The Psychotic Girl’s Revenge

No wonder they gave her painkillers; it was for this phone call. Paige nodded with some difficulty.

Jaden pulled out his phone and dialed Enrico’s number. The call connected quickly. Jaden was about to hand the phone to her but, seeing her pale face, held the phone to her ear, acting as a makeshift phone stand.

Paige sat on the floor, breathing heavily. She wasn’t sure if it was due to the pain affecting her hearing, but there was a long silence on the line.

She held the small dog and was about to turn her head when she heard a deep, exhausted voice from the phone, “Paige.”

– Paige, come here.

– Paige, have you fallen in love with me?

– Paige, between us, it’s either death or nothing, no good parting.

– Paige, I’ll be your paradise, ensuring everything goes smoothly for you, without worries for life.

For a moment, many images flashed before Paige’s eyes. She stared blankly, lost in thought, before finally speaking, “Mm.”

“……”

Rafael looked at her in disbelief. She had just endured the torture of TP1314 and could barely speak before, but now, her voice, though slightly tired, seemed perfectly fine. How terrifying would it be if she ever became strong?

As soon as Paige spoke, there was another long silence on the phone. Enrico’s voice sounded much calmer and more composed than Jaden’s. He asked, “How many pills did you take?”

He knew about TP1314.

“Just one, it’s okay,” Paige replied faintly. Her voice was hoarse and really did sound okay, if Jaden and Rafael hadn’t seen her struggling on the ground, her fingers trembling.

“Is it painful?” Enrico asked again, his voice deep and penetrating, as if his large hand was gently rubbing her head, his eyes intense as he asked about her pain.

“It’s okay.”

Paige kept her responses brief; long sentences were too exhausting, and she had very little strength left.

“Hold on, I’ll be back soon,” Enrico promised, his voice almost like a vow, soothing and magnetic.

Paige glanced at the dog in her lap, took a deep breath, and pressed her hand harder against the ground to force her voice to sound more normal. “Enrico.”

“Hmm, I’m here. Go ahead,” Enrico said gently, his tone unusually soft and patient. “Take your time.”

Take her time? Did he understand her current pain?

Paige bit her lip, speaking slowly and clearly, “I was going to talk to you after the slums were rebuilt, but since I might not live to see that day, I’ll tell you now.”

“You want to say something? I don’t want to hear it right now,” Enrico said with a low laugh, “Hold onto it until I get back.”

Paige ignored his words and continued, sitting on the ground, “Enrico, I never liked you.”

Her tone was calm and serious. Even though Jaden and Rafael were watching, it was unclear if her words were a final act of kindness.

There was silence on the phone, only the sound of heavy breathing.

Paige continued, looking at the dog in her arms, “You’ve been good to me these past few months, but you’ve also done bad things to me. You saved me from Wind Island, but your men also cruelly executed the mentally ill there. I know in your eyes, people from the slums mean nothing; you provided for me, but you also wanted me to be your canary. You protected me from arrows, but you also used broken bones to nearly cripple my legs.”

“……”

Country T.

Enrico, who had secretly escaped from the hotel, stood by the sea. He wore refugee clothing, which was worn and smelled foul. His once-handsome face was smeared with mud, making him look disheveled.

In the distance, many refugees waiting to be smuggled stood by the sea, looking up expectantly for the arrival of the boat. The wind carried a foul, fishy odor from them.

Enrico stood there, listening to Paige’s criticisms over the phone. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with rage, his lips quivering slightly as his breathing grew heavier.

“I really struggle to have any positive feelings for you. I’ve already thought about it; once the slums are rebuilt, I’ll leave you. I’ll find a chance to repay you for what you’ve done, but I can’t persuade myself to be with you.”

“……”

“There’s no need for that now. I’m dying, so you don’t have to come back. It would be better if you don’t come and risk failing to save me and dragging yourself down. I don’t want to owe you anything until I die.”

“……”

“I don’t like you, so I don’t want to owe you anything. Just let me die like this. I’d rather die content.”

Paige’s voice on the other end was serious, with no hint of deceit.

“Bang–”

A match snapped in Enrico’s hand, the sharp wooden splinter digging into his palm. Soon, it was bloodied and mutilated.

Enrico seemed to feel no pain as he clenched his fist tightly, letting the sharpness penetrate deeper into his flesh.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

He stared at the approaching cargo ship with darkened eyes and, in a suppressed voice, said, “Did I make you feel burdened?”

“Yes, Enrico, your good and bad sides are both burdens to me,” Paige said hoarsely and clearly, “Before I die, don’t appear in front of me again. I really don’t want to see you.”

“Oh,” Enrico responded, and then added, “Hold on, wait for me to come back.”

His response was delayed, obviously unexpected. He could imagine Paige’s helplessness. “Enrico, you don’t understand me…”

“Don’t you understand that I’m telling you to hold on?”

Enrico roared in anger before she could finish, the sharp splinter piercing his flesh as blood dripped down into the sand.

“……”

Paige fell silent on the other end.

After Enrico’s outburst, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength. His eyes, once red and bloodshot, suddenly dimmed, and his voice grew weak.

“Paige, hold on. I’m begging you,” he said, sounding as if he were a homeless child pleading.

“……”

“I’m begging you, okay?”

“……”

Paige, battered and exhausted, sat on the cold floor of Gangnam Hall, listening to the desperate pleading in her ear. It cut her deeply, more painful than the torture.

How could he…

He was Enrico, the proud and arrogant Enrico. How could he be begging her?

Paige sat there, her lips moving, but she didn’t know what to say.

Suddenly, the call was cut off.

Paige’s hand, pressed to the ground, trembled. This would probably be her last call in this lifetime, with not even a “goodbye.”

Indeed, there was no need for a goodbye.

Country T.

Enrico ended the call and stood in place for a long time, breathing heavily. Seeing the boat arriving, he threw his phone to a subordinate and ordered, “Go back immediately. Don’t let anyone discover that I’m no longer at the hotel.”

“Mr. Gustin, your hand…”