Bradley was getting on in years, his health failing, but he was swift in getting things done! The very next day, he tracked down Paige's phone number through his connections with the ambulance service.
Paige never expected the guy she casually saved, Bradley, would turn into her matchmaker on their second encounter. After getting to know her, he became her enthusiastic advocate.
"I've got a son," Bradley gushed with growing fondness. "Handsome and bright, just a bit unwell; he's been wheelchair-bound for years. He's of age yet hasn't found himself a Mrs. Carnegie. Don't worry, though; he's a man of impeccable character. Paige, dear, if you don't mind, would you consider marrying him and sharing your lives together?"
It was like manna from heaven.
Breaking off an engagement was easy, but finding a man willing to marry her within three days was not. In a wheelchair, that meant a disability, right?
Disability or not, who else would marry her at a time like this? A woman recently released from jail, alone in the world, homeless; who else but someone like him?
In that instant, Paige's impression of her prospective groom was shaped, older, disabled, unable to secure a wife, but handsome and honorable.
Under Bradley's hopeful gaze, she nodded briskly, "Rest assured, if he's willing to marry me, I'll take very good care of him."
Bradley burst into hearty laughter, astonished at her immediate acceptance and pledge to look after Raymond Carnegie, "Fantastic! It must be destiny!"
The day before, Bradley had been incapacitated by a heart attack. Today, he was as buoyant as if nothing had happened.
By lunchtime, he arranged for Raymond to meet with Paige for a meal, armed with all the necessary paperwork, planning to have them married as soon as possible.
But the moment Raymond laid eyes on Paige, he nearly leapt out of his wheelchair.
Yes, even though the room had been dim the night before, he recognized her instantly as the woman from his room.
Ah, "mediocre, fairly mediocre," the words she had left on a note, still echoed in Raymond Carnegie's mind.
To his surprise, she had already paved her way to Bradley.
Raymond recognized Paige upon seeing her again, but she had the look of someone pretending not to know him. Memories lingered within Raymond from yesterday, leaving him with a sense of unfinished experience. He even felt less urged to blame her on the idea that she must have been manipulated by Louis to come to him.
Nevertheless, it all seemed too coincidental now. Unbeknownst to Raymond, Paige happened to have saved Bradley’s life, as Bradley sang songs of praise to her before Raymond could say anything.
Words hung on the tip of Raymond's tongue, but he swallowed them. That morning, he had checked with the doctor; Bradley's heart couldn't handle any shock. With Bradley so fond of Paige, any objection from Raymond might send him into another episode, one he might not survive.
The crux of the matter was that yesterday had been her first time. Morally and emotionally, it felt like he had an obligation to take responsibility.
"Miss Sackler," Raymond finally said, "I need five minutes alone with my father."
Paige nodded and quietly left the room.
As soon as the door shut, Bradley's discontent was clear, "It's her first time meeting us, and you dismisses her just like that? You're getting your marriage license this afternoon and practically becoming husband and wife. Whatever it is, can't it be said in front of her?"
Reading Paige’s intentions to keep up her facade, Raymond resolved not to make it easy for her. He knew how Louis operated; the women he was involved with were always after money. Louis wouldn’t foolishly risk exposing his true identity by sending her to him this time; it was likely just a transaction. The encounter between Paige and Bradley did seem like an unexpected twist.
He wouldn't reveal his real identity in front of her either. He wanted to see what cards she would play next.
With Bradley so determined to see him married and so fond of Paige, it seemed Raymond had no choice but to acquiesce. It didn't matter if it wasn’t Paige Sackler; there would be others, and undoubtedly more trouble from Louis's side.
It might be simpler to marry Paige. It would set Bradley's mind at ease, and Louis might think he had won, which would save Raymond the trouble of constantly being on guard.
Yet, while he agreed in principle, there were conditions to be set.
Raymond himself maneuvered his wheelchair to Bradley's front, starting with a firm declaration, "I agree with this marriage. But I have conditions you must also agree to. Otherwise, forget it."
Bradley barely had the chance to savor Raymond's consent to marriage before he eagerly committed, "As long as you’re willing to tie the knot, it's not just a few conditions; I'd say yes to hundreds!"
Raymond took a deep breath, his frustration evident. "She's practically a stranger to you, and I need to test her character. Three months, during which time, she can't know about the Carnegie family’s reputation or my real identity."
Bradley pondered the stipulation but felt confident about Paige. He quickly agreed, "You got it."
Raymond pressed on, "After we get married, I'll move out with her."
Glancing back at Charles, Raymond inquired, "Didn't you recently purchase an apartment?"
Charles nodded affirmatively, "Yes. I acquired a two-bedroom at Billow Estate, just finished with the renovations."
Without hesitation, Raymond proposed, "Great. I'll trade you Summit Villa for that apartment. Handle the property transfer when you can."
Charles was taken aback. Raymond was offering his luxury villa in exchange for a modest two-bedroom apartment?
By then, Bradley had caught on to Raymond's plans. Clear as day, Raymond intended to adopt a complete disguise, ensuring Paige never discovered that the Carnegie family was none other than the wealthiest family of the Northwind City, nor that he was the famous magnate Raymond Carnegie himself!
When Raymond required the house swap, Charles knew better than to contest it.
Raymond's eyes locked onto Bradley's, questioning, "You understand what I'm getting at, right?"
Bradley nodded, his commitment unequivocal, "If you’re ready to marry, I'm all in. Just one thing; once you're married, treat Paige well. She's genuinely a good girl."
No sooner had Bradley finished speaking than Raymond signaled Charles to invite Paige back in.
Facing her once more, Raymond reiterated his position, "I’m thirty years old, confined to a wheelchair, and not the most mobile. Are you sure you want to marry me?"
Time was running out for Paige, barely a day and a half remained. She had no choice.
With solemn gravity, she nodded and vowed, "I do."
In the depths of Raymond Carnegie's mind, a resigned thought took root: so, she's pinned this on him. Fine, he'd marry her.
At two in the afternoon, Paige emerged from the registration office, pushing Raymond's wheelchair. A sudden realization struck Paige, and she turned to Raymond, "So, uh, I don't really have a place to crash. I heard you've got a house?"
Raymond gave her a puzzled look, "A house?" Was she already showing her true colors so soon?