Chapter 189: Speaking with Enrico on the Phone
Since even borrowing someone else’s identity didn’t work, then he wouldn’t use any identity at all! He was determined to return to Country A.
Upon hearing this, the subordinate was shocked and stood there for quite a while, unable to process what he had just heard. Smuggling?
There were some areas in Country T where natural disasters had occurred. Due to the poor handling of the aftermath, many refugees chose to smuggle themselves into other countries. But taking such a boat… it would be far from pleasant.
…
On the second day of Paige’s confinement in Gangnam Hall, she was force-fed four pills at once. The pain of countless insects gnawing at her overwhelmed her, and a freezing chill crept through her body, trying to freeze her inch by inch, draining her will to live.
Pain. Unending pain. When the pain reached its peak, Paige had no strength left to grasp the chains. She couldn’t stand and swayed like a kite about to crash, the silver chains clinking as they shook with her movements.
At one point, she felt as though she had returned to the Clarkes. The little girl secretly opened a door, leaving a small gap to watch the Clarkes celebrate Molly’s lively birthday. Molly had cornered her in the room, shoving a cake onto her face. The sweet, cloying scent overwhelmed her nose and mouth, suffocating her. She struggled desperately, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t escape the torment…
Before she could recover from this pain, she found herself back on that isolated island in the slums. She had inadvertently startled a python coiled in a tree. The snake wrapped itself around her, tightening its grip until it felt like her internal organs would be forced out of her mouth. The snake’s gaping maw lunged at her face…
Paige woke with a start, her clothes drenched in cold sweat. Her vision blurred as she looked ahead. She saw what seemed like a dozen men in uniform standing there. Shaking her head, she realized there were only four-she was in too much pain to see clearly.
She breathed heavily, as if struggling to breathe underwater on Wind Island, in excruciating pain. The force of four pills was much stronger than two.
“You’ve lost all the color in your face. We all know how painful this drug is. It’s worse than death. Why endure this?” someone said to her.
Paige didn’t respond, as another wave of pain surged through her. The burning sensation started in her soles, slowly spreading upward. Her entire body felt like it was engulfed in flames, the searing pain soon consuming her entirely. Ash covered her face as if it was trying to steal her life away, inch by inch…
For a moment, she thought she would die in this fire.
“Miss!” In her dazed state, Paige heard Jaden’s voice.
When Rafael and Jaden entered, they saw Paige in a large X-shape, chained and dangling. Her head hung low, and she didn’t even have the strength to vomit. Fresh blood seeped from her mouth, dripping onto the floor.
The sight made even Rafael turn his head away, unable to bear it. She had likely clenched her teeth so hard to endure the pain that she almost shattered them all.
“Give her two painkillers,” Rafael ordered.
Paige’s mind was muddled, submerged in unending agony, until her mouth was pried open, and something was forced into it. She thought they had increased the dosage until the pain began to lessen. Slowly, she lifted her sweat-soaked lashes and looked up. Jaden stood there, eyes red, looking at her with deep sorrow.
A grown man, on the verge of tears.
Rafael stood to the side, signaling to his subordinates. The chains extended further from all four corners, allowing her more freedom of movement. But as soon as the chains lengthened, Paige lost all ability to stand and collapsed to the ground, blood pouring more freely from her lips.
The impact was loud. Rafael instinctively raised his hand but couldn’t bring himself to help.
Jaden rushed forward, crouched in front of her, and with trembling hands, unwrapped a piece of candy and fed it to her. “Miss, it’s candy…” Mr. Gustin said she liked it.
Paige lay there, the taste of blood still in her mouth as a peppermint candy was shoved in. She couldn’t taste the sweetness, but the mint’s coolness brought a slight clarity to her mind. She pressed her hands against the ground, trying to sit up, but she had no strength left and fell back down, her long hair obscuring her eyes.
“Miss…”
Jaden crouched there, his eyes even redder, his lips trembling. He turned his head slightly, “Miss, look who I’ve brought.”
Paige looked over and saw a small white long-haired dog standing not far away. Its dark eyes stared at her but didn’t approach, as if it didn’t recognize her.
“Dolphin, come here?” Jaden called out.
The little dog finally walked over slowly, circling Paige and sniffing furiously. Suddenly, it seemed to recognize her and began to wag its tail excitedly, nuzzling its little head into her lap.
The pain nearly caused Paige to lose consciousness.
“Dolphin, no!” Jaden quickly picked up the dog.
The dog, unhappy with being separated, growled softly in Jaden’s arms, baring its sharp little teeth.
Paige was crushed by the heavy chains. She gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and struggled to sit up from the ground. The chains tugged at her, causing her to sway unsteadily.
She smiled weakly, waved to the dog, and Jaden let it go. The dog immediately jumped into her lap. Paige tried to pet its head, but the dog’s white fur became stained with her blood.
It didn’t look good.
Paige withdrew her hand, reluctant to touch it again.
“You still don’t want to say anything?” Rafael crouched down in front of her, frowning as he looked at her.
Paige just looked at the dog in her lap.
“I really wish I could have killed Malik earlier. If not for him, you wouldn’t be in this situation. If you could work for me, it would be great,” Rafael said with some regret.
No one in Gangnam Hall had ever endured four pills before.
Jaden pulled out a wet wipe and moved to wipe the sweat and blood from Paige’s face. She turned her head away, avoiding his touch.
Jaden’s hand froze, and he knelt, his voice thick with sorrow. “Dolphin and the candy were brought by Mr. Gustin. He wants to talk to you on the phone.”
Paige’s gaze faltered for a moment.
“Say something that will make Enrico give up,” Rafael said gently. “He can’t come back right now and can’t save you. But if you make him give up, Jaden and I won’t suffer as much when he does return.”
“I don’t care!” Jaden immediately glared at Rafael. He no longer cared what Mr. Gustin would do to him. Even if it meant his death, he felt he deserved it.
“Aren’t you worried that if Enrico hears her voice, he’ll get so angry that he’ll come after me, pressuring all the world leaders?” Rafael asked. Enrico was capable of that, but if he did, Country A would be thrown into chaos.
“That would be your own fault,” Jaden replied. He hated himself, and he hated Rafael. After speaking, he looked at Paige, “Miss, do you want to take the call?”NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.