Paige stood in the kitchen, her senses seemingly numbed, as if nothing else existed except those two names: *Wangsheng Fruit* and *Withered Wood Snow*. These were terms she had come across in letters between Annie and her friends, rumored to be cures for the AS schizophrenia gene. She had searched online but found nothing.
She glanced at the sender-an unknown number. It felt like some spam message sent through a special channel. While she pondered asking someone from Peak Club to help trace the sender, her phone rang again. The person on the other end clearly wasn’t satisfied with just tempting her.
Paige turned, watching Enrico standing by the black kitchen counter, reading a recipe tutorial on the smart display, frowning as if none of the steps pleased him.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” she said.
Enrico looked up, flashing a mischievous smile. “Need help?”
Paige smiled back, calm as usual. “I’m just going to the bathroom. What kind of help would I need from Mr. Gustin?”
Her phone buzzed again in her hand.
“Undressing, maybe? After all, my woman shouldn’t have to do such tiresome tasks herself. Better leave it to me,” Enrico teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Get out of here.” Paige laughed, giving him a playful glare, and walked out of the kitchen into a nearby room. Just as she was about to hang up, she picked up the call, her face turning slightly pale, voice growing cold. “Who are you?”
“The son of Jasper, Beinice.”
The voice on the other end belonged to a middle-aged man, introducing himself bluntly.
Paige froze. She hadn’t expected it to be this person calling her. She pursed her lips and asked, “How do you know about *Wangsheng Fruit* and *Withered Wood Snow*?”
“The *Medicine Curse Sect* has a long history, too long to trace back. We’ve seen all kinds of things passed down.”
Beinice’s voice was calm on the phone. “You probably don’t know this, but the *Medicine Curse Sect* has a secret tome. It records exactly what *Wangsheng Fruit* and *Withered Wood Snow* are. Enrico may still have a month-there’s hope.”
Paige’s breath caught. The *Medicine Curse Sect* has a secret tome? Jasper never told her that. But the mention of those two things confirmed that the Folsom family truly knew about them. She gripped her phone tightly. “Mr. Beinice, are you proposing a deal?”
There are no free lunches.
“My father always said Paige was sharp, so you must know that if Enrico dies, it only benefits the Folsom family.” Beinice was straightforward.
Paige understood. Enrico, being young and ruthless, was seen by many as a madman, playing with power and economics like a game but without following the rules. He had the ability to become the head of a financial empire, yet dared to break class boundaries and rebuild the slums. Letting someone like him live, even if the Folsom family’s great cause succeeded, would be like leaving a time bomb ticking. It was better if he disappeared altogether.
That’s why she was perplexed: Why was the Folsom family tipping her off about these rumored cures?
Sensing her silence, Beinice spoke again, his voice low. “Paige, I wouldn’t have made this call if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”
Absolutely necessary? Was it a ploy or genuine necessity?
Paige quickly deduced it was the latter. If it were a ploy, they would’ve contacted her earlier, not now, after she’d already reached out to Jasper.
But why this necessity?
“What’s wrong with my mentor? Why isn’t he calling me?” Paige immediately picked up on the strangeness. She suddenly imagined many possibilities, her emotions becoming complicated. Did Jasper truly care for her, or was he just using her?
“I won’t divulge too much about the Folsom family’s matters,” Beinice replied. “I can give you the secret tome, but only if you come to Country D alone, and soon. You must tell no one.”
“I’m about to go to Wind Island,” Paige said.
“Then you’ll have to make a choice,” Beinice said calmly.
Paige stood in the luxurious room, her hand frozen around the phone. She had to go to Wind Island to persuade everyone to rebuild peacefully, ensuring the financial groups’ stability and allowing the residents to leave the island safely. Only she could handle this.
Choosing to go to Country D now, in secrecy, would mean she’d vanish without a trace. Her disappearance would throw the Peak Club and the Temple in Heaven into chaos. Enrico would be looking for her everywhere, dragging the entire Gustin Group into disarray. And worst of all, it could disrupt the ongoing presidential election…
The presidential election.
Suddenly, Paige understood. Her brows furrowed. “You’ve set your sights on the presidential election again, haven’t you?”
The presidential election and the slum reconstruction had become intertwined. Rafael’s campaign slogan centered on equality for all, demonstrating the need for A Country’s reforms. At this moment, she, Enrico, and Rafael had to work together with no room for error.
If she suddenly disappeared, it would signal internal discord. The effects would ripple like a butterfly effect, growing larger with each moment. The Folsom family would seize this opportunity to pour money into the election, greatly increasing their chances of success. If they managed to get one of their own elected as A Country’s president, the consequences… would be unimaginable.
“Paige, you really are sharp,” Beinice said. “To be honest, I’d prefer things to stay as they are, watching you collapse after Enrico’s death. But now, I’ve decided to offer you a sliver of hope. I also hope you’ll show the Folsom family some respect.”
Now, Beinice had laid out the scheme clearly. The Folsom family wanted to recreate the chaotic financial feuds of a century ago. Paige didn’t need to join them, but she had to step aside and stop being an obstacle.
Having witnessed Emery and Rachel’s schemes on behalf of the Folsom family, Paige was unexpectedly finding it difficult to handle Beinice. She took a step back, leaning against the wall.
Yet, even then, she didn’t feel safe.
Sensing her silence, Beinice said, “Paige, have you ever heard of the famous moral dilemma? If the train continues on its path, it will kill your father. If you switch tracks, it will kill a group of people.”
Paige remained silent, her figure looking frail under the light.
“There are only two tracks in front of you, Paige. Now, you’re the train driver. What will you choose?” Beinice asked.
Paige clenched her phone, unable to answer.
“It seems Paige needs some time to think. I’ll wait for your response,” Beinice said. “I’ll be keeping an eye on A Country’s situation. Paige, you’d better make the right choice. If I sense anything amiss, I’ll destroy the *Medicine Curse Sect’s* secret tome immediately. Even if you come to Country D, you’ll gain nothing.”