Chapter 413: Your Illness Won’t Even Allow You to Have Children
A name.
Countless, overlapping, twisted, and hollowed.
Stained with old blood…
“…”
Paige stared directly at the carved marks, her hand covering her mouth in disbelief, her eyes wide with shock.
He had been conscious!
Over these three years, he had moments of clarity!
Unlike his sister, who chose a final, decisive way out during her moments of lucidity, he carved her name over and over again.
Three years. A full three years.
How had he survived…
Where did the blood come from? Was he hurt while carving, or did he stop after trying to end it all?
The endless speculations spiraled into a vortex of intense pain, immediately piercing through Paige, leaving her in a blank daze.
She wanted to reach out and touch those scars, but as she got closer, a wave of fear made her retract her hand. She backed away slowly, and as her legs gave out, she collapsed onto the floor in a clumsy heap.
Paige hugged her knees, bowing her head, crying so hard she could barely breathe.
It turns out, for these three years, he had been in more pain than anyone.
He had lived through the toughest struggles.
How could she have forgotten that? How could she have skipped out on their date again…
“Miss, Miss?”
A servant came searching and, upon seeing Paige sitting on the floor, paused in surprise, staring at her in shock.
Paige wiped the tears from her face, turning to look, “What is it?”
“Miss, dinner is ready,” the servant said.
“Okay, I’ll be right down.” Paige stood up, her voice slightly hoarse.
The servant still stared at her in confusion. Paige wiped her eyes again, walked over to the bed, and began to tidy it up, saying, “Don’t tell Enrico.”
“Yes, Miss,” the servant replied. She stepped forward, intending to help straighten the bed, but Paige refused.
Paige put the blankets and pillows back in their original place, reactivated the mechanism to lower the cage, and only then did she head out.
She didn’t go directly to the dining room but instead found the nearest bathroom, where she washed her face. In the mirror, her complexion was pale, her hair damp from the water, and her eyes were red as if they had bled.
Paige stared at her reflection, unable to help but lightly slap her cheeks. She took out some makeup from her bag, applying a little to add color back to her face.
After finishing that, Paige took a deep breath and headed downstairs.
Enrico was already waiting in the dining room, sitting casually at the table. He held a phone in one hand, making a call, while spinning a pair of chopsticks with the other.
“By this time tomorrow, I want those land documents on my desk.”
Enrico’s voice was cold as he gave orders into the phone. When he saw Paige enter, his gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and his frown deepened. His tone became even icier. “If you can’t get it done, don’t bother coming back to the foundation tomorrow.”
After speaking, Enrico hung up the phone directly, looking at her with displeasure. “Why are your eyes red? Were you crying? Who gave you a hard time-those financial elites, or someone from Temple in Heaven?”
“…”
Even with makeup, he still noticed her red eyes.
Paige smiled as she walked over, replying, “I was just standing out on the balcony, and the wind made my eyes hurt.”
“Really?” Enrico sounded half-convinced.
“Why would I lie to you? I’m the CEO of Temple in Heaven now, and with you backing me, who would dare give me trouble?” Paige shrugged as she sat across from him.
“Backing you? Are you hinting at something?”
Enrico abruptly leaned across the table, his handsome face moving closer to hers, his eyes intensely focused. “And you put on makeup too. You’re definitely hinting at something.”
“…”
This man could turn any moment into something like this.
Paige rolled her eyes at him. “Eat.”
The table was already filled with a variety of delicious dishes.
Enrico picked up a rib and placed it in her bowl. “Then you better eat up so you’ll have energy for tonight.”
“…”
Paige didn’t even know if she should eat the rib anymore. She bit into it-nice flavor, but something was missing.
She looked at Enrico. “Suddenly, I miss Olivia.”
When they used to stay at the old Rose Estate, it was just her, Enrico, and Olivia, who took care of the household. Olivia’s cooking always felt like home.
Enrico placed more food in her bowl. “Why didn’t you bring her with you?”
He knew she liked Olivia, which was why three years ago, he sent Olivia over. But when Paige returned to the Capital, Olivia wasn’t with her.
“Olivia’s doing well in the South. There’s no need for her to travel back and forth.” Paige took another bite of the rib. “Little Dolphin has grown quite a bit, very active every day.”
It took Enrico a moment to remember. “Oh, that mutt. Still haven’t gotten rid of it?”
“…”
It wasn’t a mutt at all.
Paige looked at him helplessly, setting down her chopsticks and picking up a large shrimp to peel.
As she peeled, a faint rustling sound came from near the window.
Enrico’s gaze sharpened, his lips pressing into a displeased line.
Paige glanced up and saw a shadow vaguely reflected on the window. With such obvious movement, it couldn’t be an assassin-it was one of their subordinates, a bodyguard.
“You have to stop calling me! I’m working for Mr. Gustin, and if I’m not careful, I could lose my head!”
The bodyguard was whispering into the phone.
But the window wasn’t fully closed, so the sound easily carried inside.
“Fine, I’ve found a good spot. I’ll tell you this one last time-I want to break up with you!” the person outside continued, speaking in a hushed but clearly agitated tone.
“…”
Paige silently watched. It seemed this bodyguard was new to the estate, completely unaware that the “good spot” he’d chosen was right within his boss’s line of sight.
Enrico’s mood was visibly darkened from being interrupted during dinner. His face turned ominous.
The servant brought out more dishes and, hearing the noise, was startled, hurrying to chase the man away.
The person outside still didn’t realize anything, continuing to talk. “How many times do I have to say it? You’re sick. You’re not normal, and I want a normal life!”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
The servant quickly rushed over, but Enrico suddenly raised his hand, stopping her.
“…”
The servant could only lower her head and retreat.
Paige peeled the shrimp, placing the plump piece of meat into Enrico’s bowl. He sat there, face stormy, not looking outside but clearly listening.
She furrowed her brow.
Outside, the bodyguard’s voice was still dripping with impatience. “Yes, yes, your illness isn’t terminal, but it keeps coming back. I only have one life, and I just want to live peacefully and normally, not constantly worrying about whether you’re going to fall ill again. It’s torture for me.”
“…”
The more Paige listened, the worse she felt. She glanced up and, sure enough, Enrico’s expression had grown even darker.
“Yes, I love you, but how much can love really make up for? Your illness means you can’t even have children, and you know how much I love kids.”
The bodyguard continued his call, “If I marry you, I can already picture what my life would be like. We wouldn’t have children, just the two of us. Don’t think that’s sweet-any sweetness will turn into a bottomless pit in the face of everyday life!”
“…”
“Because I’d be the one constantly buying your medicine, rushing you to the hospital the moment you collapse, taking care of you in a sterile hospital room, helping you eat, helping you go to the bathroom, and even wiping for you when you can’t move…”