his voice hoarse. “Paige, you’re too heartless. But being heartless has its advantages.”
Paige changed the subject. “Why did you come back home so early today?”
“Come back?” He held her, repeating the words with a smile in his eyes. “Yes, come back.”
Apart from his late sister, he finally had someone waiting for him to return. It felt good.
Enrico was in a great mood. He reached behind and opened the car door, saying, “Let’s go, back home.”
The car drove on the forest road.
Enrico drove with one hand and reached for a compartment on the car, pulling out a box and handing it to her. “Take one when we get back.”
Paige took it, the bold words “Birth Control Pills” jumping into her eyes. She had forgotten they hadn’t taken any precautions last night.
“Alright, is there water in the car?” Paige asked. She could take it now.
Enrico glanced at her. “Don’t you want to ask why I’m giving you this pill?”
Paige felt there was no need to ask. Seriously, after a night, giving her birth control pills-wasn’t that how a mistress would be treated? Did he expect her to have his child? The CEO’s child would never come from a woman from the slums.
After fumbling around in the car for a moment, she found a bottle of mineral water, twisted the cap open, and swallowed the birth control pill with a gulp of water. Her eager manner made Enrico frown. “So, you don’t want to have my child that badly?”
“You want me to take it, I take it. Any issues?” Paige retorted calmly.
Enrico felt uncomfortable, very uncomfortable. He glared at her fiercely, stopping the car arrogantly in the middle of the road, then turned to her and said with a strange tone, “If I wanted you to take it every day, would that be okay?”
Paige looked at him wordlessly. Taking it every day means… Enrico reached over and undid her seatbelt, pulling her towards him. Annoyed, he stared at her and said, “Paige, being my woman isn’t like this. I can give you birth control pills, but you have to act like you don’t want to take them, that you love me, and want to have my child. You can’t act like you don’t care about anything.”
Paige looked down at his hand firmly gripping her arm, wondering what he was saying. She raised her eyes to meet his displeased gaze and asked, puzzled, “I don’t quite understand your logic.”
Enrico impatiently grabbed her chin and said harshly, “My words are the logic. Now say ‘I love you’ and let me hear it.”
Paige didn’t bother arguing with him. “I…” The words were harder to say than she had imagined. She looked into his deep eyes and found herself unable to continue.
Enrico waited for her to speak. His grip on her chin tightened, but no matter how hard he squeezed, he couldn’t make her say the words. Leaves fell from the trees and landed on the windowsill. Paige never thought she wouldn’t be able to say those words.
A long time passed.
“Hmph.” Enrico let go of her chin with a cold laugh and stared at her. “Right now, I really want to throw you out in front, then run over you with the car. Crush you into a bloody mess! You heartless, despicable guy.”
With that, he angrily slapped the steering wheel…
It took a long time for the car to return.
Paige leaned back in her seat, pressed the window down, and looked at the scenery outside. Through the gaps in the trees, she could see a clear river and fields in the distance.
Her grievances with the Clarkes were finally over. What next?
Enrico turned to look at her, reached into the compartment, and threw something into her lap. In a cold voice, he said, “Take this.”
It was a mint candy, her favorite flavor.
She glanced at the man beside her, who had a stern face. “I thought you might not like the bitterness of the medicine,” he said, “but I see you don’t mind it at all!”
The wind blew through the open car window, tousling her hair. Paige looked down at the mint candy in her hand, feeling a bit distracted. If Enrico truly cared about her, wouldn’t he understand the harm of birth control pills to her body? But then again, he knew to bring her candy…
The Gustin Group, as one of the country’s most dominant conglomerates, is headquartered in the prime location of the Capital.
Inside the CEO’s office.
Enrico stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, where his view encompassed all of the Gustin Group’s assets, including the harbor.
On the desk behind him, a computer screen played a video showing a funeral home. Paige, dressed in a black dress, slowly walked out carrying Susan’s urn.
The doorbell rang.
“Boss, there are some documents needing your signature,” Jaden said, entering with the files. He took a pen and handed it to Enrico.
As soon as he glanced up, he saw the video on the computer. Today was Susan’s funeral. In the video, Paige held the urn as though she was Susan’s daughter. Why was the Boss watching this in his office?
Enrico turned expressionlessly and walked over to sign his name on the documents.
Jaden stood silently, not daring to ask. After Enrico finished signing, he was about to leave when Enrico called out coldly, “How has she been lately?” he gestured towards the screen where Paige was.
Jaden didn’t understand Enrico’s meaning. Boss had been either at the conglomerate or at the Rose Estate these days. Why would he ask about Miss Paige’s condition? But since Boss asked, as a subordinate, he had to answer.
“Miss Paige has been staying at Rose Estate these days, hasn’t gone anywhere, not even to school, until today when she came out for Susan’s funeral,” Jaden replied.
“Don’t you think she’s been too calm these days?” Enrico leaned back.