Louis strode out of Raymond Carnegie's room, furious.
"Where's the woman supposed to be in Raymond's room?"
His subordinate reported, "She never entered. The door was locked."
Louis slammed his fist against the railing, "He found another woman. Find out who it is!"
"Yes, sir!" the subordinate replied, then added, "Mr. Carnegie, there's a woman downstairs claiming to be your fiancée..."
Before he could finish, Louis's phone rang, displaying the butler Sean's name. With a wave, Louis silenced the man talking to him, answered the call, and said, "Grandpa's in the hospital? I'll be there immediately!"
Rushing downstairs, Louis passed by Paige, who had gotten up thinking he was there to discuss calling off their engagement. However, Louis didn't notice her and walked straight out the door.
Behind him, someone returned an item to Paige.
"Ms. Sackler, Mr. Carnegie had urgent matters to attend to. Please come back another time."
Holding the item, Paige wondered what could be so urgent to overshadow a meeting as important as calling off an engagement.
It was late in the evening when Raymond Carnegie got the news that grandpa Bradley had been discharged and was already back at home. A string of luxury cars drove their way into the estate, and Raymond was wheeled into the mansion, sitting in his wheelchair with a stark aura, his handsome face void of warmth.
Only when he entered the main hall did his expression soften somewhat. Bradley was just about to heave a sigh when Raymond beat him to the punch, "I told you I didn't want to come to the gala, yet you insisted on arranging it. Then I skip out, and you get so upset you nearly have a heart attack. What's the point?"
Bradley sighed again, his voice tinged with a weary resignation. "Look at me, I don't have many years left. I want to see you settle down, get married, have kids... let me meet my grandchildren while I still can."
Before Bradley could finish, Raymond retorted, "Your grandson was in my room today, and did something to my humidifier, let me tell you."
Bradley's gaze shifted quickly to Charles, who had been pushing Raymond’s wheelchair. Charles promptly recounted the day's incident at Windrain Tower.
Slamming his hand down on the table, Bradley barked, "Go fetch Louis, I want to see him immediately!"
Raymond's response was calm and collected, "Keep your temper in check. You just had a bout with your illness, no need for such outbursts."
Bradley, with a note of exasperation, hinted, "Maybe I should just tell him everything. It might teach him to restrain himself a bit."
Raymond shook his head slightly, "No need. Let me be his whetstone for a few more years."
Bradley's sighs never ceased as he continued to plead, "I'm not going to be around much longer. I do hope you can settle down sooner rather than later."
A fleeting image of a radiant woman he had seen in his room danced through Raymond's mind. He couldn't fathom why she came to mind, but he brushed off Bradley nonchalantly, "There's no rush."
That irritated Bradley. "No rush for you maybe, but it’s urgent for me. If it comes down to it, I'll pick a woman for you myself to marry!"
Raymond knew the old man could very well follow through with his threat. He maneuvered his wheelchair a bit further from Bradley before saying, "I've no interest in the ladies you speak of. Nor do I fancy a life where my days are filled with the chatter of a stranger telling me whose handbag is the latest limited edition, or whose high heels are from an exclusive line."
At Raymond's words, an image flashed in Bradley's mind, perhaps the very answer in solving the marriage puzzle they were both unconsciously seeking.
It seemed like she was untouched by the sands of time, a splendid soul radiating kindness and endowed with superior medical skills. Surely, her interest wouldn't be limited edition purses or high-heels, right?
Bradley pointed at Raymond Carnegie with a hint of a smile on his lips. "Lucky you, young man, I happen to know such a marvelous woman. She's also quite skilled in healing arts. If you marry her, she'll take good care of you, body and soul."
Raymond Carnegie's face was a puzzle of question marks. Was he seriously being arranged to marry someone specific?