Bradley, upon hearing the name 'Paige' from Louis, assumed it was a coincidence.
Only Raymond, watching the events unfold on the monitor, realized that the 'Paige' Louis mentioned was indeed his own sly wife, Paige Sackler.
The revelation was not only a shock to Raymond but to Charles standing next to him as well.
Charles exclaimed, "Could it be such a coincidence that Louis is talking about madam?"
Raymond, however, thought back to another incident. On the day of the unexpected event at Windrain Tower with Paige, it seemed to him that she was completely unprepared for what had happened.
Could it be that Paige showing up at Windrain Tower that day had nothing to do with Louis’ scheme to set him up?
She was there to meet with Louis, but ended up in his room by mistake, where, just like him, she inhaled the air from the humidifier and then...
Raymond headed straight for the study, thankfully Charles was quick on his feet, immediately wheeling the chair to follow.
"Raymond, the wheelchair."
There was still some sanity left in Raymond. For his ability to stand up again, well, that was a secret that couldn't get out just yet.
When they knocked on Bradley's study door, there Louis was still standing with his head lowered, and Bradley seemed to have come to his senses as well.
Seeing that Raymond had joined, Louis was uncertain how to explain further.
Louis turned and called out from the floor, "Uncle Raymond."
Raymond gave a brief acknowledgment before deftly changing the subject, "I hear you're getting hitched. Congrats."
Louis corrected him, "Well, Raymond. The wedding isn't set in stone yet." Bradley threw a glance at Louis.
Louis couldn't make heads or tails of it—why was Raymond, who couldn't care less about his own wedding, suddenly taking an interest in his?
The truth is Raymond wasn't interested at all! It was his own marriage in crisis!
Raymond's marriage to Paige was orchestrated by Bradley himself, and he sure didn't want them to split up now.
The sight of Louis reminded Raymond of the embrace between Louis and Paige the night before, which just irked him even more.
Raymond didn't beat around the bush and cut straight to the chase, with an authoritative tone, "Since the wedding's not yet a done deal, there's a construction project in Florida that needs a leader. How about Louis gets some experience in the field?"
Louis shot Bradley an incredulous look. He was the company's CEO, after all.
Raymond had been recuperating abroad for years and was out of touch with the company's workings. Even if Raymond was his uncle, what right had he to order him around?
Louis looked at Bradley, expecting him to keep Raymond in check.
Instead, Bradley simply said, "If the engagement set five years ago isn't suitable, then let's set a new one. This weekend, we'll have an engagement ceremony. Sean, notify Chloe (Raymond’s sister-in-law) to prepare for it."
Sending Louis to Florida was clearly not a reasonable option. Bradley truly believed that the Carnegies owed the Sacklers a debt of gratitude. The Sacklers were eager to link their family with the Carnegies through marriage, and it wouldn't do to disappoint them.
Most importantly, Louis's marriage was meant to be a strategic alliance, designed to pave the way for Raymond's business ventures. Thus, as long as there were no major issues and the future daughter-in-law had agreed, Bradley saw little reason to object.
Louis, caught off guard by this outcome, protested, "Grandpa, I'm already engaged to someone else. How can you switch her out just like that?"
Bradley didn't know the specifics of the situation on the Sackler's end. However, he was sure that Paige, the woman married to his youngest son, was the fiancée Louis referred to.
Patting Louis on the shoulder, Bradley explained, "Louis, the marriage talks between your mother and the Sacklers were about Xena Sackler. This isn't about playing favorites, it's about a favor. The Sacklers saved our family, and now it's time to repay that favor. That settles it."
Bradley didn't mention Paige, nor did he bring up her marriage to Raymond.
Raymond, who had been listening with a furrowed brow, finally relaxed slightly.
Noticing the subtle change in Raymond's expression, Bradley breathed a sigh of relief as well.
Louis, however, remained in limbo, his fate decided for him as if he were just a pawn.
Despite the clear explanation that his engagement from five years ago wasn't to Xena Sackler, he found himself backed into a corner, with Xena seemingly appointed to him as in an arranged marriage.
Since he couldn't persuade Bradley, Louis had no choice but to seek out his mother.
But no sooner had he left the study than Raymond, assisted by Charles, called out to him, "Louis!"
Turning to Raymond, Louis maintained the respect due to an elder, "Uncle, did you need something?"
Charles maneuvered the wheelchair expertly, positioning it directly in front of Louis, effectively blocking his path.
Raymond said with an air of nonchalance, "The 'lingering ambiguity' is as legendary as they say. But Louis, aren't you the least bit curious about who joined me that day, savoring that very aroma?"
Now, Raymond was convinced that Paige wasn't the woman Louis had set up to entrap him.
Given Louis's nature, how could he possibly hand over a woman he fancied to another man?
Finishing his thought, Raymond subtly lifted his hand, and Charles, understanding the cue, wheeled him away without another word.
A sly grin crept across Raymond's face. Suddenly, he entertained the thought of keeping the girl in secrecy, ensuring Louis would never uncover the truth.
Isn't there a saying about shooting oneself in the foot? That must be Louis's story.
The smile on Raymond's lips grew broader as Charles stole a covert glance back at Louis.
The poor young master undoubtedly had it rough.
Louis was baffled. What was Raymond getting at?
Indeed, the “lingering ambiguity” had been an “expensive gift” he had arranged for Raymond.
Yet, to this day, Louis hadn't figured out who the mystery woman who’d shown up in Raymond's room was.
Raymond had clearly been played, yet showed no signs of retaliation, which puzzled Louis even more.
This reaction was utterly out of character for Raymond.
Despite their scarce interactions, Louis knew all too well that Raymond's ambitions were far from modest.
Had it not been for his health, Raymond rather than Louis might be in charge of Hawke Corporation.
By now, Louis's curiosity about the woman who had invaded Raymond's room had waned. There were more critical matters at hand.
Leaving Mid-hill Villa, Louis floored the accelerator and dialed his mother's number.
Without waiting for a response, he asserted, "Mom, put the wedding plans with the Sackler family on hold. There’s someone I want to marry, but it's not Xena Sackler."
Before he could hear more, a mature, composed voice spoke from the other end, "Louis, does it matter who you want to marry? You’re set on fully securing Hawke Corporation, aren't you? This marriage must go on as planned! Your Grandpa is calling; I must go."
With that, the call ended with a series of beeps.
Slamming the brakes, Louis's foot jammed down hard, his fist punching the steering wheel.
Why, after five years of powerlessness, was he still unable to do as he pleased?