“Isn’t that so? Mother, haven’t you ever had such doubts?” Rachel asked softly.
“Caroline, the Folsom family has suffered significant losses. There aren’t many of us left, so we’ve always been united as one. Who will eventually take the position of the head of the family doesn’t matter. What’s important is that the Folsom family remains united and stands strong together against external threats,” Yemmy explained, looking at her daughter.
“There are so many families that have fallen apart due to internal strife. Even the Gustin family’s villa you stayed in was like that, wasn’t it?”
“…”
“So you must understand, Caroline, that only when the Folsom family prospers can each of us live well. Do you get it?”
“…”
Rachel found this logic ridiculous. No family could truly be united without any selfish motives. People are human after all-how could they have no personal interests?
She looked at Yemmy’s earnest face but chose not to voice her thoughts. Instead, she gave a fake smile. “I understand, Mother.”
After speaking, Rachel turned to gaze out the car window again. As she did, the smile on her face vanished entirely, replaced by deep resentment in her eyes.
She would never let Paige return to the Folsom family. The Folsom family would belong to her and her alone!
…
“Paige, I’m hungry.”
“Paige, when are we going back to A Country?”
“Paige, come here, let me hold you.”
“Paige, I feel a bit dizzy.”
“Paige, pull me up, I’m about to roll off the bed.”
In the hospital room, Enrico lay in bed, complaining nonstop.
Paige, as calm as ever, sat on the sofa with an IV drip hooked up, unfazed as she read a book. She finished the last page quickly and set the book aside.
Enrico, still lying in bed, stared at her intensely. Was she done reading? Could she finally pay attention to him now?
Paige looked up briefly at the snow outside, then casually picked up another book and placed it on her lap.
Damn. Where did she get so many books?
Enrico tried to sit up using one arm for support. Without even looking at him, Paige spoke calmly, as though she had eyes on the back of her head. “Mr. Gustin, with your exceptional abilities, I guess you don’t need those rare herbs for healing. You must be able to heal on your own.”
How could such a soft-spoken woman say something so cutting?
Enrico relaxed his arm and obediently lay back down.
Paige continued reading. Soon, her IV drip was finished. She pressed the call button, and a nurse came in to remove the needle.
After being on IV fluids for so long, her entire arm felt cold and stiff. She stood up, holding a cotton ball over the needle mark, and began walking out of the room, flexing her hand slightly as she passed his bed, without even sparing him a glance.
“Where are you going?” Enrico’s gaze was filled with accusation.
“…” Paige stopped but didn’t respond, standing still as she stretched her fingers.
“Paige, you risked everything to come to D Country, and I risked everything to carry you out of the mountains. We should be even. So why are you treating me like this?”
Upon hearing this, Paige slowly turned to face him, her eyes indifferent, as if telling him to continue.
Enrico stared at her face, his eyes sharp. The next second, he grabbed his shoulder and gasped in pain. “Ahhh…”
His face contorted, looking utterly pitiful.
“Forget it, don’t worry about it. If you want to leave, go ahead.” He looked away, gazing sadly at the ceiling lights above him.
Paige tossed the cotton ball aside, gave him a deep look, and turned to leave, walking straight toward the door.
“Come back here!” Enrico suddenly sat up and yelled.
Paige turned her head.
Enrico was half-sitting in bed, his twisted posture causing him intense pain. His pale face, made even more stark by the bruising, was drained of all color. His disheveled hair only emphasized the severity of his condition. He panted heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he stared at her desperately.
Seeing him in such a state, Paige’s anger subsided a bit. It seemed like he had suffered enough, so she said, “I’m just going to wash my hands.”
“You’re not allowed. Come here,” Enrico ordered.
Paige walked back to his bedside, and Enrico immediately lay back down, shifting over to make space for her.
Paige shook her head, her voice hoarse. “I still have some cold symptoms. I’ll pass it to you.”
“You’re just cold from the snow; it’s not contagious. Now come here,” Enrico patted the bed beside him.
“…”
Paige thought for a moment, then gave in, sitting down on the bed and lying down next to him, resting her head on his outstretched arm.
Enrico immediately wrapped her in his arms, burying his face in her hair, rubbing against her affectionately despite the pain it caused him.
Paige sighed in exasperation. “Enrico, weren’t you the one who told me to take it easy back in the mountains?”
“And now I’m being still. You move instead,” Enrico teased, lying back obediently.
What kind of logic was that?
Paige turned her eyes to look at him, only for Enrico to raise an eyebrow. “Kiss me.”
“I have a cold.”
“It’s not contagious.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll do it,” Enrico began to sit up again.
“…”
Paige was left with no choice. She gently pressed him back down, propping herself up on her elbows as she leaned over him. Her eyes softened as she caressed the dried blood on his cheek, gently wiping it away.
Enrico gazed at her, his deep eyes filled with intensity, almost swallowing her whole.
After a moment, Paige lowered her head, softly pressing her lips to his pale ones. The kiss was light, a delicate attempt to bring some color back to his lips as she gently sucked on them.
Her method of kissing seemed like a deliberate tease.
Enrico’s heart pounded wildly, but his thirst only grew. He couldn’t bear it any longer, tilting his head to deepen the kiss, his tongue boldly invading her mouth, exploring with abandon.
Paige braced herself against the bed, leaning into his fierce kiss, their lips and tongues entwined.
As their kiss deepened, their gazes locked. Enrico’s eyes burned with a passion that seemed even more intense than the kiss itself.
“Knock knock.” A sudden knock on the door broke the moment.
Paige’s breath hitched, and she pulled away, looking down at him.
Enrico, his brows furrowed, grumbled with irritation, “Go away.”
“…”
No more sounds came from outside.
The air inside the room felt unusually warm.
Paige wanted to retreat.
“Once more,” Enrico said, his husky voice dripping with seductive intent.
Paige hesitated, but as his gaze held her captive, her throat felt even drier.
After a few seconds, she bent down again, her lips meeting his once more. She kissed him deeply, and again, he took control, leading her into another heated exchange, neither of them wanting to let go.
One of the rare and beautiful moments in life is being able to stop in the middle of the chaos and kiss the one you love without a care.