Margaret slightly shook her head. "That little witch still has the camera. Have you forgotten what's on it? Once it's out, your reputation is done for. Besides, with all the guests out there, I could care less if my birthday party is ruined, but the Sackler family's reputation must be saved. Consider it a small price for peace. Go on."
Xena clenched her teeth, resenting giving Paige any advantage, yet she nodded and left.
Margaret turned to Louis. "Mr. Carnegie, since the engagement matter is settled, do me a favor and accompany Xena to fetch the items, will you?"
Louis, taking the hint that Margaret wanted a word with Paige, excused himself. As soon as he closed the door behind him, Margaret's gaze at Paige grew even more venomous.
"The Sacklers have no place for a jailbird like you."
Paige never cared for the Sackler title. "If it weren't for my mother still being under the Sacklers' thumb, I would have never wanted to lay eyes on any of you, let alone claim kin. I have no desire to associate with such cold, and vile people."
Paige's resolve had been firm five years ago when she first saw the Sacklers for who they truly were. And now, the thought of ever wanting to be a respected member among the Sacklers had never crossed her mind.
Instead of getting angry at Paige's declaration, Margaret chuckled, "That's wonderful. It seems we agree. I appreciate your willingness to renounce your status; that's for the best. As for the shares I promised you, I'll cash them out at the current market value."
Internally, Paige sneered at the notion: Money? What was the worth of the Sackler family’s shares, anyway?
Aloud she said, “Fine. Before I went to prison, I was nothing but a “blood bank” for you Sacklers. After all the blood you’ve “drawn” from me, some recompense is due.”
At the mention of blood donating, Margaret brow furrowed, "Never speak of this again! Or else..."
Paige cut her off before she could finish her threat, “I want to see my mother. If you don't want me to reveal the truth about the incarceration, or how you bleed a child, then let me see my mom.”
Never having been challenged by a grandchild in such a tone, the matriarch fixed Paige with a fierce glare, "Have you forgotten our agreement from three days ago? Call off your engagement and get married! As long as you wed and publicly disavow the Sackler name, your mother will be returned to you. If it weren't for her giving birth to Xena, the heiress, I wouldn't have spared her life until this day."
Humiliated beyond measure, Paige's mother had always told her she was a true Sackler, the real daughter of her Dad. But her grandma had insisted she was illegitimate, even waving a paternity test to prove it. Because of her, her mother’s relationship with the Sacklers plummeted, worse than that of a servant. She had endured all these years with the Sacklers just to free her mother from their grip. But no sooner had Paige returned than her mother was pushed down the stairs by Xena, ending up in a vegetative state.
Facing her callous and ruthless grandmother, Paige clenched her teeth and declared, "I'm already married. We’ve made it official."
With that, she produced the marriage certificate and showed it to Margaret, who glanced at it just long enough to verify its authenticity, paying no particular attention to the details inscribed on it.
Then, a look of joy spread across her face. "Married? I must say, I didn’t think you had it in you. Since you’re hitched, why didn’t you bring your husband to my birthday party?"
Paige knew exactly what Margaret Sackler wanted to hear.
“He’s not exactly mobile, and wouldn’t him showing up with me only embarrass you?” Paige replied, half-heartedly.
Margaret’s face, previously emerged with severity, now hinted at a smirk.
She probably found a twisted delight in the thought that Paige had married a disabled man.
Paige pressed on, “I’ve done what you asked, now let me see my mother.”
Satisfaction washed over Margaret’s face.
“Well then, let’s talk,” Margaret Sackler conceded. “We’ll exchange the cash for the camera. Once I’m sure you don’t have any other copies, I’ll allow you to see her. Don’t worry, she’s still my dear daughter-in-law and the mother to Xena, the heiress to the Sackler family. She'll be well taken care of.”
Paige was taken aback, “What? You’re not planning on releasing my mother to me?”
Margaret let out a small chuckle. “I could, sure, but without the support of Sackler’s care facility, she won't last long. Do you have a better place to care for her?”
Paige clenched her fists; she didn’t have a better option for her mother for the time being.
If she took her mother out and something happened, what then?
With no other options but her protective instincts triggered, Paige’s tone turned fierce, “If I find out you’re not treating her right, if you hurt her or neglect her, I will come after you, and I’ll settle every old and new score with you.”
Margaret, a widow who had sustained the Sackler business through the loss of her husband and son, was a woman of resolution and commanding presence. Yet, she felt a tremor of respect for the intensity burning in Paige.
Her own “protégé”, Xena Sackler, lacked such ferocity.
Maybe prison hardships had hardened Paige, giving her this daunting, almost haunting presence.
It wasn’t long before Xena returned with a large suitcase.
Upon opening it, stacks of cash lay before Paige’s eyes.
With a flick of her foot, Paige closed the suitcase’s lid, and then tossed the plastic bag into Xena Sackler’s arms.
“No backups. Go ahead, have someone verify it if you don’t believe me,” Paige said, with a steely edge to her voice.
Xena hastily caught the bag and exchanged a glance with Margaret.
Margaret Sackler gave a nod of approval.
Paige lugged the heavy case full of cash towards the door, glancing over her shoulder to drop one last line, "I don’t want to be kept waiting."
Fresh out of jail, she was anxious to see her mom, even though she was now in a vegetative state, possibly unable to recognize her. Paige just wanted to see her sooner.
Margaret Sackler assured, "Once I confirm there are no copies, I'll arrange your meeting."
Paige didn’t look back as she listened.
Meanwhile, Xena Sackler clung to Louis and said eagerly, “Louis, we can get married now.”
But Louis suddenly said, “I'm sorry, I forgot. I've still got an agreement to settle with her.” With that, he chased after Paige.
Hearing that, a shadow fell over Xena's face, and then the Sackler family's staff approached Margaret with news, “Madam, Raymond Carnegie has arrived.”
Margaret replied with surprise, “The legendary Raymond? Xena, come with me. He’s Louis’ uncle.”
Xena had no choice but to shelve her feelings aside temporarily, going to greet the renowned Raymond with Margaret.
Unaware that Louis had followed her out, Paige headed towards the hotel exit but was stopped abruptly as Louis seized her wrist.
She turned to find Louis and immediately shrugged off his grip, "What do you want, Mr. Carnegie?"
He grabbed her wrist again, challenging her, “Five years apart, and you're this indifferent upon seeing me again?”
Just then, a figure in a wheelchair caught a glimpse of their interaction, eyes fixated on the clenched hands, unable to look away...