Chapter 398: Both Go All Out
“How do you two plan to end this?” Rafael sat down on the sofa, took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, and looked tiredly at the two important figures sitting together before him.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
Enrico lounged next to Paige, nonchalantly tucking her hair behind her ear without even glancing at Rafael.
Paige, on the other hand, gave Rafael a rare smile. “Today’s incident was our fault for not informing you in advance.”
“So, it was intentional?” Rafael was stunned. “Why?”
Enrico, still focused on tidying a few stray strands of Paige’s hair, replied without hesitation, “You locked my woman up in Gangnam Hall for so many days, and you think I’m just going to let it slide?”
Rafael looked innocent. “Did you not already have Jaden cause trouble for me? I’m going to carry that blame forever, aren’t I?”
Given the position he was in at the time, Rafael felt he had no choice.
“Clearly, that wasn’t enough,” Enrico said, finally shifting his gaze to Rafael.
“…” Rafael massaged his forehead.
Paige chuckled. “It’s not entirely about that. But if we had informed you beforehand, you’d have objected, and we really didn’t have time to explain it all properly.”
Since returning from River Town, she’d been busy consolidating Temple in Heaven, working around the clock.
“Of course, I would have objected! You’re trying to take on all the financial conglomerates with just a single corporation and a group. That’s too risky. You’ll plunge A-nation into chaos, like a century ago,” Rafael responded immediately.
“But even if I didn’t act today, Rachel and Denver would have brought about this outcome eventually,” Paige said calmly. “Denver wants to climb the ladder while a few financial conglomerates collapse, especially with the upcoming presidential election. Naturally, he’s targeting you and Enrico. As for Rachel, she’s aligned with the Folsom family, and all she wants is for the conglomerates to tear each other apart.”
Rafael listened, frowning. “But you two are being too reckless. That wasn’t a negotiation earlier; that was a declaration of war.”
“Was it?” Paige smiled. “I thought I was being quite polite, with civilized language.”
“…” This was about polite language?
Rafael glanced at Enrico, who remained completely nonchalant, and felt his frustration grow. He took a deep breath and tried to reason, “Paige, you know that ever since the financial conglomerate battles a century ago, they’ve sent countless innocents to Wind Island. Every scandal exposed will be a monumental disgrace to their families. They’ll never coexist peacefully with you or agree to abolish the slum laws.”
“I’m aware of that,” Paige said quietly, pressing Enrico’s restless hand down on the couch and intertwining their fingers.
This man always had so many little habits.
Rafael looked at her in disbelief. “You know, yet you’re still being so aggressive? Didn’t you once say you didn’t want A-nation to fall into chaos? But what you’re doing now is…”
“Mr. President,” Paige interrupted, sitting up straight and meeting his gaze with cool, clear eyes. “The timing of who pushes the button to spark the financial battle is crucial.”
Rafael frowned. “What do you mean?”
“They think that even with Enrico and me together, we’re not enough to challenge all the conglomerates. That’s why they united today. But when they realize they were wrong, do you think they’ll still remain so aligned?” Paige replied calmly. “People only change course after realizing they’ve made a mistake.”
“And when will they realize that mistake?” Rafael asked.
“Perhaps right now,” Paige said, her fingers once again being toyed with by Enrico.
“You’re implying that because your company and these conglomerates have ties, you can control some of their interests?” Rafael asked. “But knowing these people as I do, they value both their reputation and those small interests. The safest bet for them would be to eliminate you and Enrico. Killing you two would resolve the problem, regardless of how strong those left behind are.”
Just as he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Carrie, who was standing guard, opened it, allowing a uniformed woman carrying tea into the room.
“Mr. President, Mr. Gustin, Miss Paige,” the woman greeted them respectfully, lowering herself on one knee as she placed cups on the coffee table and began pouring tea, handing a cup to each of them.
“Thank you,” Paige said, bringing the cup to her lips.
“You’re welcome,” the woman replied, setting the teapot down.
Just as Rafael was about to take a sip, there was a loud “bang” as Paige smashed her cup. The uniformed woman immediately reached for the gun strapped to her thigh.
Sitting calmly, Paige struck her hand away with ease. Her soft fingers grazed the woman’s neck before delivering a swift karate chop. The woman cried out in pain as Paige grabbed her hair and slammed her head onto the coffee table. Coolly, she looked up at Rafael and continued their previous conversation, “Mr. President, you’re right. But first, they need to be able to kill Enrico and me.”
“…” Rafael watched Paige’s swift actions, glanced at the tea spilled across the table, then at the cup in his own hand. Quietly, he set the cup back down.
Enrico, still lounging comfortably, leaned back against the couch and raised an eyebrow at Paige’s move. “Careful not to strain your arm again.”
“That’s why I didn’t use this one,” Paige said, lifting her arm that was always slow to heal.
“Good girl.” Enrico ruffled her hair affectionately, his eyes filled with admiration and tenderness.
“…” Rafael was speechless. He was seriously beginning to suspect that, in Enrico’s eyes, this scene wasn’t Paige pinning a woman’s head down on the table but her cradling a bunny, with pink bubbles floating all around.
The woman struggled to rise, her face twisted in pain, hands reaching for her thigh.
Jaden, standing behind them, stepped forward, disarmed her, and handed the gun to Enrico.
Enrico toyed with the gun, spinning it lazily, before asking, “Who sent you?”
The woman, face set in grim determination, remained silent.
“Bang!” Enrico fired a shot into her leg.
“Ahhh!” A piercing scream echoed through the room.
Paige, irritated by the noise, released the woman, who collapsed to the floor, clutching her bleeding leg and screaming in agony.
“Now, tell me, who sent you?” Enrico leaned forward, his voice as casual as if he were inquiring about the weather, yet his eyes were cold as the Arctic winds.