Chapter 202: Farewell to the Nine of Peak Club
Enrico spoke. Of course, he wanted her to let go of the slum issues, to have nothing left in her life but him. But he… wasn’t entirely unwilling to compromise either. His promise to overturn the conglomerate system wasn’t just empty words-he was willing to do it for her.
“Why drag everyone into this?”
The power struggle among the conglomerates wouldn’t necessarily benefit the slums. Everyone would suffer, including himself.
Paige smiled and met his gaze, “This is my decision.”
“Willingly?” Enrico could easily change her mind.
“Willingly.” Paige nodded seriously, then turned to look at Rafael, who was sitting nearby. “What does the President say?”
“What else can I say at this point?” Rafael looked at her. She had given him the most peaceful option-was he not supposed to take it?
Rafael stared at her, “Can you really do it, never stepping outside again?”
“She won’t need to stay inside. If she wants, I can take her abroad, and she can stay as long as she wants,” Enrico replied. Though his tone was still cold, it was not as firm as before; he was compromising.
Paige stood there, smiled at Enrico, and asked, “Then shall we go home?”
“Home.” The two most beautiful words.
“Yes.” Enrico smiled back at her, reaching out to hold her hand, their fingers interlocking.
Paige looked down at his hand, noticing the mutilated ring finger. Her gaze softened. That torn fingernail had shattered her last bit of stubbornness. When he had approached her, covered in wounds like a ghost rising from hell, she knew she could no longer think only of herself.
He wanted her to always be within his sight and under his control, so she would grant him that wish.
Paige raised her eyes, and when she looked at Enrico again, her eyes were filled with nothing but a smile as she held his hand and walked away.
…
Rafael arranged for them to change clothes, disguising themselves as his subordinates to leave. Just as Paige finished changing and stepped out, a few of Gangnam Hall’s subordinates came in, dragging several people with them. “President, a few students were lurking outside suspiciously. How should we deal with them?”
Paige looked up and saw Nick, Carrie, and the others being roughly pushed inside.
The members of Peak Club had never set foot in Gangnam Hall before. Seeing the intimidating atmosphere, they were all stiff with fear.
Carrie was the first to spot Paige. Her eyes lit up, and she rushed toward her, “Paige!”
The rest followed suit, crowding around her, showing their concern.
“…” Rafael recognized them, and understanding dawned on him. Even these students had been disobedient. They had outwardly claimed to betray Paige, yet here they were, showing up with injuries-just a step away from accusing the President’s office of torture.
“I’m fine,” Paige said softly, smiling as she touched Carrie’s face. “How foolish. How will a big star make money if she ruins her face?”
Carrie’s eyes reddened as she replied guiltily, “We really couldn’t help at all.”
“We have no guns, no power; we couldn’t do anything,” Nick said, feeling terrible seeing Paige’s pale face.
The group stood there for a moment, lamenting their uselessness.
“That’s not true. If no one had come to save her today, your Paige would definitely be facing retrial,” Rafael interjected, sounding a bit exasperated. Everyone around Paige was exceptionally clever-there had been no movement for three days, and today, they had all shown up, each using their own methods. He was caught off guard.
“Paige looks so pale, she must have been tortured,” Nick glared at Rafael.
“What, are you students going to hold me accountable now?” Rafael replied, incredulous.
“Shouldn’t you be held accountable?” A low, deep voice suddenly cut in.
Everyone turned to see Enrico, now dressed in the all-black uniform of a bodyguard. Tall and lean, with a narrow waist cinched by a belt and a gun holster at his side, he exuded a chilling aura with just a slight lift of his eyes. Despite the bodyguard attire, he radiated none of the expected subservience, a natural-born king.
Faced with this formidable presence, Rafael fell silent and quietly stepped aside.
“Big brother… sister,” Nick stammered, standing at attention, his hands straight down his sides, blinking nervously. He hoped Enrico had forgotten about the time he called him a “duck.”
Carrie, Mila, and the others quickly followed suit, bowing their heads respectfully as they greeted him, “Big brother.”
“Mm,” Enrico replied coldly, then walked over to Paige, “Let’s go.”
“I need to say goodbye to them,” Paige said.
Enrico nodded, not stopping her.
Paige, her legs shaky, stood on the ground and turned to face the injured members of Peak Club. “Today, you were never here. Remember, you already reported the criminal Paige from the slums. You have nothing to do with me.”
Hearing this, Nick grew anxious, “Paige, we reported you because…”
“I’m dead now,” Paige interrupted.
“…” Everyone stared at her in shock, not understanding her meaning.
“Paige has already been executed. There is no longer a person named Paige in this world,” Paige said calmly.
Enrico stood beside her, his eyes locked on her, scrutinizing her expression for any sign of hesitation. To his surprise, she seemed entirely willing. She truly was ready to become his caged bird.
Enrico smirked, feeling pleased. This time, his clandestine operation had been worth every effort.
The members of Peak Club slowly realized what Paige meant-this was a plan to fake her death.
Carrie looked at Paige in disbelief and asked, “Paige, what about the help you asked us for?”
“It’s no longer needed.” A dead person doesn’t need help-unless it’s to burn offerings.
“And the reconstruction you talked about?”
Mila stared blankly at Paige. What could a dead person do?
Paige shook her head with a soft smile, “It won’t require me anymore.”
Nick stood there, tugging at his silver hair, the more he thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. “Wait, Paige, what about the legal reforms you wanted to make? What about your double major? The university you were attending? Your position at the Public Law Council? Are you just giving all that up?”
All her efforts, just to throw them away?Text © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
“Isn’t staying alive more important?” Paige smiled more deeply, her gaze calm, as if she didn’t care.
“But you worked so hard for all that…”
“Not every effort needs to result in something,” Paige replied quietly.
The members of Peak Club stood there, dumbfounded, as the joy of their reunion was entirely overshadowed.
Carrie looked at Enrico, then at Rafael, before finally resting her gaze on Paige’s pale and worn-out face. With difficulty, she asked, “Does this mean we won’t be able to see you again?”